Flow Help for Acropora Dominated Tank

[tdileo]

Well, recently something terrible has happened to my tank. I was bitten by the bug that has gotten so many of you. Haha.
My tank has been nice and stable since I set it up in March and I am currently keeping a few different acros frags as well as a few other SPS. It is still pretty empty in terms of being filled with coral (it’s not cheap!) and at the moment I am looking for help on how to add flow. I currently have 1 Koralia powerhead that puts out 850GPH for general circulation as well as a return pump from my sump (Syncra 2.0) but the return comes over and empty patch of sand so it doesn’t do much. Tank dimensions are 36x12-14x18. How many more powerheads should I add? I am trying to save up for an MP10 but they are expensive, and I would probably keep my Koralia in addition to the MP10. Do those of you experienced with acros think this will be sufficient for a tank based mostly around them?

 

[Mattrg02]

What is your tank size? I believe the way you want to approach this is by turn over rate. 50 times your tank volume per hour is probably a starting point.

 

[BoomCorals]

Agreed. If you are going to add more of those koralia, you'll need 3 more. And eventually might want to replace with something better/bigger.

 

[tdileo]

My tank is 46 gallons and I listed the dimensions in the original post. So if I get one MP10 you guys think I will need 2 850GPH Koralias?

 

[Reefer40b]

You know I have had good success with jebao far cheaper. A couple pp4's would do good they work great on a 40b. 2 years with mine at 100% no issues

 

[Mattrg02]

I've got one mp10 on my 17g and run at 100% reef crest mode. I'm contemplating adding another powerhead for more flow at some point. I'd probably go for an mp40 on a 47g tank.

 

[tdileo]

You know I have had good success with jebao far cheaper. A couple pp4's would do good they work great on a 40b. 2 years with mine at 100% no issues

Thanks for the input, I’ll have to check these out!

 

[tdileo]

I've got one mp10 on my 17g and run at 100% reef crest mode. I'm contemplating adding another powerhead for more flow at some point. I'd probably go for an mp40 on a 47g tank.

Dear lord, an MP10 at 100% on such a small tank doesn’t blow the glass apart? LOL.
In all seriousness I’m not sure if I could afford the extra $100 on the MP40. I’m only 15 (but I’ll have a job when summer comes around) so I’d prefer to save as much as possible and someone told me to look at Jebao pumps so I will probably go with them instead.

 

[CoralNerd]

Don't get a mp10 you need a mp40.
Check out the German made Tunze 6095 wide spread pump. It's sweet, I'm about to buy two.

 

[tdileo]

Don't get a mp10 you need a mp40.
Check out the German made Tunze 6095 wide spread pump. It's sweet, I'm about to buy two.

I’ll look at the Tunze. The MP40 is really out of my price range for what I’m willing or even able to spend on one piece of equipment. For me it’s months of saving up without buying anything for myself.

 

[BoomCorals]

I’ll look at the Tunze. The MP40 is really out of my price range for what I’m willing or even able to spend on one piece of equipment. For me it’s months of saving up without buying anything for myself.

On a budget I'd go with jebao.

 

[tdileo]

On a budget I'd go with jebao.

Thanks for the recommendation. I am between one Tunze or maybe 2 Jebao PP4s in addition to my Koralia.

 

[Labridaedicted]

I'm all about my gyres! Got 2 and run a tide simulation with them. I have been getting great growth and polyp extension .

Jebao is a good budget option. That's what I run in my frag tank, fuge, and qt and if you get the newer ones, they are pretty reliable and have decent controllability. I would reccommend saving up and getting the mp or a gyre though. The quality is definitely worth it.

 

[TKirby918]

icecap 3k gyre is 159 and more than enough to run your tank on its own

 

[BoomCorals]

Thanks for the recommendation. I am between one Tunze or maybe 2 Jebao PP4s in addition to my Koralia.

two jeboa if you're going sps. 3 if you can swing the $$$. sps need a LOT of flow. Flow is life for them. It helps them get food, stay free of detritus and debris, and brings them oxygen, etc.

 

[tdileo]

icecap 3k gyre is 159 and more than enough to run your tank on its own

I like the Gyre pumps but that one has quite a few reviews that say it failed quickly and becomes really loud.

 

[tdileo]

two jeboa if you're going sps. 3 if you can swing the $$$. sps need a LOT of flow. Flow is life for them. It helps them get food, stay free of detritus and debris, and brings them oxygen, etc.

Yeah, I have my acros and favorite montis in the high flow area I have but it’s filling up fast.

 

[BoomCorals]

Yea the new maxspect 200 series gyres are far superior and work awesome. That's what I use.

 

[Mattrg02]

Dear lord, an MP10 at 100% on such a small tank doesn’t blow the glass apart? LOL.
In all seriousness I’m not sure if I could afford the extra $100 on the MP40. I’m only 15 (but I’ll have a job when summer comes around) so I’d prefer to save as much as possible and someone told me to look at Jebao pumps so I will probably go with them instead.

It would seem like a lot of flow, but it isn't. It's a bare bottom tank and the zoas on the bottom aren't moving at all.

Totally understand the budget constraint though! Awesome to see someone in their teens in to this sort of thing!

 

[Labridaedicted]

Like @BoomCorals said above... the new 200 series gyres are the way to go. I have a strong suspicion that alot of the noise and low flow complaints are from people putting the propellors back in backwards after maintenance cleaning. I say this since I had that problem and then took it apart and put the props back in the other way and now they run exactly as brand new.

I'm running 2x gyre 250s in my 180 and if I run them above about 50% it actually stresses some of my acros. The smallest gyre would be awesome in your tank.