Adding flow to a 220gal tank

[btkrausen]

Right now I have 2 x MP40s but it seems that there are still dead spots in the tank, especially around the sand area. I was thinking about moving the MP40s down a bit and then getting some other smaller pumps to keep water moving around the top/middle. I would love to do 2 x MP10, but the 10s just barely hang on through the thicker glass, plus, I don't wanna spend as much.

Should I just move the MP40s down a bit and now worry so much about the top? The return does move quite a bit of water around the top middle.

Thoughts?

 

[mcfadden]

i would leave the mp40s at the top and get some smaller pumps for the dead spots.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

IME, you get the most overall water movement when the pumps are near the surface (less friction and fewer obstructions), not to mention the increased gas exchange through maintaining a turbulent surface. I agree you might need additional pumps, but...

If you haven't already done so - You might try placing the MP40s to the opposite side and corner (left front/right rear) with the hopes of starting a gyre and moving more water. Another option (although less likely to succeed), would be to try moving one of the MP40s to the opposite side and much lower hoping to start a type of vertical gyre.

Adding eductors to your returns can also increase water movement.

 

[btkrausen]

Thanks guys. I can see that there are basically two circles of water movement coming from each side in which the water moves from the sides to towards the middle and then goes up.

The biggest reason I wanted to move the MP40s down and keep the smaller pumps at top was to eliminate wires in the tank.

 

[btkrausen]

Bump for more ideas. I still want to drop the MP40s a tad (won't be blocked by rock) and add some Tunze pumps at the top. Not sure if some modded 6025s would be enough or should I go with 6065s?

 

[Eternal]

maybe sell the mp40's and get mp60's :bigsmile:

 

[btkrausen]

I don't think its a matter of the MP40s not providing enough flow, its a matter of directing the flow to cover the whole tank. I'm getting the majority of the tank with the MP40s and the return except for the backside of the rocks. The tank is 30 inches tall so its hard to cover all that with the straight on approach that the MP40s provide.

 

[Mr E Wrasse]

I use Accelerator nozzles on my returns and that combined with my mp40 moves a lot of water.... my tank is 30" tall as well

 

[btkrausen]

I use Accelerator nozzles on my returns and that combined with my mp40 moves a lot of water.... my tank is 30" tall as well

Thanks Old Gregg....I mean Mr E Wrasse

I need to change up my return a bit but the way it is setup now it really moves some water (I think the LocLine tips are too small for my volume) and was thinking about putting the wider, fatter ends on it as it moves so fast it sometimes pulls air.

It would be awesome if I could figure out a way to sneak the cords down the overflow and get them through it so the cables aren't visible. With the removable pieces on the overflow it actually might be doable.