Water turnover

[littlewrentx]

In terms of water circulation, what is considered low, moderate, and high turnover? I have about 1300gph circulation in a 55g tank.

[ErikH]

I have a mag 5 that drives my 75, which after the head pressure is probably 400gph. I do however have 3 Koralia #4s in there though, roughly 3600 gph.

[Eklikewhoa]

My 30g is running 2100gph


gonna upgrade soon to two mp20w

[LoneStar]

The turnover of a tank is really dependant on the livestock one keeps, along with how the tank is aquascaped. If you have a sps dominant tank, then having high flow will be worth it. A LPS or softie tank, you will not need high flow since these corals do not demand it.

[littlewrentx]

I saw that Ace is going to put his LPS back in his SPS tank. What species of SPS would work in a 55g with T5 lights and a favia? I have some leathers and they love the flow so far. I would like to try a mixed reef.

[littlewrentx]

In calculating the circulation, do I count the pump from the sump and the power heads on the protein skimmers?

[Rychek]

I would only count flow from pumps that are "blowing" water into/around the tank. So Protein skimmer pumps wouldn't count. However, the return pump from the sump would. My $.02

[LoneStar]

In calculating the circulation, do I count the pump from the sump and the power heads on the protein skimmers?

Now this is just my opinion.....

No and No. You shouldn't rely on the return pump for the main flow of your tank. The flow on your return pump can be varied depending on what size sump you use and also the equipment you keep in there. The return flow from the return pump is nice to be used but shouldn't be used in the overall calculation. Your main workhorse for turnover flow should really be the powerheads, or closed loop pump.

[Captain Jack]

A rough "good-high" circulation rule could be about 20gph for each gallon of water. so for 55 gallon, you could want around 110 total gph. Though generally is seems difficult to over-circulate.

[dustint21]

I think he meant 1100! :bigsmile:

[Captain Jack]

oops, that's what I get for trusting my manual math skills instead of the calculator.

[roscozman]

Is it better to have the flow at the top of the tank or at the bottom?

[RayAllen]

Is it better to have the flow at the top of the tank or at the bottom?

you want flow within the enitre tank not just one section. You need the Surface to move but you also want flow on the bottom to keep detritus from settling. Mid level in the tank as well. Easiest way to accomplish this is with the help of power heads.

[Pennies2Cents]

Our issue is that we have a Mag 5 pumping into two powerheads. Not much flow is coming out of there. The surface is moving nicely but the middle and bottom hardly have any flow. We have a Koralia 2 & 3 in there but just doesnt seem to be enough.. Do you think 2 k4's would work better? Giving more flow in the center & bottom

[RayAllen]

I have Mag 7 (throttled down so the water moves slowly through the fuge) return going into my 39g which is only 24x18x20 and I have a Hydor 2 and 3 in their as well. The 3 is at the bottom of the tank and the 2 at the top. Plenty of flow.

A 4ft 55g is a little diffrent, Where do you have the positioned in the tank? Id probably have one at each end and 1 more hydor 3 in the middle.

[Pennies2Cents]

This is all setup in our new 125. Powerheads are at the top of course very slow movement but moving calmly. Koralias are on each side of the overflows facing inward.

[RayAllen]

So you have a Mag 5 as a return on the 125g and the hydor Koralia 2 and 3? If thats the case you will definately need more flow to make sure you have no dead spots in the tank. Id add a couple of Hydor 4's to the mix.

[Captain Jack]

I agree with adding the h4's, plus they are so easy to adjust if you find dead spots that need more circulation.

[Pennies2Cents]

So we ahould add the Koralia 4's to the exisiting 2 and 3 and have four wavemakers. Or should we just replace the two we already have?