Powerhead flow need desperate help.

Nmaran72 · Jul 19, 2019

I am getting very frustrated with this and I need some help. I have purchased 3 style powerhead wave makers and nothing seems to make a decent wave. I either have to much power blowing everything around or dead spots. I have a innovative marine sr60. It is a shallow reef tank. the display area is about 50 gal and with the live rock it is way less. I have bought an mp40 a octo pulse 2 and maxpect 330. Each pump at its lowest settings seem to blow the corals like it is peeling the flesh off. I have move them all over with no luck. I want to achieve a mixed reef. In the tank I have a plate coral a torch coral 2 hammers and frogspawn. All of which are at the bottom to mid level of my tank. I have a couple of pieces of monti caps at the top. I am beginning to think my prob is the tank being it is a shallow tank. According to posts turnover should be 20x -40x turnover this gives me a range of 800-1600 which all these pumps say they can achieve at their lowest settings. I can’t even get that wave effect. I never see the impellers stop and start. Is this only achieved thru an apex controller. Please any advise would be great full. 3 pumps 1000 + bucks. I’m about to lose it lol.

ndrwater · Jul 19, 2019

To get a wave, the best solution is two opposing power heads. As an example, using the MP's, you would set them in wave crest mode and run them in anti-sync

Ratherbeflyen · Jul 19, 2019

My previous tank was a 16" deep 40 gallon. I put a pair of cheap Jebao RW-4's on both sides for ~50$ each. They worked for growing my mixed reef tank and lasted for over 2 years before the wet side of one had to be replaced.