Need help on powerhead positioning

[JosephM]

I feel like no matter where I place them I’m getting some area of sand blowing around. I have a loc-line with flare nozzle at about 300 gph, maxi jet around 500gph, and SLW-20 at lowest setting so around 400gph. The loc-line is gently moving the surface and the maxi-jet is slightly below it blowing angled against the back wall and the SLW is on the opposite wall facing the front glass slightly. It all seems pretty well balanced except the SLW is digging a pit directly under it even though it’s pretty close to the surface. I’ve tried a lot and it keeps digging pretty quick underneath it. Any advice on how I can fix this or just position them better?

 

[Gtinnel]

Maybe moving the slw down lower and pointing it up more (I think you can adjust the angle on them) would help keep it from moving the sand bed.

 

[JosephM]

Maybe moving the slw down lower and pointing it up more (I think you can adjust the angle on them) would help keep it from moving the sand bed.

I don’t even know why I didn’t think of that. I’ll do that in a bit once I get cleaned up, I’m covered in dust lol

 

[JosephM]

I don’t even know why I didn’t think of that. I’ll do that in a bit once I get cleaned up, I’m covered in dust lol

Yeah that didn’t work too much. Those aren’t very adjustable...

 

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

that seems like a lot of flow for the 20 gallons the tank looks to be ( imo ), what is the actual tank size?

I also forgot to add an idea, because the maxijet seems to be very adjustable, you could switch their places then adjust it like the other person had mentioned.

And another thing, I switched my sand bed from small to large particle because of the sand blowing around so much, so you could do that ( large sand is also easier to clean as you can gravel vac it in a lot of situations.

 

[Uncle99]

Put SW on the opposite side pointing at return and run on slow and random setting.

 

[mindme]

I use special grade reef sand to help prevent this, but even those grains can get swept up. If you are using a fine sand, then basically the only thing you can do is reduce the flow.