Flow for 45 breeder

[MikeDeL]

Im planning on setting my 45 breeder up with 2 maxi jet 900s @ 230 gph and a pan world 30px @ 258 gph as my return. Should this be a strong enough flow for keeping SPS, or should I add a third powerhead?


Thanks,
Mike

[MikeDeL]

So you were turning over your tank water 50 times an hour? :o Thats alot of flow.

[JimD]

Id run a scwd off a Mag 12 on a closed loop along with a couple Seio 820's... Whered you get the breeder? Im still lookin for one.

[MikeDeL]

I got it from Tim

[matt]

I agree with Josh, you need more. I had an iwaki 750gph return pump and several maxi jets on my old 45. Doing it again I'd have a return pump in the 500-800 gph range and a closed loop with at least 1500 gph with multiple outlets, a sqwd or two, or better, a couple of seaswirls or one of those nifty oceans motion devices.

The good news is that a 45 is a GREAT little reef tank size IMO; easy to light and aquascape.

[MikeDeL]

So how do you go about determing the amount of flow you need when planning your set up. I was under the impression that a turn over of 20 times an hour was good.


Thanks,
Mike

[MikeDeL]

Anyone had any experience with Quiet One pumps?
How about the Pan World for my return, with a pump around 1000 gph on a closed loop with a SCWD and 4 Maxi Jet 1200s. Would that work? At least to get me started anyway?


Thanks,
Mike

[SaltyJim]

sent PM

[Brett Wilson]

A few years ago I got my breeder from Amazonia....

[Brett Wilson]

YAY ! Now I'm really a veteran without having to look at my Joined date :-p

[Andrew]

Josh, what thickness acrylic (and or type of acrylic) did glasscages use for that tank?

andrew

[Tim Marvin]

I like less pumps, so I'd go with a large return on a SQWD or a closed loop on a SQWD and a return. You won't have to look at all the maxijets either.

[MikeDeL]

Just sent you a PM Tim...... I guess you read my mind. Thanks

[MikeDeL]

So heres what Im thinking now. Use my Pan World as a return for my fuge with to outlets. Then I was thinking a closed loop with either a Mag 12 on a SCWD with with 6 outlets or a Mag 9.5 with 4 outlets. Which one do yall think would be better the Mag 12 or the Mag 9.5?


Thanks,
Mike

[Tim Marvin]

If you don't use any of that nasty south down sand go with the 12.

[MikeDeL]

If you don't use any of that nasty south down sand go with the 12.

Hmmm. Thats what I was planning on using. I have a 40lb bag of it and about 15lbs of CaribSea aragonite. Maybe I could put this stuff on the bottom, then my current sand on top of that, then cover it with some new crushed coral.

[matt]

You might check out Eric Borneman's book; there's a section of a chapter on water flow. You'll get lots of good info there. As far as your updated plans, I'd go with a much bigger pan world for a return pump. The quiet one pumps are okay, maybe among the better submersibles, but they run hot, as do the mag pumps. Stick with pan world; use the non-pressure rated ones. Maybe use one that has about 700 pgh for your return, then another one size up for your closed loop with multiple outlets. You'll get good, consistent flow with that. One problem when figuring flow is that there's usually much more head pressure than you think due to elbows, etc.. and especially junk in the lines after a while.

There's nothing wrong with southdown. Many thousands of award-winning reef tanks have it. You can put some reef rubble (like garf grunge) on top for a while until the sand is settled and seeded, at which time it's less likley to get blown around.

[MikeDeL]

Well I already have the Pan World I was planning on using until I decided to get the 45. I would like to use it since I already have it and havent used it yet. I figured since it is a small fuge it would be ok. Would running the quiet one pumps or mag drive pumps external keep them from heating the water as much?

By the way what exactly does "pressure rated" mean?


Thanks,
Mike

[Tim Marvin]

I agree with Matt on everything except the south down, it's dirt, compacts to concrete on the bottom, and the top is easily disrupted and blown all over the tank. If you use it I would cover it with a good grade substrate on top or mixed rubble. I have pulled pieces of metal, plastic, rocks, and other garbage out of SD sand. I suppose if you spend a lot of time cleaning it before hand it is good. I have used it a lot in the past, but am getting away from it now for the above reasons. Carribean Sea has some really good substrates.

[MikeDeL]

How about a Iwaki 40 RLXT on a closed loop with a SCWD?