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Water Flow

MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
I was wondering if this is to much flow for a 75 gallon RR tank. I have two Hydor 4 pumps pointing at each other from the left and right side of the tank. The frogspawn didn't like all the flow so I moved it some where else. Prior to this config I had them point to the front center from the back but seemd to strong. I also tried a circle approach with one pointing to the back and othet to the front. Any suggestions appreciated as I lost 1 head of the frog spawn.
 
MAVL666 said:
I was wondering if this is to much flow for a 75 gallon RR tank. I have two Hydor 4 pumps pointing at each other from the left and right side of the tank. The frogspawn didn't like all the flow so I moved it some where else. Prior to this config I had them point to the front center from the back but seemd to strong. I also tried a circle approach with one pointing to the back and othet to the front. Any suggestions appreciated as I lost 1 head of the frog spawn.

I highly recommend using some type of a wave maker so the water flow is not at a constant steady one way directional flow.
 
I have a 75 RR tank similarly set up to yours. I'm using Hydor Koralia 3's, one on the left end towards the front pointed slightly down and to the back, close to the surface (about 2" down), the other is on the right side more in the center of the panel pointed down slightly and slightly towards the rear, about 4" from the surface. To break it up, I have the return pointed towards the front glass. The flow seems to crash in the center pretty well. I get good flow, little detritus settling, and good surface agitation.

The Koralia 4's might be a bit much pushing almost 1200 gph each. The 3's push about 850 each, I'd think two of these plus your return should be enough flow so long as they are positioned right.

Hope this helps.
 
I dunno bout you, but I'm visual! :) Maybe this will give you some idea of what I'm talking about. (Sorry about the quality, threw it off real quick with a digital camera. You'll also see everyone thinking its feeding time! LOL!)

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MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
Thanks everyone. the 3's didn't seem to be pushing much water which is why i went to the 4's. I'll postion the return to the fron middle and see if that helps.
 
In my opinion, it's not so much the amount of water flow, but the amount of water flow for what you want to keep in the tank. As you noted, it's a bit much for your frogspawn. For that you most likly want to reduce the flow quite a bit. However, if you were keeping a tank full of SPS corals, your flow might be right on the money.
 
After using and seeing a vortech i feel if you can afford to use enough of them on your tank then it the way to go. If i had to put more then one i wouldnt be able to afford it.

Stan - Smcooler also has a device that gives you a similar flow. Its a tunze wavebox. In the fall they are coming out with a nano version. I am def going to look into that when i upgrade unless vortech comes out with something else.

I thought my tank has movement then i put in a vortech. My fish rides the waves now and look like they are happier. Alot of animals we have in our tanks get pounded back and forth by underwater streams and currents. People who have larger tanks and longer tanks have fish like tangs and some reef safe wrasses that are so much fun to watch.
 

MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
Dave,
Good point I keep mainly LPS and softies. If I can't redice the flow some I'll see if any wants to trade or I'll just alternate turning them on. Only porblem is right now I will have to do it manually per day.
 

MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
I didn't think you could put the Hydor's on a wave maker system. Heard they burn out from stopping and starting.
 
O.K. Newbie question.... I understand different corals require, or should I say, like varying water flow and light. So I was researching Hydor Koralia and see they offer a wavemaker device for their units.
ReeferNets said:
They dont recommend it. I wouldnt since they came out with controlable ones.
Now I am totally confused.... ???
 

mikem

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
They make a wave maker for their new units. Their old ones are not controlable.
 
mikem said:
They make a wave maker for their new units. Their old ones are not controlable.
deadcpu said:
the new Hydor 12V water pump is a controllable one in compare to the old 110V pump.

That is the reason I come here . . .Always excellent information!!!.... Thanks for the answers.
 
I actually looked into getting the new Koralias. I decided to go with a vortech since they are almost equal in price, including the koralia controller.

Im not sure that the new koralias can replicate the flow a vortech can provide, If i needed more then one vortech id probably have koralias.

Check out the maunal for the vortech and read through the different modes, like lagoon random and reefcrest random. It actually looks like your corals and fish will sway in the water from the flow.

Here is a pdf of their manual so you can get an idea. http://www.ecotechmarine.com/support/Manuals/MP40w_manual_3.0.pdf

Also Tunze makes some good pumps from what i have heard but the controllable versions are around the price of a vortech.
 
Back to the original question Mark, yes that is too much flow for frogspawns and related corals in a 75.

Check out my 75 tank thread and see how my frog's look.

I run a mag7 return and two maxijet 1200's for surge controlled by and ACjr. Thats all.
One 1200 runs 1 minute on and 3 minutes off, the other runs 1 minute on and 4 minutes off. The are directed across the tank to opposite corners so every so often they are both on at the same time and stir the middle.
 
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