Waterflow Question

rchull69

Registered Member
Oct 25, 2005
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How much flow (in gph) would you recommend as good flow from one side of a 72" to the other? I'm trying to figure out a good size powerhead that will push that much water. I would like to install 2 powerheads in an X formation, one in the top rear right pointing to the bottom front left, and the other vice-versa. I have a 180 gallon tank and have spots of brown algae on my sandbed from where there is no circulation, and yes I use RO/DI water and there are 0ppm phosphates. Also, what size powerhead would be recommended for behind the rock as well? Thanks in advance.

Right now I have a Mag 18 returning the water back to the tank through a SCWD and then through two spray bars that are an inch under the waterline. I also have two Rio 600's on the back of the tank facing forward to the glass with rotating nozzles. I have a great wave motion going, but it's dead on the bottom of the tank.

I was going to shell out the money for the Tunze wavemaker set-up, but couldn't see spending $800.00 for 2 PH's and a controller. I have a better idea (I think) and when it's done, I'll post with pics and hopefully awe some of you. I don't mind spending the money, but they are unsightly and a pain to have to pull from behind live rock and clean from time to time. I just need to know what the proper amount of GPH would move the water enough from one side of the other to stir things up.
 
You may get a lot better flow if you get rid of the spray bars and just have one or two 3/4" to 1" outlets coming from each side of the scwd. The spray bars are diffusing a lot of your flow. You may also be losing flow because the scwd is only designed for 1400 gph, and may want to think about an oceans motions unit or something similar.

If you want to add powerheads, I am hearing some pretty good things about Seio's these days. A lot of flow.
 
After thinking about it and doing a little more research, I agree. I'm going to trash the SCWD and install penductors. I'm then going to plumb in a set of Mag 9.5's on each side of the tank, with 2 outlets, one to point behind my rock in the center and left and right rear corners pointing to opposite ends of the tank with penductors as well. That should get some waterflow going. I posted a link for the penductors as well. Thanks for the help.

http://www.toofishy.com/search.php?mode=search
http://themantledmonster.thereeftank.com/eductor.html
 
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