Water flow in an Aquapod

[maxcab]

Okay, I'm tired of the annoying reddish-brown algae on the substrate :mad2: so I'm going to increase water flow. Which options do you think?

I'm planning on keeping mostly LPS, mushrooms, and zoas.

[hypermikie]

I have 2 MJ1200 in my 24Pod.

Return and additonal return(plumbed over wall).

[Clarkii3]

i have an MJ 1200(295 gph) and a hydor pico 400(115gph) i think its perfect flow

[maxcab]

I'm leaning twards two pumps so I don't have any dead spots, I think that 590 GPH might be a little much.

[hypermikie]

I added a spray bar to the original return (testing to see if I like)
and a Hydor to the extra return...

Everything seems to love it, my galaxy has really perked up and is now showing growth since the Hydor and added flow on him.

I have a mix of Sofites, Zoas, LPS, Shrooms...

You can see orignal return and additional with Hydor in pic here:
http://images1.snapfish.com/346%3A%3A6735%7Ffp33%3A%3Enu%3D3238%3E%3A96%3E6%3B5%3EWSNRCG%3D323372%3C7%3B3929nu0mrj

[maxcab]

hypermikie, do you have any more picts, your setup looks like a possibility that I could try. And what lighting do you have?

[hypermikie]

I have the 70W MH setup which enables the open top.

I will try to get some better pics, until then here is a couple.
http://images1.snapfish.com/346%3A%3A%3C%3B%3A4%7Ffp346%3Enu%3D3238%3E%3A96%3E6%3B5%3EWSNRCG%3D323372%3C7%3A9%3B93nu0mrj
http://images1.snapfish.com/346%3A%3A%3C%3B%3A4%7Ffp342%3Enu%3D3238%3E%3A96%3E6%3B5%3EWSNRCG%3D323372%3C7%3B392%3Anu0mrj

Here is a different setup I used for a while prior to the Loc-Line and Hydor now seen. Just some plumbing parts picked up at the local Lowes.
http://images1.snapfish.com/346%3A%3A%3C%3B%3A4%7Ffp339%3Enu%3D3238%3E%3A96%3E6%3B5%3EWSNRCG%3D3233635267379nu0mrj

[maxcab]

That would be great. What spraybar are you using?

[hypermikie]

Homemade!

Black Rigid tubing - bought at Lowes
Glued Cap on end
Drilled Various holes in tube
Used one of the Hydor adapter to fit tubing into original return hole

Voila! Spraybar

[maxcab]

Cool, I'm looking at a ball joint fitting but its $33! so maybe I'll make my own.

[hypermikie]

If you are wanting to purchase the ball joint stuff (brand name Loc-Line), like you see attatched to my Hydor here are a couple of placese:

Excellent customer service, great prices and good choice if you are needing to pick up some other reef supplies (i.e. a MJ1200 to go along with it)
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=lockline

If just looking for the plumbing parts, best price is probably here. You can get some "sample kits" at good prices. Black is an option when adding to cart!
http://www.modularhose.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Category_Code=5

[maxcab]

Yeah those are them. They're a bit cheaper than the Drs.
Planning my plan, I'll post it shortly.

[maxcab]

Okay here's my plan, I still don't know what pumps to use though,
but leaning twards a 1200 on the flare nozzel and a 600 or 900 on the spraybar.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/586/118623Flow_increase-med.jpg

Does the Hydor FLO fit to a 3/4" ball joint or a 1/2" ball joint, and how does it work? I know it turns using the water flow, but wouldn't it spray water out of the aquarium? Anyway:confused:

[hypermikie]

My Hydor is angled down on a 1/2 ball joint attatched via the included Hydor adaptors.

Mine did spray out when put on the original return.

As far as pumps, I like the 1200's as you know. When I originally added the second MJ I had it split with a Y joint then 3 ball joints into two flares. My experience was that the amount of flow was greatly reduced due to the amount of plumbing.

Just my .02

[maxcab]

So, you have the Hydor hooked up to the one end of the Y joint or did you get rid of the Y and have it hooked up to its own line (I see both ways in the photos)

[hypermikie]

Here is a different setup I used for a while prior to the Loc-Line and Hydor now seen. Just some plumbing parts picked up at the local Lowes.
http://images1.snapfish.com/346%3A%3A%3C%3B%3A4%7Ffp339%3Enu%3D3238%3E%3A96%3E6%3B5%3EWSNRCG%3D3233635267379nu0mrj
That last photo with the Y style is old.

I have the Hydor to a single line of Loc-line from a MJ1200.

I also had that same MJ1200 with a Loc-Line Y and two flare nozzles (not pictured), but I felt it cut the flow to low.