How many powerheads

[trr8288]

How do I know how many powerheads I should have in my 55 gallon tank?

[cd77]

It's more about the flow rate than the amount of powerheads (or submersible pumps) - though you certainly want to minimize dead spots.

Is it a Fish Only, Fish with Live Rock, or a reef? If it's a reef (or will be) what type of coral do you keep / plan on keeping?

[trr8288]

Its a fish with live rock tank but i was wondering should i have lke two powerheads on each end of the tank becasue its 4 feet long or more than that. If someone could give me a rough idea that would be great.

[masonicman]

I have a 55 gallon and I have two aqua-clear 301 running on each end of the tank. I have fish and coral so I have to watch my flow rate and how I have them angled. With just fish and rock you can go with 2 also. Just watch your flow rate. You don't want the fish struggling and blowing around the tank. That can stress them out!!!!

[Playa-1]

I think two power heads in a 55 tank is a good place to start . you should also read up on circulation and decide how much circulation your going to need for what it is that you intend to keep in your tank.
That will determine what size powerheads your should get. More powerheads give you more flexibility to control water movement in the tank to help prevent dead spots. There is a trade off. two power heads take up more space then one.
4 power heads take up more space then 2.
2 powerheads can be placed across the tank and the flow can be aimed at each other creating random currents and turbulence in the water.
Mostly its about preferences, water flow, and circulation. There's no right or wrong answer here.

[trr8288]

How do I determine how much circulation i will need just gues or is there a way to figure that out

[masonicman]

You have to experiment with different flow rates and different angles. Watch your fish and see how the are swimming. I also would watch how the food circulates around the tank also.

[dschnepf]

It depends on layout of the tank as well, lots of LR, real open, it all depends but 2 will get you started.

I would personally look at 4 total or a closed loop to really keep the flow moving.

[Playa-1]

If it's just fish and live rock then i would think you just need enough circulation to keep the water moving so that the filters will work efficiently and help keep the water from getting stagnant. I would think you would want to aim for roughly 1000gph total flow. So that would be roughly 1000gph from all sources combined including return pump, closed loop and/or powerheads.
There is some good information here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/sumppumpcircfaqs.htm

[masonicman]

I forgot that I also have a power down in the back corner blowing straight across the back glass behind my live rock. The guy at my LFS sugguested this to keep water circulating behind the rocks also.

[trr8288]

What exactly is a closed loop

[Playa-1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11102584#post11102584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by masonicman
I forgot that I also have a power down in the back corner blowing straight across the back glass behind my live rock. The guy at my LFS sugguested this to keep water circulating behind the rocks also.

Agreed this is a good idea..

[Playa-1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11102590#post11102590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trr8288
What exactly is a closed loop

Closed loop is a way to circulate water without the use of powerheads.

You would drain water from the display to a large pump usually in the cabinet. The pump circulates the water back to the display tank. It not connected to anything else so it's just moving water to and from the display. It would be totally seperate from the sump/fuge filtration system.

[trr8288]

Is a closed loop better or are powerheads better.

[cd77]

Check out http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html

Have also seen tanks posted here with holes drilled in the back or the bottom of the tank for closed loop setups which are also very nice. For a FOWLR though, I don't think I'd bother to go the CL route.

Another thing you can consider is a submersible propeller pump. A single Hydor Koralia 3, or a couple Koralia 2's would probably be more than adequate, and give you nice dispersed flow.

[shikhyung]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11102584#post11102584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by masonicman
I forgot that I also have a power down in the back corner blowing straight across the back glass behind my live rock. The guy at my LFS sugguested this to keep water circulating behind the rocks also.

What power down meant?
Shin.