New Tank Build. Need Some Help With Ideas

[celticstarb]

Hopefully you guys and gals can help me make some decisions.

I am currently working on a 125 gallon tank build.

I plan on using a Jebao return pump, since I like the features it offers and the price. I was thinking that a 20X turnover through the sump will be good. I have a 1" SCWD to use as a wavemaker.

I am also looking into the Jebao wavemaking pumps. My question is, should I use the SCWD by itself or pair it with the Jebao wavemaker pumps? I know that I wouldn't be able to sync the SCWD and Jebaos, but I think it may create some irregular turbulence that may help keep detritus from building up. Is this a feasible idea? I want to keep lots of SPS, so I'm looking for high flow.

[Justin]

I have a Planet Aquarium 135 tank currently, so you're setup is sort of close to my own. Currently I run the following in a heavy SPS mixed tank:

SICCE 4.0- Can't beat the noise level and customer service
(2) MP40's- They are synced to my Apex via a WXM and change their pattern hourly to really create some unique flow changes
(2) Jebao WP45's - These are mainly to help circulate water around the back of my tank. I angle these at 45 degrees from the rock, to side, and upward to get a nice flow of water from the bottom of the back back up into the main current

I like to offer a lot of flow in my tank because I am firm believer that SPS needs lots of flow and I like to see thick SPS branches instead of the typical thin stuff you see out there. It takes longer for my corals to go vertical but in the end they are happier, go to tabling growth structures sooner and offer a thicker frag if I do cut them.

The only place I do not get a lot of flow is in the direct center. On most powerhead reviews, the MP40's have a range of about 2 ft before the power of the wave dies down significantly. My tank is 6 ft long, so in the middle I put more of my LPS, low flow corals as well as my island dedicated to my rainbow nems. They get the right kind of flow and also have a light fixture right above them.

[Justin]

I like the SCWD units and the range of motion they offer. In an ideal world, I would have used two of them for my return lines. I actually was thinking about it instead of the Jebao's but because I wanted a cleaner looking setup and my canopy is floating, the plumbing would be exposed leading to the SCWD and it would be difficult to keep a screen net looking clean over my tank.

[celticstarb]

Thanks, Justin. That gives me some ideas.