GPH help. Please

[TheGreatest]

Does anybody think that a single 800GPH wave maker pump is too much for my 55 gallon reef? I have a feeling it is.

 

[TheGreatest]

 

[mfinn]

No I don't think it is.
I have 2 Tunze 6055's in my 30" long 50 gallon tank.
They have a max. flow rate of 1450 gph and I have them at approx 3/4 max flow.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Your fine. I have 7200gph in my 240g tank. Your fine.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Not at all, 30 to 50x the display volume is a common circulation rate with SPS corals.

 

[Palting]

Does anybody think that a single 800GPH wave maker pump is too much for my 55 gallon reef? I have a feeling it is.

That's only 14X DT volume. Even if I assume your return pump has an effective output of 500gph at the nozzle, both will only add up to 23X DT volume. That's good only for fish, softies and maybe some LPS. You can add another 800gph powerhead at the opposite wall of the tankmand still be 38X DT volume. In contrast, my 150 gallon SPS dominated mixed reef has a total flow of 7,500gph for a combined 50X DT volume.