3" sandbed and seios

[dwdenny]

I am planning for water flow in my 45g breeder. I would like to put in a 3"sandbed but was unsure if I should go with 2 620's or 2 820's. This will be a mixed reef but mainly LPS and softies. I was planning on about 45 pounds live rock with 20g or 30g sump(DIY) with overflow as I don't want to drill( local guy wants $50 per hole) another reason not to drill. What do you all think? :wacko

[Richard]

I think I would start drilling tanks if I could get $50 per hole.

[dwdenny]

yeah I thought about it as well but hell I don't want to crack on me. Guess I could be rude and say at your own risk like they do. I know I can get a good hole saw for that amount and do it myself but a little unsure of doing so.

[Richard]

It's REALLY easy to do. Just take your time and there is very little risk of cracking the tank as long as it isn't tempered. Actually the only tanks that are easy to crack are little 5 or 10 gallon tanks because the glass is so thin. A hole saw, hand drill, and some plumbers putty and your good to go.

Oh, I've never used the seio's so can't help on that one.

[gjuarez]

Doug, I was pleased with my 620 but I always felt I needed more flow in my tank. I only had one though and I had a bare bottom tank. I think you should do fine with either one of those because the flow is gentle but its widespread. For the corals you are trying to keep, I would go with the 620s. If you later want to add sps I would go with the 820s instead.

[JimD]

I think you should do a closed loop with a scwd, that way you dont see the powerheads in the tank. Ive got one on my 45 breeder with a Mag 18 and it rocks! No sump, no need to drill and no additional heat.

[gjuarez]

Yeah, I would go with a closed loop instead but wouldnt a mag 18 be too powerful. Jim, do you have sand in your display? If so, how do you prevent sand storms?

[JimD]

Yup, I have a substantial sandbed in the display along with a closed loop on a Mag 12 in combination with a Seio 620, a Maxi 1200 with eductor, it took a little trial and error to get the outputs just right, and I do get an occasional sand drift, but not bad at all and the flow, well, the acros just love it. In my breeder, no sandbed, just the closed loop, the Mag 18 really churns up the water and the acros seem to enjoy it as well. Even with in tank pumps, you still run the risk of sandstorms, you just have to experiment with positioning to find the right placement. Liverock can work as a delector to mellow the flow. Hes planning lps and softies, so this type of radical flow wouldnt be as necessary.

[dwdenny]

Mo flo mo betta!

Yeah I know Joshua. I thought about going with a closed loop but as most people are saying go with 8 outputs with 300gph each heck that is 2400gph before head preasure :wacko that would require on heck of a pump. If I did a three or four output with 300 to 350 gph that would probably be good right? Acros may be in the future but not until I move into our own house where I can get the 210g in wall with fish room. 8) I am still going to have a sump as I would like to keep my skimmer, heaters and other things out of the tank. Thanks for the help so far keep the ideas coming.

I know Jerry and Joshua are big advocate of BB tanks but I cannot get used to not seeing sand in the bottom even if it is only 1"-2". I think that a 3" SB would give me some good buffering as well as possible some NNR(possibly) maybe ~pete~ or gray will help out with some input here. Thanks again

Doug

[hobogato]

i have a 620 and an 820 in my tank - if i had it to do again, two 820's. the difference is very noticable for a negligable price difference.