Need help from all you flow experts!

Tuffloud1 · Jan 6, 2020

Setting my 72x28x30 in wall tank. It will be SPS dominate.

Front and right panels are visible from the front. Overflow is on the left side of the back panel. 2 return lines will be on the right side both with random flow generators by @Vivid Creative Aquatics pointed left. I really don’t want anything mounted on the right side glass.

I definitely want Vortechs because the wires will be out of the tank and hidden behind the wall.

The Ecotech flow calculator says three MP40s or one MP40 and one MP60. Not sure if this recommendation is based on having all the pumps turned to 100% or not.

Wanted to get advice on which ones to order, how many and where to place them. I understand a lot will depend on rock placement but just wanted to have a starting point.

Thanks

Tuffloud1 · Jan 7, 2020

Would you go with one MP60 and one MP40 or three MP40s?

piranhaman00 · Jan 7, 2020

IMO having two pumps will increase aesthetics because one less pump of course but having three MP40 would be better for flow than one of each, of course just my opinion.

Fishfinder · Jan 7, 2020

100% set on vortechs? Then I would do 5 40s or 1 60 and 3 40s

Tuffloud1 · Jan 7, 2020

Will an MP40 reach one end to the other on a 6 ft tank?

jda · Jan 7, 2020

Yes and no, but more on the no. MP flow is wide, not a strong stream and you cannot direct it much. This can be good and bad.

If you want something that will reach the other side, then a gyre will, but they are static. I have one that I run a few hours, but I hate the flow that it makes, but it sure does move some water. You cannot even see it near the top of the black background.

I go with Tunze because you can point them and they will penetrate further than a VorTech. On the good side, the last a long long, but they do have wires and take up a bit more room in the tank. I have a coral-first paradigm and I will suffer any amount of wires to make the inhabitants more happy if there are not other solutions.

You might need to mix pump types to get what you want. If you are looking at pumps, then you are not doing a good enough job growing beautiful, colorful corals.

ajhudson15 · Jan 7, 2020

I have had vortechs but I now use gyres and I totally agree with jda. I also run mainly sps on a 75 gallon and the gyres no doubt move more water and the flow itself is just better all around in my opinion.

Phil D. · Jan 7, 2020

Gyres would be better for this tank. Place one at each end and set up wave.

Huff747 · Jan 7, 2020

If it were me I'd probably do the 3 MP40s and do 2 on the back and one on the left side. More MP40s rather than 1 MP60 and 1 MP40 I feel like gives you the ability to make more combinations to get the flow to change.

SPR1968 · Jan 7, 2020

Depending on your glass thickness, I’ve checked the Ecotech flow calculator and 2 MP40’s will be plenty, but maybe a 3rd in the middle if you prefer.

From those measurements anyway as far as I can see

Tuffloud1 · Jan 7, 2020

jda said:
If you are looking at pumps, then you are not doing a good enough job growing beautiful, colorful corals.

Thanks for the info. Not sure what you mean by this statement though. I’m looking at pumps in order to find the best options for growing beautiful colorful corals as I did in my current smaller 90 gallon tank.

Tuffloud1 · Jan 7, 2020

ajhudson15 said:
I have had vortechs but I now use gyres and I totally agree with jda. I also run mainly sps on a 75 gallon and the gyres no doubt move more water and the flow itself is just better all around in my opinion.

I hear mixed reviews on the gyre pumps. How long have you been running yours?

Tuffloud1 · Jan 7, 2020

SPR1968 said:
Depending on your glass thickness, I’ve checked the Ecotech flow calculator and 2 MP40’s will be plenty, but maybe a 3rd in the middle if you prefer.

From those measurements anyway as far as I can see

3 across the back wall?

ajhudson15 · Jan 7, 2020

Tuffloud1 said:
I hear mixed reviews on the gyre pumps. How long have you been running yours?

ive ran them for a few years. I just put 2 3k gyres on my 220 and I can see debris moving on both ends so they are good. I probably need just a tad more power but its good for now. I run 2 3k gyres on my 75 sps dominant tank at 50% and my sps grows great

Fishfinder · Jan 7, 2020

My tank is 90x28x28. There is no way one MP on the side glass is enough. Also with a 72” tank you’ll need more than 2 on the back of your trying to avoid mounting on the right side

you can get away with less pumps if you choose not to use vortechs

Tuffloud1 · Jan 7, 2020

Fishfinder said:
My tank is 90x28x28. There is no way one MP on the side glass is enough. Also with a 72” tank you’ll need more than 2 on the back of your trying to avoid mounting on the right side

you can get away with less pumps if you choose not to use vortechs

I take it Ecotech’s calculator is totally worthless then, lol.

Midrats · Jan 7, 2020

If you don't want anything on the other end then you need something with some reach. I second the Tunze recommendation.

Tuffloud1 · Jan 7, 2020

squareriggersailor said:
If you don't want anything on the other end then you need something with some reach. I second the Tunze recommendation.

Is it possible to just mount powerheads on the back wall at the right end and point at the front of the tank? The flow would bounce off the front wall right? Seems like this would eliminate dead spots.

jda · Jan 7, 2020

Tuffloud1 said:
Thanks for the info. Not sure what you mean by this statement though. I’m looking at pumps in order to find the best options for growing beautiful colorful corals as I did in my current smaller 90 gallon tank.

I mean that I have never looked at a nice tank and even remember what equipment that they had in there. The focus was on the corals. IMO, people spend too much time thinking about aqua scape, cords and all of that when they are not even noticed if you are good at growing corals. The few who are too concerned with aesthetics of equipment often leave their corals to suffer a bit, or at least not thrive the way that they could. Buy equipment that will work best and if there is a cord, then so be it.

Tuffloud1 · Jan 7, 2020

jda said:
I mean that I have never looked at a nice tank and even remember what equipment that they had in there. The focus was on the corals. IMO, people spend too much time thinking about aqua scape, cords and all of that when they are not even noticed if you are good at growing corals. The few who are too concerned with aesthetics of equipment often leave their corals to suffer a bit, or at least not thrive the way that they could. Buy equipment that will work best and if there is a cord, then so be it.

I spend time thinking about the massive amounts of money I’m spending, correct. Yes cords bother me. To assume that someone isn’t capable of growing corals because they focus on educating themselves on equipment as well as designing a clean build is kind of funny.

I’m building this tank into my wall so heck yeah I want aesthetics, lol!

My previous tank is in my build thread if you want to check it out. I’m doing everything I wanted to do but didn’t do on this new build.