Powerhead placement help?

kanders87 · Sep 30, 2016

Ok, I'm a little confused about where to place my powerheads. Some say have them slightly facing each other, others say to face the front glass slightly off center, or have one on opposite ends one pointing up and one pointing down. If I plan on having a reef tank, which is best?

I have a 36 gal bowfront with a small CRP refugium w/ a 250gph pump.
2- 525 gph powerheads on opposite ends : one pointed on the backside of the rockwork, the other halfway up the tank pointing up and center of the tank.

Starwar · Sep 30, 2016

I have one power head pointed up...apparently this helps with gas exchange and it keeps residue off the surface. It also gives a good shimmer effect. I also have one pointed down in order to prevent crud from settling on the sand bed

Reeferdood · Sep 30, 2016

Key is good flow that won't blow your sand everywhere. In my opinion, all tanks are different due to their aquascaping.. find what works best in your situation.. Your livestock should not be getting blasted at any time.
Trust me, you will tinker with the power heads a lot until you find the sweet spot.

mcarroll · Sep 30, 2016

I'm guessing those ~~powerbeads~~ powerheads will not be enough after you get some corals growing in.

Try this:

Set up timers so one pump runs and the other pump is off. It runs like this for a few/several hours, then switches to the other pump is on and the first pump is off.

Give each pump as clear of a shot into open water as you can. The sooner its flow hits an obstruction, the sooner flow gets cut down. This might mean moving them to the top, over the rock structure. But where is not crucial...just that they have "room to work".

This is roughly a tide-flow simulation and it usually works well.

One thing it does is to allow each pump to develop it's maximum effect without working against the other pump. Having both on simultaneously creates excessive turbulence, which kills the amount of flow they can make.

If this sounds interesting, see what you think of the flow in that arrangement and get back with us.

skybears · Sep 30, 2016

Reeferdood said:
Key is good flow that won't blow your sand everywhere. In my opinion, all tanks are different due to their aquascaping.. find what works best in your situation.. Your livestock should not be getting blasted at any time.
Trust me, you will tinker with the power heads a lot until you find the sweet spot.

thank you for the info, I was worried about this also with having 2 in back and 2 on the sides, it's going to be "move 1 inch at at time" till you feel it's right.
I think I read that you need good movement in the upper and it slightly slows as you let lower. Is that correct or is it based on your tank size and aquascape?

Reeferdood · Sep 30, 2016

It really depends on your livestock... I agree that the surface agitation is good but what happens below is key too... Balance, you must find the balance..
I'll post a video of my flow tomorrow if it helps..

surfnsalt · Sep 30, 2016

kanders87 said:
Ok, I'm a little confused about where to place my powerheads. Some say have them slightly facing each other, others say to face the front glass slightly off center, or have one on opposite ends one pointing up and one pointing down. If I plan on having a reef tank, which is best?

I have a 36 gal bowfront with a small CRP refugium w/ a 250gph pump.
2- 525 gph powerheads on opposite ends : one pointed on the backside of the rockwork, the other halfway up the tank pointing up and center of the tank.

Your aquascape is awesome btw.

kanders87 · Sep 30, 2016

mcarroll said:
I'm guessing those powerbeads will not be enough after you get some corals growing in.

Like I will need stronger powerheads? I am interested in your tidal simulation. I'll do some more research on it. I've only briefly read about it. Would a wave maker be similar?

kanders87 · Sep 30, 2016

surfnsalt said:
Your aquascape is awesome btw.

Thank you!! I debate every day about redoing it. I think when it's your own, you have a harder time liking it? I dunno, I'm just difficult [emoji38].

kanders87 · Sep 30, 2016

Reeferdood said:
It really depends on your livestock... I agree that the surface agitation is good but what happens below is key too... Balance, you must find the balance..
I'll post a video of my flow tomorrow if it helps..

Yes please!!

kanders87 · Nov 6, 2016

@Reeferdood Do you happen to have the video of your flow? I still feel like I'm struggling.

Reeferdood · Nov 7, 2016

I'll take one today when I get home from work

aythatguy26 · Nov 7, 2016

Having the same problem. Following

mcarroll · Nov 7, 2016

kanders87 said:
Like I will need stronger powerheads? I am interested in your tidal simulation. I'll do some more research on it. I've only briefly read about it. Would a wave maker be similar?

Did you get a chance to try this out?

Similar but often they don't allow long enough times between switches.

A pair of quality appliance timers is probably a better deal if you aren't going to get a Reefkeeper/Apex type controller.

Reeferdood · Nov 7, 2016

kanders87 said:
@Reeferdood Do you happen to have the video of your flow? I still feel like I'm struggling.

I have the MP40's on reef crest mode, running 180out of each other and at 90% power

kanders87 · Jan 31, 2017

Thanks for the video! I've been doing tons of research on flow and I ended up upgrading my powerheads to 2 Hydor koralia 1150's running opposite each other on a day/night schedule. I just started the new flow schedule a couple days ago but the higher gph seems much better!