How To Position Power Heads ?

[sonnyg]

I HAVE A 125 GL REEF TANK,6 MTHS OLD NOW. I HAVE THE SUMP PUMP ON TOP OF TANK WATER,AND 3 POWER HEADS I NEED TO FIGURE OUT WERE TO PLACE THEM. DO I NEED MORE POWER HEADS IN MY TANK? DO YOU PLASE THEM HIGH OR LOW IN THE TANK?? DO YOU PLACE THEM TO SHOOT RIGHT AT THE LIVE ROCK??? THANKS FOR ANY HELP I CAN GET !!!

SONNYG

 

[RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah]

Depends on the inhabitants. Do you have any gorgonians? If so, make sure they get good but not necessarily direct flow, think enough to make sure algae doesnt build up on them. Other than that, Id make sure there isnt a "stagnant" area, and make sure it pushes water around everything. The idea is to create a real-ocean environment for the animals, but also to make sure nothing builds up anywhere. I have a row of corals in the front of my tank so far so i have a powerhead blowing directly across the front, but not at them, just above them to make sure there isnt a buildup of the slime they excrete and so my skimmer can remove it. Change them around a little every once in a while too. Some people have them on timers, turning on and off, maybe even changing their positions {i dont know though} Also if you are keeping acroporas, or many of the SPS species, they need strong water flow as well as gorgonians.

 

[Chac]

Hi Sonny

What is the flow ratings of the powerheads?

 

[sonnyg]

Hi Sonny

What is the flow ratings of the powerheads?

i have 3 350gph and my main sump i think it is about 500/600 gph. things just do not look the same in the last 2 weeks. i have alot of the slim on the sand,and my rocks.

thanks for any help !!!!

sonny g

 

[RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah]

Well, I dont know how this would matter since the tank is 6 months old and you dont seem to have had this problem before, but do you use RO water? But anything having to do with using just tap would have probably come up befor now so I dont know.

 

[Aquascaper]

An important point to note is that Live Rock requires good water flow to push the water through the rock and therefore allow it to filter it properly. As RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah says, make sure there is no stagnant areas or eddies, places where the water 'pools'; I have always found that a small(ish) powerhead with a spraybar hidden in the rockwork will help to keep the water moving through the reef and ensure good filtration.
When placing the powerheads drop some fine sand or flake food into the water and watch where the water flows, move the powerheads to direct the flow where you want it.
When alls said and done it will depend a lot on what types of corals you have and their individual flow requirements as to where the powerheads are placed. I have found that getting the flow set up first then placing the corals is a easier way of doing it rather than the other way round.

HTH

 

[sonnyg]

An important point to note is that Live Rock requires good water flow to push the water through the rock and therefore allow it to filter it properly. As RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah says, make sure there is no stagnant areas or eddies, places where the water 'pools'; I have always found that a small(ish) powerhead with a spraybar hidden in the rockwork will help to keep the water moving through the reef and ensure good filtration.
When placing the powerheads drop some fine sand or flake food into the water and watch where the water flows, move the powerheads to direct the flow where you want it.
When alls said and done it will depend a lot on what types of corals you have and their individual flow requirements as to where the powerheads are placed. I have found that getting the flow set up first then placing the corals is a easier way of doing it rather than the other way round.

HTH

thanks for the help! the tank was fish only for about 8 years never had any problems. i went to a reaf about 6 mths ago. i use RO only from the fish store. i need to set up my own RO water at the house. should i buy a couple more power heads? i placed 2 heads more towards the front side shooting the water more to the reef.

 

[Aquascaper]

It's hard to give precise advice on powerheads without knowing the exact location and type of corals, water flow, etc. You should be looking to create around x40 the volume of water as your total flow rate (bearing in mind that a natural reef will recieve around x10,000 flow rates!)

In you case that will be approx: 5000gph (18,900lph)

As an example my flow rate is around 5320gph (20,000lph) at it's maximum in my 160g system.
The key is to achieve high flow rates with maximum dispersement, ie. not all in one place, that's why tunze streams are so popular. This way you keep the flow rate but don't damage corals with too much direct current.

HTH

 

[sonnyg]

It's hard to give precise advice on powerheads without knowing the exact location and type of corals, water flow, etc. You should be looking to create around x40 the volume of water as your total flow rate (bearing in mind that a natural reef will recieve around x10,000 flow rates!)

In you case that will be approx: 5000gph (18,900lph)

As an example my flow rate is around 5320gph (20,000lph) at it's maximum in my 160g system.
The key is to achieve high flow rates with maximum dispersement, ie. not all in one place, that's why tunze streams are so popular. This way you keep the flow rate but don't damage corals with too much direct current.

HTH

how many power heads do you have in your tank?? i'm not sure what a tunze is?? i will look it up.my protin skimmer is feeling up fast. i have a lot of red color alge on the sand bed and all over everything. thanks for your help !!!

sonny g

 

[Aquascaper]

The red algae is a symptom of low flow rate (as well as excess nutrients, etc.) so try directing the flow towards the affected area to see if it shifts it.

As for how many powerheads I have.......................

I have a few big powerheads and a closed loop system running off a 5000lph pump