Pro's and con's - Pump Placement - side glass vs back wall

[obzidian_reef]

Ok folks.

So I just added a new scape and Im undecided on pump placement.

I wanted to hear from the experts here as to where they mounted their pumps and why??

Pros and cons.

Currently i have a new in box MP40, a redwave25 gyre pump.

The scape is a blend between negative space and habitat, corals will be a mixed reef.

 

[exnisstech]

I'm no expert but will reply On a longer tank like yours always on the ends. Additional pump or pumps on the back may work but I think they should be in addition to having pumps on the ends. On the back they will most likely bounce off the front glass then downward and disrupt the sand. You have a nice open scape (which I like) that I think would benifit from pumps / power heads on the ends. The only tank I run that has no pumps on the ends is basically a cube 24x20x20 where I have 2 on the the back wall. My 6ft tank has them on the ends. At the end of the day I think you'll most likely have to play around with them and see what works for you. I don't think there is a cookie cutter layout for power head placement.

 

[obzidian_reef]

I'm no expert but will reply On a longer tank like yours always on the ends. Additional pump or pumps on the back may work but I think they should be in addition to having pumps on the ends. On the back they will most likely bounce off the front glass then downward and disrupt the sand. You have a nice open scape (which I like) that I think would benifit from pumps / power heads on the ends. The only tank I run that has no pumps on the ends is basically a cube 24x20x20 where I have 2 on the the back wall. My 6ft tank has them on the ends. At the end of the day I think you'll most likely have to play around with them and see what works for you. I don't think there is a cookie cutter layout for power head placement.

Exactly.. which is why I think Im loosing my mind over pump placement... and there arent even corals in! Lol

Personally, I want to have all the pumps on the back wall so Ill have all glass sides unobstructed but that might not be possible.

Do you have any experience with the MP pumps and their modes?

 

[Mikedawg]

Yep, on end pushing water along back wall.

 

[xCry0x]

Back wall will just blow against the front glass and make a sand dune.

 

[BAMatter]

I couldn’t get my flow dialed in with my pumps on ends of my 75 gallon. Have them on the back wall pointed up and to the center of the front glass. Alternate between an LPS mode and 3 second anti-sync pulse.

 

[obzidian_reef]

I couldn’t get my flow dialed in with my pumps on ends of my 75 gallon. Have them on the back wall pointed up and to the center of the front glass. Alternate between an LPS mode and 3 second anti-sync pulse.

What type of pumps? Livestock?

 

[obzidian_reef]

Back wall will just blow against the front glass and make a sand dune.

I would instantly loose my mind lol

 

[obzidian_reef]

Yep, on end pushing water along back wall.

On this.. the overflow sticks out in the center.

How would you setup the a pump to do that effectively?

 

[exnisstech]

Exactly.. which is why I think Im loosing my mind over pump placement... and there arent even corals in! Lol

Personally, I want to have all the pumps on the back wall so Ill have all glass sides unobstructed but that might not be possible.

Do you have any experience with the MP pumps and their modes?

I run 3 mp 40s and an mp 10 along with a few others. I've had them running for 3 or 4 years on 2 tanks used to be 3. I'm using reef link rather than mobius so probably can't help much but I run mostly reeflink with a nutrient transport tossed in. Power head placement is just trial and error and will drive you nuts if you let it Heck at least you were smart enough not to stack your rock against the back wall and have to do something like shown below to blow crap out. My disclaimer was in my first post "I'm no expert"

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok folks.

So I just added a new scape and Im undecided on pump placement.

I wanted to hear from the experts here as to where they mounted their pumps and why??

Pros and cons.

Currently i have a new in box MP40, a redwave25 gyre pump.

The scape is a blend between negative space and habitat, corals will be a mixed reef.

My gyres were always on back wall for total circultion with one side aim upwards and one downwards however you can place on side wall for total circulation.
I ran gyre on back with a powerhead on each eand staggered

 

[BAMatter]

What type of pumps? Livestock?

2 Reef OctoPulse 2’s. Mixed reef, primarily euphyllia. I got a little dune action going on in the bottom left corner, but I live with it. My pumps run reverse every hour to clean behind the rocks, and it’s a non-issue for me.

 

[obzidian_reef]

I run 3 mp 40s and an mp 10 along with a few others. I've had them running for 3 or 4 years on 2 tanks used to be 3. I'm using reef link rather than mobius so probably can't help much but I run mostly reeflink with a nutrient transport tossed in. Power head placement is just trial and error and will drive you nuts if you let it Heck at least you were smart enough not to stack your rock against the back wall and have to do something like shown below to blow crap out. My disclaimer was in my first post "I'm no expert"

Lol

This hobby can be a source of both a sense of accomplishment and madness!

My goal with the tank right was to get the basics done BEFORE adding any expensive livestock but at this rate I see an empty tank in the livingroom for a while!

I think im going to pick up another mp40 and palce with the placements and keep the gyre in their to try to attack the rear section of the tank.

The scape is faily open however it hugs the back a little so its going to tricky

 

[obzidian_reef]

My gyres were always on back wall for total circultion with one side aim upwards and one downwards however you can place on side wall for total circulation.
I ran gyre on back with a powerhead on each eand staggered

.. and this is something that I think ill need to consider. As much as I wanted to keep two panes of glass pump free the benefits outweigh the asthetics here.

 

[obzidian_reef]

2 Reef OctoPulse 2’s. Mixed reef, primarily euphyllia. I got a little dune action going on in the bottom left corner, but I live with it. My pumps run reverse every hour to clean behind the rocks, and it’s a non-issue for me.

Its not bad.. i dont mind a little bump in the sand in front.

Are they running in a sync or against each other?

 

[uhgster1]

This was my 65 gallon mixed. You’ll notice sps on one side and everything els distributed elsewhere. I had an mp10 on the back glass where the sps was and the other pumps on the side. I ended up with a hybrid substrate and I loved it. Where the sps was the tank was bare bottom and the sand was all on the other side. I wish I had pictures of the bare side but it was completely covered in coralline algae.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I use two Gyre pumps. One on each end of my 90. That allows me to set them at a higher speed without disturbing the sand too much. Also, the aquascape is higher toward the back glass and didn't allow decent flow when I triend the on the there. It took a while to find the right location and settings.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

At the end of the day, you'll need to figure out what works best for you. I would have the reefwave 25 ( you'll likely have to have it pretty much maxed) on the end and the mp 40 on the back on the opposite side to disrupt flow.

I really like your scape. Lots of places for fish to hide and mounting of corals. Well done

 

[obzidian_reef]

This was my 65 gallon mixed. You’ll notice sps on one side and everything els distributed elsewhere. I had an mp10 on the back glass where the sps was and the other pumps on the side. I ended up with a hybrid substrate and I loved it. Where the sps was the tank was bare bottom and the sand was all on the other side. I wish I had pictures of the bare side but it was completely covered in coralline algae.

Nice!!!

I know the traditional way is to set the pumps opposing each other but since the scape hugs back back wall Im not sure if that would keep the lower rear clean of detritus.

 

[obzidian_reef]

I use two Gyre pumps. One on each end of my 90. That allows me to set them at a higher speed without disturbing the sand too much. Also, the aquascape is higher toward the back glass and didn't allow decent flow when I triend the on the there. It took a while to find the right location and settings.

Thank you. Regardless im looking at new equipment! Mo money mo money!