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martym
07-11-2005, 02:05 PM
Disregarding filtration rate, what do you use for a flow rate guide in your tanks? I have read read anywhere from 3x to over 30x per hour.
Thanks

muck
07-11-2005, 02:22 PM
It more depends on what you want to keep in your tank.
If you have some idea that would help.. :biggrin:

martym
07-11-2005, 02:27 PM
Of course it would, sorry. SPS.

Invigor
07-11-2005, 02:38 PM
the more the better :D although 6000gph in a 20gal wouldn't be good.

martym
07-11-2005, 02:42 PM
There has to be a point of too much flow though. I wouldn't want to push 3500gpm through a 10g tank. As cool as that would look, that would be too much.

muck
07-11-2005, 02:48 PM
Its a 10G tank we are talking about..?? :confused:

mr_alberta
07-11-2005, 02:53 PM
For an SPS tank, I wouldn't do something as low as 3x. Try to do at least 10 - 15x.

Personally, on my 60G cube, I run about 3700GPH total turnover which is ~62x or so? As long as the flow is dispersed and not coming out like a jet it'll be fine.

muck
07-11-2005, 02:55 PM
What harvey's trying to say is...

If the fish are plastered against the sides of the tank there is too much flow. :mrgreen:

martym
07-11-2005, 03:30 PM
It is for a 20g. I want to do a closed loop, to get rid of the powerhead in the tank. I'm just trying to figure out what size of pump I should get.

muck
07-11-2005, 03:35 PM
what size plumbing are you using?

martym
07-11-2005, 03:59 PM
I was thinking of hooking up a SQWD, which has 3/4" hose connectors.

Invigor
07-11-2005, 05:59 PM
anything much more than 1200gph doesn't go thru a sqwd well without massive amounts of restriction.

StirCrazy
07-12-2005, 12:38 AM
the thing is to get as much flow as you can in a SPS tank, I was sitting at 10X (minimum good rate for any tank) and then jumped to 45X (max my sand bed would allow) now that my sand bed is gone I am at close to 100X turn over (97.7X to be exact). I have noticed much better growth and shape of the corals.

the trick is to be able to do this with out that much flowing through my sump as that would be a 300+X turn over rate there and I don't think my baffles would allow that :mrgreen: so my sump only has 2400 GPH flowing through it.

Oh, you also want to spread that rate evenly though out the whole tank, not just in the top 1/2 or it will seam like a mix master. with my turnover you can put your hand anywhere in the tank and all you feel is a gentle current, and no blasting

Steve

martym
07-12-2005, 02:05 AM
Stircrazy, how many pumps are you running to get that kind of turn over? From what Ive seen, it's going to be hard enough to get 1000gph with 8' of head that I believe I'm going to have. Unless you break the bank on a pump. After getting the lights, there isn't many "just on more item babe" left. My wife is starting to catch on to that one :biggrin:

StirCrazy
07-12-2005, 05:04 AM
Stircrazy, how many pumps are you running to get that kind of turn over? From what Ive seen, it's going to be hard enough to get 1000gph with 8' of head that I believe I'm going to have. Unless you break the bank on a pump. After getting the lights, there isn't many "just on more item babe" left. My wife is starting to catch on to that one :biggrin:

I am running two Mak 4's for my return loop, the rest is all Tunze and SEIO.

Steve