Best powerheads for a 20g?

[jaydubh11]

I am setting up a 20g nano reef with 20 lbs LR, 10 lbs LS, and a protein skimmer. What would be my best options for powerheads?

I will be keeping a clown, blenny, goby, mushrooms, zoos, xenias, shrimp, snails, etc.

I was told 2 MaxiJet 600's may be too much. What should I go with?

[bj32482]

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=JBJ-SP-1800&Category_Code=JBJpowerhead

I just bought 2 of these for my 20g, should be here wednesday.
looks like a good idea
and cheap

[gfk]

i love my seios, i think one of those would be a good choice.... 620 would work well

[ReefDreams]

Best bang for buck i'd go with Maxi-Jet 900 or 1200

[cyenna]

I have a 20L with a maxi-jet 1200 and an aquaclear 70. It seems about the right amount. But if you just want powerheads I would go with two maxi-jet 900's. IMO, I don't think two 600's for a twenty gallon would be enough....

[jaydubh11]

Haha... I was told 2 Maxijets would be too much and now I am being told it won't be enough. I ordered 2 400's and one 600. I also decided to get a Remora with the 1200.

[GotSalt?]

i have a 20 and i think that 2 600's would creat so much flow in that tank that your LPS corals would be blowing everywhere and your fish might hate you. if you hooked 2 600's up to a wave maker you will probably be ok. that remora will be a good choice. did you end up getting a carbon filter?

[jaydubh11]

No carbon filter, but I got the "pre-skimmer" for the Remora and may run activated carbon through that.

[cyenna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8030628#post8030628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jaydubh11
Haha... I was told 2 Maxijets would be too much and now I am being told it won't be enough. I ordered 2 400's and one 600. I also decided to get a Remora with the 1200.

well, i think it's a good rule of thumb for flow to be about 17X the "gallonage". visit www.nano-reef.com and you'll find that a lot of people with 10g have an aquaclear 110 which does about 500 gph (granted, that's the only flow they got going in the tank) so in a 20, I think two MJ 900's would be fine. Besides, you also have rock in your tank too, right? That will disperse flow as well. On the other hand, you bought three powerheads so that will allow for a lot of random flow in addition to a Remora w/powerhead....Altogether, it adds up to a lot of flow and a lot of randomness. you knew what you were doing. :p :D

[GotSalt?]

try all three and let us know how that does. i think you will ge happy with the flow that the 400's give you. they wont move your corals too much. keep us posted

[Sammy05]

Im using a maxijet 1200 connected to my chiller and a maxi-jet 600 and the flow is just right. The maxi 400's seem to be too low but it all depends on what u want. So I'd say get a maxi 900 and 600 or 2 600's or 1 900 and 1 400 to mix the flow up

[jaydubh11]

I got my tank up today...

I am using a 600 on one end, a 400 on the other, and a 1200 for the Remora. The 400 is definitely a lot weaker than I had expected. I think I will get a 900 and put it where the 600 was and moving the 600 to where the 400 was.

[jaydubh11]

When calculating the total flow of the tank, do you take into account the circulation from the protein skimmer?

If so, my tank (20 gallons) would have circulation of 28 times per hour. If not, it would be at 13.

Maxi-jet 1200 (hooked up to Remora) - 295 gph
Maxi-jet 600 - 160 gph
Maxi-jet 400 - 106 gph

The two powerheads are located in the back corner of the tank, just above half way up, and face the middle/center of the tank. Am I ok? Somebody help me out.

Here is a pic: http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/jaydubh11/DSC_0263.jpg

I wouldn't mind eliminating a powerhead if I could.

[BAILEY464]

2, 900 maxi's

[cyenna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8062109#post8062109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jaydubh11
When calculating the total flow of the tank, do you take into account the circulation from the protein skimmer?



Yes.

When I said "about 17X the gallonage" I meant 17 and up :) which 28X is. If you want to eliminate a powerhead you could get rid of the skimmer/powerhead and run on two powerheads (900's or 600's?) and steady water changes.

