Do I need more Powerheads?

[New&no clue]

I have a 75 gallon DT with a 15 gallon sump. In my tank I have (2) 1050gph Powerheads and in my sump I have a 1050gph return pump. So all in all I’m moving 3150gph, giver or take. Before buying equipment I read this article.

Introduction to Flow, Tank Turnover, and Powerheads for the Reef Tank, Part 1

A beginner article on water flow in the reef tank.

www.reef2reef.com

It talked about flow for a tank. I have softies and LPS. So I was aiming for a medium flow tank of 30x turnover. That would mean I’m aiming for 2700gph (90 x 30). I know I’m losing some on my return pump so I thought this was good. However I went to see a new LFS that everyone raves about. This women specialized in softies and has beauty tanks. She told me 2 Powerheads and 1 return pumps was not enough flow. I should have 4 Powerheads, get two HOB overflows and another two return lines with another pump???? is this overkill? It sure feels it to me.

 

[mfinn]

You really don't need 4 powerheads unless you have really unusual rockwork that creates terrible dead spots.
But most people can keep soft corals moving around with just 2.
I'm not knocking your friend. She has her style and it sounds like it's working for her.

I try to keep the in tank equipment at a minimum.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I am a big proponent of more flow. Get something adjustable if possible

 

[HawaiianReef]

I have a 75g softie/LPS and I keep a very moderate flow. I watch how my finger leathers and devils hands behave and adjust to them. And I'm talking, low flow. 2 small powerheads. I turn one larger pump on twice a day for a few hours each time (not at night) just to turn up the empty spots in the tank.
I found they adapt, but like just a nice movement of water over them.
I would find what works best for your set up and animals.

 

[tautog83]

Are you having success with your current setup ? If the answer is yes then you have enough power heads. Flow is important but you can tweak it as you go . Do you have wave makers or just straight direction power heads? You can try a gyre or a Chinese knockoff wavemaker and try and get a more varied flow pattern versus the straight flow.

 

[Hermie]

Honestly, the number of powerheads isn't a perfect indication of how much "flow" you have in your tank. To illustrate... 2x1000gph powerheads is going to put out theoretically as much flow as 10x200gph powerheads, so 2 powerheads vs 10 powerheads...

When I considered flow in my tank, first I have an "overpowered" return (it's Triton-spec so 10x return flow through whole system, 30 gallons; return is rated for 500gph). Then I looked at how much return nozzle and my overflow and rockwork all factor into each other. So I went with 1x 400gph powerhead that creates a "vortex" throughout the whole tank when combining with the return flow on the other side of the tank, so my flow is optimized and not "crashing" into the return nozzle at all places. So... 1 powerhead, 1 return but plenty of flow (IMO).

So really, have 4 vs 2 powerheads is just a moot point, it matters about your return nozzle, your overflow/weir, your rock placements etc.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Are you having success with your current setup ? If the answer is yes then you have enough power heads. .

This is a great point. my Nem tank, which everyone says flow is a must, is a RSR Nano running just the stock return pump. I put powerheads in it, but eventually removed

 

[sharpimage]

you only need enough flow to your sump that your equipment in it needs. Having a white water raft ride in your sump is unnecessary.

 

[WVNed]

You dont need to add another overflow. If you have enough flow through your sump to make your skimmer work and your temperature stable you are good.

How much flow you need in your tank depends on what you put in it and how much power your lighting puts out and varies greatly.

I had 2 XF250 gyre pumps and 2 Jebao PP-8s in my 75.

I will add that some people that have done this a long time think in terms of fixed power flow pumps like Maxijets. I used to do this myself. If you wanted more flow you added more pumps.
I really like my programmable DC pumps now.

 

[madweazl]

What you have may be enough but for comparison sake, we have two MP40WEs running at 100% (nutrient transport mode) on our 75g and it certainly isn't crazy in there. Our 150g has two MP40QDs on it and for now, that is enough but I'll need more as the corals grow into colonies.

Start with what you have and see how it goes; if the corals are swaying about you're likely fine. They dont need to be in hurricane force flow nor should they barely be moving. Avoid blasting them with direct flow from the pumps; you're much better off bouncing the flow off a pain of glass so it's diffused by the time it reaches a coral.

 

[New&no clue]

Do you have wave makers or just straight direction power heads

Yes I have the current usa powerheads so I can change them to stream, pulse, or wave. I have one on pulse and the other on wave and then my return from the pump is obviously a stream.

Start with what you have and see how it goes; if the corals are swaying about you're likely fine.

Yes they all are drifting back and forth. I pointed my two on the side up toward the front glass so it hits there and then bounces back.

Are you having success with your current setup ?

I'm not sure. For the first 5 months I just had fish so they were fine. I just recently added corals a couple weeks ago. Almost all softies, a couple LPS, and a couple Zoas. Most are doing fine, some are doing great, a couple have stopped opening or extending all the way. I read iodine could be an issue so I ordered a test kit for it so I can check, but I wasn't sure if maybe flow was an issue too.