setting up a 25gal LPS only... need advice for powerhead/flow

[david p.]

Hi,

i'm setting up my second system, a small 25gal LPS only that will be hooked up to my main dispay tank (85gal + 40gal sump).

I'm struggling with the powerhead selection. i have read that 25-30 time the tank volume is a good starting point, meaning 750 to 850gph. does it seems right ?

i want to be able to control 2 power heads, one on each side. If possible variable speed.

I looked at the Tunze, they seems to be variable speed, right ?

as for their controler, they have a stand alone controler that seems to control 2 powerhead ? and the model with a control included (see below the 6055) , does it control 2 powerhead ?

i hesitate between :
2x Tunze Turbelle nanostream 6045 + controler à part
or
1x Tunze Turbelle Nanostream 6055 w/controller + Tunze Turbelle nanostream 6045

any advice ?

 

[Sm51498]

I run a single tunze 6040 on my 40 gallon and it is enough. It would be plenty on your tank. if you have the cash, two would not be overkill because you can set them up to alternate. you won't even need to run them at full power, especially not for lps.

 

[ahiggins]

almost all of my LPS prefer very low flow. I have a 50 gph return pump on my AIO and its perfect for them to stay nice and bouncy.
*I do have 2 other power heads but not near them*

 

[AdamNC]

Go for 2 Tunze 6040s with the sync cable. They will give you that back and forth sway we all like.

 

[Ljaus]

They can handle some flow but not direct flow, and the need some flow to stop build up of slime and poo on them. Alternating flow between two pumps would be of big benifit or even two pumps facing eachother to creat a broken none linear flow.

 

[DeniseAndy]

What sort of lps? frogs, hammers, torch, etc or brains, acans, scolys, etc? They need different patterns and amounts.

 

[david p.]

i currently have scoly, wellso, acans. plan to get more acans and brain corals.
it will be bare bottom with a carpet / rubble strucure with a variety of zoa / chalice / favia

i also plan to have some variety of torch /hammer.

 

[Ljaus]

What are the tank dimensions, certain shape tanks require less flow due to their shape. For example my cube is just the return pump and one fluval 265gph power head and it's plenty of flow, almost to aggressive yet in a long tank it would be just enough

 

[Ljaus]

Because you want hammers ect you might be better off with one power head or two that are running on low settings

 

[david p.]

What are the tank dimensions, certain shape tanks require less flow due to their shape. For example my cube is just the return pump and one fluval 265gph power head and it's plenty of flow, almost to aggressive yet in a long tank it would be just enough

tank is 24''x20''x12''

 

[david p.]

Because you want hammers ect you might be better off with one power head or two that are running on low settings

hammers are not mendatory... i will most likely focus on wellso, acan (a lot), scoly + zoa +chalice + favia

 

[Ljaus]

I would stick with your idea of two and run the settings to suit your stocking and run and alternating flow. One would probably do the job but the flow would be linear

 

[david p.]

I would stick with your idea of two and run the settings to suit your stocking and run and alternating flow. One would probably do the job but the flow would be linear

selecting the 2 is my issue... it was easier to get started with my 85gal, low flow in small tank,but enough to avoid build up... i don't know the small tunze pumps or sicce, koralia, etc

 

[Ljaus]

Hmmm I don't really know small pumps either. I see that the 6055 comes with a controller and the 6044 doesn't. I think 6040 that was mentioned might be the go. Even just one of them might work, the flow rate drops down a lot further than the others. Maybe look for reviews on google of all the pumps you have in mind

This might help.
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/motion-of-the-ocean-the-motion-of-your-aquarium.94/

 

[DeniseAndy]

You can get away with very low flow with the scolys and brains and such. Fighting slime will be the biggest issue with low flow. I run a 40 gal with low flow, but I have been able to control it with maintenance and effort. In my 40g, I just added 2 jbj oceanstream 1600gph duo wavemaker. I had a jaboe 25 that finally died and also a gyro that has decided to die too. So, this is my next try with pumps. So far the two are doing great. Nice flow and animals are happy.

In your tank, it is significantly less area, so I would only do one that size or maybe get the size down 2x500gph with wavemaker. They are fairly inexpensive. However, I have only run them for a few weeks, so cannot attest to longevity, etc.