Water circulation problum

[m0nk3y69d]

hey everyone I am having a problem with the circulation in my tank I have a 75 gallon reef ready tank and I am running a gyre 130 at 100% in pulse mode in 20 sec intervals the problem seems to worse next to my overflow its is on the other end of the tank the overflow is unlike most because it is not in the corner or anything like that but it is on the back of the tank like in the middle of that side of the tank I will post a pic so you can see it any help is greatly appreciated and if I can avoid it I would rather not buy another powerhead

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Heres a method I stole.
Find the primary current.
A forward barrel roll is pretty normal for a tank and kind of natural for many parts of a reef. Plus it keeps the sand clean in the tank.
If thats the FIRST current. (return or head)
Add another one like from behind the rocks(Left rear) to slightly spin the flow towards the overflow(cleaning) .
Now you have a barrel roll that flows to the overflow. Thats the second current
Find a spot to smash into those two currents for more turb. . surge the heck outta that one. WInd Waves.

you can have any return or head play the primary current but it needs to be the strongest. then second etc.
adjust the heads accordingly (25% 50% 100%etc) and the return similarly by changing the nozzle/spraybar return choice.

Most of that will be dictated by rockwork and return overflow configuration plus the powerheads you have. And dont rule out jets. Maxijets. its a concentrated stream where you need it. and hitting a wide koralia or gyre style stream will create pretty nice turbulence.

And let a long time pass before you make changes. Water will fall into a pattern. Toss food or something in so you cann "see" the end result.
The randomize modes are amazing ad seems to compliment this method I stole.

I pulled the return nozzles entirely . It becomes less directed and wider. the powerhead can then whack the wide flow creating turbulence.
Nozzles and any smaller opening squeezes the flow from a pump making is a smaller more directed stream. Also the locline does the same thing. I now have a box of it in my basement. Like a finger on a hose or the adjustable sprayer for your hose.
To break up the return flow you can use a larger fitting like a Plumbing t. But go over or onto the return not into. or increase the power and direction by adding a nozzle.

Do you have FTS pics of the current set up?

 

[m0nk3y69d]

Here is a full tank shot

And here I the wad spot

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How strong is the return flow and is it a single or double return nozzle.

 

[m0nk3y69d]

The return flow is very little maybe 250 gph and it is a double here is a pick

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My thought being this.
If you use the returns for the barrel roll/minor turbulence
and the Gyre (turned end verticle in the back corner) to create an actual gyre.
3 types of flow. Laminar turbulent and surge.
An actual Gyre tank is set by spinning as seen from above in a clockwise or counter clock direction. really helpful for seafans but is too laminar for most coral.
By using and surging(does it do that) the gyre could create a nice laminar surge and the barrel roll will provide some turb.
I think you still could consider another PH though. Either a Maxijet or Koralia(wide stream) style, just to provide a little more turb.

 

[m0nk3y69d]

ok thank you for the help I will have to start playing around with it to see if I can accomplish what you just described

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

no sweat. btw the more locline n nozzle the less power youll loose on the return. it increases head.

 

[m0nk3y69d]

should I go from 2 to 1

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

should I go from 2 to 1

might help. its gonna be a matter of monkeying with it.
what size is your return pump and tank size btw?

 

[m0nk3y69d]

the tank is a 75 and the return is a mag 9.5 that I have gated back with a ball valve otherwise it would flood my tank

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

too much for the overflow yea? bummer. that'd be nice to help with the tank flow.

Its funny. at the 10x return recommended I get enough power to blow the sand outta my tank.(750+gph) But most people say dont use that for tank flow. Really??, how can I not.
I have an hob overflow at 800gph so Im right at the top end. Oddly a 400 or six hundred gph return was always recommended for my 55.(they cant do math I guess)
Lucky guess on my part. And it was the one on sale!

 

[m0nk3y69d]

yeah it is 2 much for my overflow

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I split my return right where it comes in, (the middle) to the left and right. to barrel rolls. Then a jet from the back left. and a Wide head on the back right. A 1200 maxi back left for "storm mode" on a timer.

 

[m0nk3y69d]

nice I would like to see it in action

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yeah it is 2 much for my overflow

Dang. They did bad math too.
optimal gph for a tank
tank vol + sump vol x desired return rate = GPH of the system.
50+30X10= GPH of pump and overflow
Check the math of your tank again. I will too.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yea I need to start a thread. Its a trippy flow trick.
I got it by being broke and reading every old school tank thread I could find.
Some of them by the guy who was the inspiration for the Gyre pump.
Its all about mass water flow.

 

[m0nk3y69d]

if you ever do start a thread let me know I would follow it and I have a thread on my 75gal tank restore lol

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Dang its the right pump. The overflow is choking you out.
Whats in there? what size is the stuff coming out of the tank. Thats worth looking at.
Cuz then you could use exactly what you got, the way I said, cuz thats the way the Gyre was designed to be used!
Eureka!

 

[m0nk3y69d]

yes it is and my o0verflow is a 1inc drain with a stand pipe and the return is a 3/4inc