Find my flow (powerhead placement and settings)

jasonamyers · Jun 30, 2017

I'm trying to determine the right place to put my powerheads in my Reefer 425 xl. I had them on the back walls and just moved them to the sides of my tank. I'm not sure where they should be pointed or set. totally open to ideas. Here are some pictures.

Settings:

Reef2zach · Jul 1, 2017

power head placement if one of the hardest things in this hobby IMO. Ive been doing this for years and I still move mine all the time. I've heard multiple different ways to place power heads. Some people place them low and face them up towards the water surface some some people put them on the back glass some people have more then 2. I personally dont have wave makers (but they're on my wishlist) I have one higher and pumping water down and one lower pumping water up both facing different directions enough to not cancel each other out. If you have wave maker pumps then placement I would think would be a little less important since you're going to have random flow regardless with them turning on and off constantly. Good Luck

leahfiish · Jul 2, 2017

It'll depend on the corals you get and where you put them, in general you 3wbt to avoid any dead spots, and you want varied flow, not a constant jet in one directions 24/7. Ways to get varied flow include pointing 2 powerheads at each other, pointing them at the glass, having them alternate on and off, or having different settings. Even then you may still have to move them around based on your corals.

chefjpaul · Jul 2, 2017

With your rock work, I'd put one pushing water front and one pushing water on the back, kinda like a vertical gyre effect.

Great looking tank btw.

Flippers4pups · Jul 2, 2017

Agreed, coral placement may dictate where you have them and how much flow you use.

I have my RW15's at opposite sides facing slightly upwards. My rock work is centrally located so that water flows around the front and back of it.

I run an alternating flow pattern that flows for three minutes in one direction and then flows the other direction for three minutes.

Pumps are at 70% and are controlled with a JB wave controller. 6' 125 gallon DT.

In other words, flow around your rock work is best while breaking the surface and not too much as to blow sand around. This will have a great deal to do with coral placement.