Too Many Pumps? Am I Crazy?

[nickkohrn]

I am considering adding more VorTech MP40s to my display, and I want your thoughts. This comes after watching @Dana Riddle's talk at MACNA's 2016 event.

Below is a little information about my display and its inhabitants:

Display

• 70 gallons (265 liters)
• 36" long x 24" wide x 24" tall (914 mm x 609 mm x 609 mm)
• SPS-only
• Bonsai structure for coral placement
• Bare-bottom

Fish

• (1) Tomini Tang
• (1) Forktail Blenny
• (1) Sixline Wrasse

Invertebrates

• (1) Cleaner Shrimp
• (15) Astrea Snails
• (3) Trochus Snails
• (2) Turbo Snails

I currently have two MP40s on the rear glass pane, pointed toward the front of the display. They run at a maximum of 75%, and they alternate between different modes throughout the day, which include Constant, Reefcrest, Lagoon, and Pulse. You can see where the pumps are located in the following image:

I have moved the fish dens closer to the bonsai structure because that is where detritus tends to settle; I don't want dead spots behind the dens. However, detritus still builds up there, and it becomes unsightly. I'd like to have it stirred up enough so that it ends up in my sump's filter socks. So, I have been thinking about adding two MP40s, one on the bottom-rear of the left pane and one on the bottom-rear of the right pane. To provide some cross-flow in the front, I would like to also add one MP40 on the top-front of the left pane and one on the top-front of the right pane. You can see the intended positions in the following photo. Keep in mind that it shows only one side of the tank; I would add matching pumps on the opposite side as well.

By having more pumps, I can have their maximum intensities turned down much lower while providing a plethora of flow patterns throughout the day, stirring up detritus and preventing undesirable growth patterns. Below are more images of my display for reference:

Do you think it would be beneficial, regardless of cost and obstruction of my views of the display, to add pumps to the locations that I have described? I am not concerned with the cost of the pumps. Rather, I am concerned with providing my inhabitants with a better environment that what they currently have, even if only two pumps will suffice; I want thriving inhabitants instead of surviving inhabitants. An added benefit is that I will have those pumps for an inevitable system upgrade in the next couple of years.

Thank you for your time and considerations!

 

[Kyuss414]

I don't think they can hurt in a bare bottom SPS tank IMO. Should work rather well.

 

[Montiman]

I don’t think it can hurt. However I believe that as the coral grow they will obstruct flow and more flow slowly becomes needed. With how open your rock structure is now you will likely be fine with what you have.

Later as the corals grow you will almost certainly want more flow. It is up to you weather you want to spend the money now and keep the pumps turned down or wait till later when growth will necessitate the upgrade.

 

[Leadfooted]

Add them! You can maybe even just use MP10's. You don't need more power you have plenty, you want more disrupted flow. Adding two more will make the flow patterns crawl all over you. IF you want to talk flow, this guy will tell you the same..... Add add add! but fist read throughout https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/2-x2-walt-disney-colony-500-each.594914/

 

[MSB123]

Why do you have two AFS?

 

[Saveafish]

One...... that coral tree thing is sweet looking like wow I like it.
With water flow. The ocean is not a trickle of water. I really think most need more flow.

 

[themcnertney]

More often then not, I think people don't run enough pumps and can/should increase their flow. Given you have what appears to be an all sps tank with bare bottom, I say go for it.

 

[nickkohrn]

Why do you have two AFS?

I feed carnivorous pellets (Reef Nutrition's TDO) from the left AFS twice each day, and I feed algae pellets once each day (Hikari's Seaweed Extreme) from the right AFS once each day.

 

[nickkohrn]

Thanks for your thoughts and considerations! I am glad to see that the consensus is that it would be okay to add them. I have some more research to take on, but I will likely add them slowly so that I don't make significant changes too quickly.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Detritus is settling there because your overflow creates a corner on each side back there. Not sure more pumps will help that.

IMO, you should be able to achieve sufficient flow with the two pumps you already have in your size tank, especially taking into account your minimal rockwork and small frags. If you aren’t getting sufficient flow (which likely isn’t the case - I think you’re looking for problems to solve) then it’s because they aren’t positioned or programmed optimally.

 

[Ursala]

Nice looking tank! I love the bonsai!!! I think the addition of pumps is going to work in your favor. It will achieve what you are looking to do. Coral always seem to take off with the addition of more flow.

 

[Fiesty]

Id say first take your two mp 40's u have and try them on the sides where u were thinking about adding new ones (yellow spots). They may provide the flow u r looking for without spending any $$$. And if not enough, u can then add 1 om the back.

 

[nickkohrn]

Detritus is settling there because your overflow creates a corner on each side back there. Not sure more pumps will help that.

IMO, you should be able to achieve sufficient flow with the two pumps you already have in your size tank, especially taking into account your minimal rockwork and small frags. If you aren’t getting sufficient flow (which likely isn’t the case - I think you’re looking for problems to solve) then it’s because they aren’t positioned or programmed optimally.

When I moved my current pumps to the bottom-rear of both side panes of glass, I had them pointing toward each other. The wide flow pattern caused by the VorTech pumps was enough to keep all of the detritus suspended that was in the rear because some of the flow hit the overflow box and created vortices there. Adding a couple of pumps there will absolutely keep that detritus suspended.

Regardless of what modes I have the pumps programmed to use, there are still only two pumps, with the water coming from two directions. I realize that I have a sufficient amount of flow in the display, but I'm not convinced that I have a proper variance of flow patterns, regardless of what modes I use.

 

[Dana Riddle]

If polyp expansion is good on your corals and they're growing at a rate of about 1/4" per month, there is likely no reason to add more flow. With that said, and as previously mentioned by others in this thread, it's a good idea to look down the road to ensure good coral growth.

 

[ncaldwell]

Where did you get your fish hides from? I like them alot

 

[nickkohrn]

Where did you get your fish hides from? I like them alot

I asked for them to be made by Paul at West Mariculture. That’s also where I got my bonsai structure from. The shelves are removable, so it’s easy to clean, rearrange, and replace, if needed. It makes moving a reef tank so much easier!

I’ll likely have to order larger dens in the future because my Tomini Tang loves the hide on the right; it still hides when I enter the room, and it bolts into that den. It also shares it with my Sixline Wrasse at night.

 

[nickkohrn]

If polyp expansion is good on your corals and they're growing at a rate of about 1/4" per month, there is likely no reason to add more flow. With that said, and as previously mentioned by others in this thread, it's a good idea to look down the road to ensure good coral growth.

Polyp extension has been great; I don’t think that I could ask for better. The corals may be growing that much, but it is difficult for me to notice since I see them daily. I’ll have to start taking photos to properly gauge how much they are growing.

Thank you for your response!

 

[Deiblerj]

I feed carnivorous pellets (Reef Nutrition's TDO) from the left AFS twice each day, and I feed algae pellets once each day (Hikari's Seaweed Extreme) from the right AFS once each day.

This seems like a lot of food for 3 fish

 

[nickkohrn]

This seems like a lot of food for 3 fish

I have the feeders almost closed completely, so they let only a pinch’s worth of food out. The fish are great eaters, and I never see more than a pellet or two floating around after they are done.

I like to feed early in the morning, just after the lights begin to ramp up. I feed again in the evening, just before the lights begin to ramp down. Everyone has put on a healthy weight, and they are much plumper than when they were at the local shop.

 

[hart24601]

Seems like a fine plan to me. Then again I have an mp10, tunze DC forget the model, and 3 reefbreeders rp-m running. On a 34g tank! I have them low, and I put two on timers so they only run every half hour.