[jaydubh11]

So 28x won't be too much? Eliminating either the 400 or 600 would not be a good idea? I don't plan on getting rid of my skimmer considering I had just decided to purchase it for $150+. I would like to atleast move the directional flow attachment off the powerheads so they will take up a little less space. I also have an extra Mini-jet 404 (adjustable up to 106 gph) that I could use to replace the 600 or 400.

[jaydubh11]

I will have 2 small clowns so I don't want to give them too strong of a current.

Any ideas? Right now I am thinking about replacing the 600 (160 gph) with a 400 (106gph) which will give me:

Maxijet 1200 (for Remora) - 295 gph
Maxijet 400 - 106 gph
Maxijet 400 - 106 gph

= 507 gph / 20 = 25.35x

Or maybe just eliminating the 400 and positioning the 600 higher in the tank to avoid too strong of a current for the little clowns:

Maxijet 1200 (for Remora) - 295 gph
Maxijet 600 - 160 gph

= 455 gph / 20 = 22.75x

Or eliminating the 600 and just using the 400. But I am afraid that will not give me a strong enough current:

Maxijet 1200 (for Remora) - 295 gph
Maxijet 400 - 106 gph

= 401 gph / 20 = 20.05x

Are you sure the Maxijet 1200 with the Remora should be counted towards the total flow? It seems like the return would generate less than 295 gph.

Thanks for the help!

[DarkXerox]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8063814#post8063814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jaydubh11
I will have 2 small clowns so I don't want to give them too strong of a current.


Heh, my two baby clowns had to deal with 60x turnover in my tank when they were only about a half inch each. They spent most of their time in their host anemones anyways though.

[vishboy]

Use a modded MJ900 in my 29g.

[cyenna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8063814#post8063814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jaydubh11
I will have 2 small clowns so I don't want to give them too strong of a current.

Any ideas? Right now I am thinking about replacing the 600 (160 gph) with a 400 (106gph) which will give me:

Maxijet 1200 (for Remora) - 295 gph
Maxijet 400 - 106 gph
Maxijet 400 - 106 gph


= 507 gph / 20 = 25.35x

Or maybe just eliminating the 400 and positioning the 600 higher in the tank to avoid too strong of a current for the little clowns:

Maxijet 1200 (for Remora) - 295 gph
Maxijet 600 - 160 gph

= 455 gph / 20 = 22.75x

Or eliminating the 600 and just using the 400. But I am afraid that will not give me a strong enough current:

Maxijet 1200 (for Remora) - 295 gph
Maxijet 400 - 106 gph

= 401 gph / 20 = 20.05x

Are you sure the Maxijet 1200 with the Remora should be counted towards the total flow? It seems like the return would generate less than 295 gph.

Thanks for the help!


yikes! You're putting a lot of thought into this and you already have all the equipment! :rolleyes: At this point, I think it's a little trial and error to see what works best for YOUR tank. Every tank is different...we can only offer guidelines and suggestions. :lol: I would agree with DarkXerox that it would take a LOT of flow to make it so the clowns will struggle (they swim like they struggle all the time anyway but that's just how they swim). Let us know on what you decide and post a pic!

[jaydubh11]

I understand that all you can offer is suggestions but I don't see anything wrong with putting a lot of time into all the details and trying to get all the advice I can. Especially when you hear all the disaster stories and things like people putting Tangs in 10g tanks, etc.

I have put the pre-skimmer over the 1200 so you can't see it. I moved the 600 higher and aimed it towards the middle of the tank and left the attachment on, aiming it more towards the surface. I left the 400 just about where it was and aimed it more to the center, I also took off its extension to make it a little less noticeable.

I think it is pretty good now. With the 600 aiming more towards the surface, the current is not as strong as before (substrate is not disturbed). I really like the way the pre-skimmer blends in with the black background. You can't see it at all!

I think I have it right about where I want it now, so time to sit back and wait. Thanks for the help!