How much GPH is too much based on tank size?

[Clo]

I always see 8-10x, but do some people go over that?
How did we arrive at the 8-10 rule?

Is it possible to have too much turnover for a tank with water?

Thanks

 

[dvgyfresh]

I always thought it was 30x lol

 

[WVNed]

Some people use 8-10 through the sump. But with that plus wavemakers 20-50 times and sometimes more is possible in the tank.

 

[LAX Noob Reef]

I'm thinking 120G can use 4 MP60.

 

[Clo]

I always thought it was 30x lol

You may be right, and I'm probably wrong

 

[Clo]

Some people use 8-10 through the sump. But with that plus wavemakers 20-50 times and sometimes more is possible in the tank.

So is it just like 8-10 with the return pump and everything else via wavemaker?

 

[dvgyfresh]

You may be right, and I'm probably wrong

I use a gyre at 900 gph and return pump at 900 gph in 40breeder that’s a bit more than 40x

 

[Nick Steele]

The “rule” is 5-10x turnover for a sump for a 120g should have a return pump rated for 600-1200gph. I like a 3-5x turnover for a sump more but that’s just me.

In tank is a whole different ball game. Some people will run 100x tank turnover. But depends on corals that they have. In my 20G I probably have about 60x turnover with the two powerheads I’m using and I still have dead spots. But I’m fine with it.

 

[Jon's Reef]

10x through the sump is the Triton method value. This is to have sufficient mixing of the chemicals and interaction in the fuge. For non-trition 3-5x is sufficient.

In the tank, 50-100x capacity is often recommended, but run it 10-50x. Higher for SPS, but be careful of LPS and softies so you are not tearing off the flesh. One of the biggest things to watch is not just the "high" flow rate of a wavemaker, but also the low end. For example, an MP40 only goes down to ~1k gph.

 

[Clo]

10x through the sump is the Triton method value. This is to have sufficient mixing of the chemicals and interaction in the fuge. For non-trition 3-5x is sufficient.

In the tank, 50-100x capacity is often recommended, but run it 10-50x. Higher for SPS, but be careful of LPS and softies so you are not tearing off the flesh. One of the biggest things to watch is not just the "high" flow rate of a wavemaker, but also the low end. For example, an MP40 only goes down to ~1k gph.

Thanks Jon! I've never heard of the Triton method, so I guess I have something new to read up on.

And thank you! I will keep that in mind

 

[Rmckoy]

Return pump alone . I have a 230 gal system , and a 15000L return pump

 

[PigDaddyF15E]

One of the biggest things to watch is not just the "high" flow rate of a wavemaker, but also the low end. For example, an MP40 only goes down to ~1k gph.

Thanks. I hadn't really thought about this. IM 100 EXT is 15mm thick...so gotta use the MP40's and even on the low setting that's turning over the inside of the tank 10x hour.....

 

[DangerDave]

My “rule” is 3-5x turn over, usually 3. The rest comes from power heads. I like some dwell time for the water in the sump…

 

[PatW]

I believe that WWC typically runs 100X in their tanks. I have seen videos of aquaculture SPS tanks that are probably over that.

I scuba dive and flows on the reefs can be over 2 mph or higher. That would be about a 2000 X turnover on a 6 foot tank.

 

[DangerDave]

I don’t disagree with flow, my MP40s are pegged at 100% in reef crest mode the bulk of the day, but turnover from sump to tank doesn’t have to be a huge number IMHO…