Struggling to dial in my MP40's

[shawn95id]

Does anyone have any tools, sites, or formulas you recommend for adjusting my Vortech MP40 powerheads? I tried using the Vortech calculator but didn't really find that helpful. Wasn't able to interpret the results very well. I have a RedSea Reefer 525xl which is 60 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 22 inches deep (110ish gallon display). I have two MP40's mounted on the back wall because I would very much prefer to keep the sides free from any hardware. They are about 8 inches from the surface and about 4 inches from the edges. I'm running both on varying modes that range between 15% and 40%. I am currently experiencing a Cyano outbreak which is breaking my heart. I know there are chemistry issues also at play that I'm working on (bottomed out Nitrates and large swings in Phosphates) but my LFS guy suggested I have flow issues too, which led me down this path. Any help would be much appreciated. I'm a year into this hobby and sitting about 60/40 (love/hate). Don't worry, not even close to giving up and I know I can get to at least 90/10!

 

[emoore]

Why so low % on the vortechs? I have a 2 ft cube with an mp40 and I go from 45% lagoon at night and 65% reef crest during the day. I’m thinking of ramping it up even more.

 

[shawn95id]

Why so low % on the vortechs? I have a 2 ft cube with an mp40 and I go from 45% lagoon at night and 65% reef crest during the day. I’m thinking of ramping it up even more.

Great question! Honestly, I'm not quite sure other than I was thinking the Vortech site suggested I run around 2300 gph for LPS and 3900 gph for SPS and I'm mixed. I was thinking they were suggesting total flow rate but maybe I'm misinterpreting that and it's actually suggesting that per head, which would mean I'm running way low and that might be my problem (or one of them anyway). Do you have any LPS in your tank? If so they are handling that flow ok?

 

[homer1475]

Turn them bad boys up!

In my 80G cube I currently run 2 mp10's on 80% reefcrest, 2 jebao pp8's @ roughly 60% random firing off my apex, and 2 nero 3's down low @ 75% for flow over the sandbed.

SPS dominate, but do have plenty of LPS that tolerate the flow quite well.

I personally would add 2 more PH down low for flow over the sandbed. You can still run them on the back, just put them fairly low.

 

[exnisstech]

I don't think there is any one size fits all settings or placement of power heads. There are too many variables between tanks. I ussualy watch things in the tank to see how the flow is affecting them. SPS I crank them up. Softies, LPS and nems I watch them to see what type of movement the flow is causing. I like a random swaying motion for stuff that moves like softies and nems. Also have to consider nutrient removal in the water column so stuff gets to the overflows. Then you have sand to consider, but I run barebottom. It's really more trial and error IMO.

 

[emoore]

Great question! Honestly, I'm not quite sure other than I was thinking the Vortech site suggested I run around 2300 gph for LPS and 3900 gph for SPS and I'm mixed. I was thinking they were suggesting total flow rate but maybe I'm misinterpreting that and it's actually suggesting that per head, which would mean I'm running way low and that might be my problem (or one of them anyway). Do you have any LPS in your tank? If so they are handling that flow ok?

I've got a hammer in a low flow spot but that's the only LPS I have, the rest are SPS and softies. I was thinking of adding an MP10 on the other side to get even more flow. I tried the Vortech calculator and the results were odd so I don't trust it.

 

[shawn95id]

Turn them bad boys up!

In my 80G cube I currently run 2 mp10's on 80% reefcrest, 2 jebao pp8's @ roughly 60% random firing off my apex, and 2 nero 3's down low @ 75% for flow over the sandbed.

SPS dominate, but do have plenty of LPS that tolerate the flow quite well.

I personally would add 2 more PH down low for flow over the sandbed. You can still run them on the back, just put them fairly low.

Ok I’m doing it. I’m going to order a couple MP10s to churn the lower water in the tank. I’m also going to up the power on the 40’s. According to the vortech online calculator I’ll be way over the tank’s needs but the cyano is raging and my water quality seems in check so I have to do something. Thanks!