Need Help with powerhead gph

ETORRES477 · Feb 22, 2014

Hey guys, Im starting up a 150 gallon reef tank (72"x18"x27"). I am planning on stocking it with LPS and eventually SPS as well as fish. How much flow would you recommend for 2 powerheads one at each end of the tank, my cousin advised 2 800gph would do it, but this sounds a bit low. I was thinking about going with the Hydor SmartWave pump controller kit, should I get the 850gph (x2) 1150gph (x2) or 1500gph (x2) kit? Thanks for the advice. :noidea::noidea::noidea::noidea::noidea::noidea::noidea:

Hydor SmartWave Pump Controller Kits: Aquarium Wavemakers

tencwhiskey · Feb 22, 2014

I have the 850 kit on my 72

c_healy · Feb 22, 2014

Get a wp25 instead.

Youll get much better flow.

EricTMah · Feb 22, 2014

I doubt you'll have enough with the 800's for a 72" long tank.

I use two 1150's and a MP40 on my 48X24X24 and I find that's a good amount.

And I've read mixed reviews on the smartwave. Some people love it, while others say it causes their power heads to "clank" during start up.

Like mentioned above. You're probably better off to get the wp25's

ETORRES477 · Feb 22, 2014

how many wp-25's would you recommend 2. And @ how many gph should I set them. I was going to put one at each end of the tank clocked at 1000 gph, what do you think of that set up?

Palting · Feb 22, 2014

I have your exact tank dimensions, and have a 4 year old SPS dominated mixed reef tank. You can check my homepage under my avatar. I use a total of for 1400gpg Koralias and a 1400gph retrun pump, for a total of 7,000gph or 47X DT volume. The returns come in from each back corner pointing towards the front middle and downwards, 2 PH's in the middle back pointing towards the front corners, and 2PH in the back corners pointing towards the middle. All of them are up high and pointing downwards, forcing the oxygenated surface water to the depths of the tank. The flows crisscross, creating chaotic random flow that corals seem to like.