SPS Flow Rate and Powerhead Placement Questions

flinka · #1 12/24/2007, 11:22 AM

I have a 75G mixed reef tank that is viewable on three sides with all the rock work centered like an island in the tank. Lighting is an Aquactinics T-5 and I have several SPS at this time (montipora, birdsnest, pocillopora, slimer...) that are doing well and I am getting several more SPS in the next week or so (tort, millepora, tenius...).

For flow, I currently have two Koralia 3s (1,7000 GPH total) and was looking to pick up another Koralia 3 over the weekend as I have a few "low flow" spots but came across and picked up a new maxijet 1200, a 1,600 GPH mod kit and a magnet holder at a local 50% off sale.

So, I am thinking about placing the modded Maxijet on one end of the tank and the two Koralias on the other end for a total flow of 3,300 GPH or 44x flow.

1) Is this too much flow? Should I remove one of the Koralia 3s and go with 2,450 GPH (33x flow)?

2) Since the tank has no front or back does anyone have any thoughts on the positioning of the three powerheads versus just having their flows "meet in the middle"?

3) What is the closest distance to the modded maxijet I should place any of the SPS?

Here is a picture of my tank setup.

Thanks,

Mitch

Jorgens · #2 12/24/2007, 11:29 AM

I'll put 2 cents in and I'm no expert by any means. I'm actually trying to keep my SPS alive atm.

For flow however, I had a set up similar to yours in my 180. And I found that I had ALOT of dead spots. So I re-aquascaped 5 days ago and made a gradual "shelf" like structure that rises in the back. I placed the powerheads on the back side of the tank blowing foward and it's helped a ton for increasing circulation. I'm hoping to put some pictures up later today.

I tried everything I could over the last year to increse flow around an "island" but it was just not enought for my SPS. By having the powerheads blow fowards and bounce off the front glass it creats a really nice random flow effect everywhere in the tank except right against the back glass. I'm using 3 hydor #4's with 900gph returns as well.