Preferred water movement?
- Thread starter Mrfresh
- Start date
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calvo15290
Valuable Member
I have a power head but I'd like a wave box
MadBrad527
Community Member
Definitely alternating. I love to have two separate flow systems (one running for 5 minutes, then the other for 5 minutes) to avoid having any detritus collection area or still areas with zero flow. I avoid random and burst flows because random has no pattern and I believe the livestock would have a difficult time under these conditions. I avoid the burst flows for the potential stress it could put on livestock as well. Also, bursting powerheads or any flow-producing devices is hard on the impeller and motor itself, since it has to start up and then shut down, and repeat. This most likely shortens the lifetime of your devices.
My 0.02
My 0.02
LOVETHISHOBBY
Active Member
I have 2 MP40's on my 90 gal on reef crest mode.
Palting
Active Member
I have 4 1400gph Koralia Evo powerheads, plus a 1500gph return pump through 4 nozzles. So, effectively I have 8 sources of continuous flow in my tank, all crossing each others paths. This results in random chaotic flow. Has worked well in my 3 1/2 y.o. SPS dominant mixed reef tank. Unfortunately, this is not among the choices in your poll 
Mrfresh
Valuable Member
I have 4 1400gph Koralia Evo powerheads, plus a 1500gph return pump through 4 nozzles. So, effectively I have 8 sources of continuous flow in my tank, all crossing each others paths. This results in random chaotic flow. Has worked well in my 3 1/2 y.o. SPS dominant mixed reef tank. Unfortunately, this is not among the choices in your poll
I would say that falls under constant. Even tho its making choas the pumps never stop
Palting
Active Member
You asked about flow patterns, though, not pump type. Okay, I voted "random". Even though the pumps are running continuously, with the multiple powerhead setup, the resulting tank flow is both random and chaotic, my preferred flow pattern.
kes
Well-Known Member
all of the above would be ideal, random, violent movement, water crashes all help keep detritus in suspension, and fish especially tangs love the high flow.
i use SCWD and it works fine for me
i use SCWD and it works fine for me
All of the above. I have a Oceans Motions Squirt two way on my return and for years had Evolutions 1400's on a RKL switching every 30 seconds but recently switched to Jebao WP-25's which have the pulse modes.
o2manyfish
Valuable Member
400 Gallon Aquarium.
2500+ Gph in Constant Flow Return
2- Tunze 6200 aimed straight up creating upflow on both sides of the tank.
3- Tunze 6200/6255 Aimed across the tank hidden from within the rock /corals.
Tunze's are random flow pattern (Velocity)
Tunzes are also on various on/off patterns.
Plus a 26g surge tank mounted on a second story balcony that dumps via a 2" pipe every 90-120 seconds - 22+g in under 9 seconds - Equivalent to 29k gph random and violent flow.
Been running this mix of flow for over 8 years and all aspects of it work great. I wish I could have more right/left flow from the ends of the tank, but all my flow is hidden in the tank and I don't want to see any of the pumps.
Dave B
Take a gander at the tank on the live webcam - www.o2manyfish.com/camera.html - Lights on after 5pm PST - You can move the camera and zoom in, see if you can spot the Tunzes
2500+ Gph in Constant Flow Return
2- Tunze 6200 aimed straight up creating upflow on both sides of the tank.
3- Tunze 6200/6255 Aimed across the tank hidden from within the rock /corals.
Tunze's are random flow pattern (Velocity)
Tunzes are also on various on/off patterns.
Plus a 26g surge tank mounted on a second story balcony that dumps via a 2" pipe every 90-120 seconds - 22+g in under 9 seconds - Equivalent to 29k gph random and violent flow.
Been running this mix of flow for over 8 years and all aspects of it work great. I wish I could have more right/left flow from the ends of the tank, but all my flow is hidden in the tank and I don't want to see any of the pumps.
Dave B
Take a gander at the tank on the live webcam - www.o2manyfish.com/camera.html - Lights on after 5pm PST - You can move the camera and zoom in, see if you can spot the Tunzes
pickupman66
5000 Club Member
Um... I have all 4 employed in my tank. two returns are standard, these point down on back glass to flow thru back of reef. tow returns are seaswirls (one on each end). I have two WP40's. one on Else and and one on W1. I also have a closed loop that is on a pulsing timer so that it runs for a few minutes at a time and off for a while.
CountrySideCoral
Active Member
My 65 gallon has 2 x 1050 koralias on the left, paired with a 1400 on the right, and a mag 7 return. The koralias are on a smart wave alternating every 7.5 seconds. Very random flow but I am tempted to try 1 minute as you guys seem to like the flow that creates. My tank is euphyllia dominated.
