which is better ? internal flow or external flow

tonkaoz · Nov 24, 2015

so my question is should i have more flow inside my tank like powerheads or more flow leaving the tank into my sump and refugium . i have 3 pumps in my sumps one mag 12 one mag 7 and one 600 gph pump the mag 12 runs one return the mag 7 runs the other and the 600 gph runs my sea swirl . my tank is 22o gallons with another 100 gallon sump . i also have another sea sweep i made with an 800 gph powerhead on it .i was thinking about doing a 150 gallon sump which i already have with one 4000 gph pump split to all the returns and the sea swirl and maybe a gyre xf 150 for more internal flow . so is that over kill ? do i only need a small amount of external flow and a larger amount of internal flow . any help will be appereciated .

tonkaoz · Nov 24, 2015

Nothing? Nobody has any insight? I thought this would take off like wild fire .

Reefing Madness · Nov 24, 2015

Flow through the sump is up to you, of course the more flow, the more water that can be cleaned up.
You must have alot of flow in a Reef tank, its not a matter of do I need it, its a must for the inhabitants, also, it keeps debre suspended so the skimmer, filter, overflow can grab it.

ttabbal · Nov 24, 2015

I have always read and been told that you can't have too much flow. I leaned toward more internal than sump. My primary filtration in the sump is the skimmer. I figure more flow than it can process is probably less useful. And with a basement sump, it's far easier and cheaper to use powerheads than a bigger return pump.

tonkaoz · Nov 25, 2015

Thanks for the replies. I know a saltwater tank is supposed to turn over 10 times an hour just didnt know if it was through the sump or total water movement. I always ran it through the sump . Now im gonna mix it up a little more .