180 build

[Jerry Smith]

Ok guy I need some help figuring out witch power heads to run. I can't decide if I should run 3 mp40's on the back, or 2 mp40's on the sides and 2 mp10's on the back. Tank is going to be sps dominant

 

[rawhideshaba]

I have some large tanks and I 100% would go maxspect gyre over 3-4 mp40s plus additional. Your talking 3-4 outlets and a lot more wattage. But I know little to nothing about your corals so that may not work in your tank. I would entertain checking them out though. Saves a ton of space and way less wires coming out of your tank.

 

[ReefEco]

Hey Jerry - assuming this is not a penninsula tank, 1 Gyre 250 on each end, and two mp40's on the back pushing forward would be totally sweet. Might sound like overkill, but people often underestimate the importance of flow for sps. If you are set on mp40s (obviously a great pump too), then I'd do 4, one on each end, two on the back pushing forward.

 

[Jerry Smith]

It's a standard 180. 6'x2'x2' with two overflows on the back. I'm going to be building it into the wall with a fish room behind it. I would like to stay with ecotech because the lights and return pump are also going to be ecotech. I'm not putting a Apex controller on the the tank so I like the idea of being able to control them with my phone.

 

[ReefEco]

Hey Jerry - that is understandable to keep things in the same controller constellation. Gyre's do come with their own controller, but yes, you wouldn't be able to control them from the phone - and I understand that appeal. I think you will need 4 mp40's though on the 180 ultimately. You could probably get away with 3 initially, but if your tank becomes an SPS garden the fourth likely will need to be added, to compensate for all the coral restricting flow - you know, when they are growing out of the water! : )

 

[Jerry Smith]

So reefeco you think 4 on the back running at 60% would be ok until it all grows out would be ok

 

[ReefEco]

Hard to tell without seeing your rockscape, but in general I'd do one on each short side pushing to the center of the tank, and two on the back long side pushing forward - that would give you some good variability in current direction. You'll have to adjust the percent flow according to your aquascape and corals. Typically in this configuration, the pumps on the short side pushing along the long axis of the tank are set at a good bit higher flow than those on the back wall. So you could do probably get away with mp10's on the back wall if you wanted to save some money. If you are getting sand, get some with large enough grains that won't be blown away. I like the look of the 2-3mm sand, but put larger grains around the edges (some people have to go with large stuff like CA reactor media) so it won't be blown around. Just know that flow is not a set it and forgot it parameter, so as your corals grow - their skeletons will change the flow in the tank (often inhibit it), so over time you may need to move powerheads, turn them up, etc.