Powerhead selection an setup questions...

[saltwater_wannabe]

I currently have a Hagen AquaClear 402 powerhead hanging on the back glass pointed toward the front center and a backpack filter with no media hanging on the opposite side.

I want to ditch the backpack and buy another powerhead, but I can't find anyone in the LFS that can really tell me the best ones or the best way to set them up.

I like the MJ1200 with the dissipator nozzle, but I'm afraid if I set them up wrong, the tank will resemble a toilet in mid-flush.

Any info is always appreciated!


-SWbe

[Reefdude5]

Sorry, how big is the tank, and yes, the MJ1200 are really powerful, if any doubts, go with the 900

[gregt]

How big is the tank?

[saltwater_wannabe]

Originally posted by Reefdude5
Sorry, how big is the tank, and yes, the MJ1200 are really powerful, if any doubts, go with the 900

I have a 46g bowfront. I just got a AquaC HOT skimmer, so I now need the water movement.

I mentioned MJ1200, because that's what came in the skimmer.

[Reefdude5]

If that's your only powerhead, that won't be too much, if you have a way to slow the flow a little, 2 900s would be better, what's the flow on the return pump, assuming theres a sump. I hope it helps!

[MiddletonMark]

Yep, I wouldn't worry too much about it ... at worst aim the PH at the glass or a rock to disappate it somewhat.

For comparison ... I have a 58g tank [36 x 18 x 21] with 5 MJ 1200's and a MJ 600 on it ... + the sump return which does 450 gph. And I still want more flow ... as I have many of them behind my rockwork aimed thru the rocks ... two aiming around the `ends' of my tank, and the sump return running from back corner top to front corner.

Until the fish are plastered against the glass, I'm going to increase flow ... through a closed loop, though, as all these PH's suck [aesthetically, space wise]. But I'm looking to add about 800-1000 gph in a closed loop, lose my powerheads.

[Reefdude5]

Ok, i should know this by now, somebody explain (gently) what a closed loop is. Thanks!

[MiddletonMark]

Ok, here's a bad description

A closed loop is where you remove water from the tank and put it back into the tank ... where the only thing that `touches it' is a pump. Essentially putting the pump outside of the tank with just the inlets and outputs in the tank.
Best if you have extra holes drilled in your tank, but I'm thinking that 1/2" PVC in a spray bar and with outlets is a much nicer looking thing than a heap of powerheads. Esp. with a spraybar [which is a length of pipe with holes drilled in it ... so that water shoots out of many many holes running the hole length of it ... about 26" in my future case].

Check out http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com..._to_build.html
For a good DIY using a SCWD as well. In fact, check out that whole site ... his sump info/etc is awesome.

[icebear]

Originally posted by MiddletonMark

Until the fish are plastered against the glass, I'm going to increase flow ....

bwaha-ha-ha-ha

[salt creepette]

one of my favorite sights was when I installed my first maxijet 1200...my green chromis accidentally swam across the current, not knowing any better, and FLIING!!! there they went across the tank! like icebear said, bwa-ha-ha-ha!!!

to answer your question, go with a 1200 and a 900, why not. if you aim the 1200 at the glass it will dissipate and flow all around your tank. I personally have a 1200 and a 900 in my tank (aimed at the surface at each end of the tank)and I ordered another 900 to place longways blowing along the back/bottom of the tank.

[Reefdude5]

Yeah Mark, im using a scwd, love it, so does a closed loop include a sump and protein skimmer, and is a spray bar lowered inside the tank? Yeah Erin, i have 5 1200s and need more! The fish can still swim in a straight line in part of the tank, can you believe it?

[MiddletonMark]

I have 5 1200's, a 900, and 400 gph in a 3' 58 tank. Not enough!

Anyway - no, a closed loop is not a sump loop. It is just a pump, that's it ... just to generate water movement. No skimmer, no nothing ... esssentially using a pump instead of powerheads for water flow. Check out Mojoreef's tank, I think Bomber has one too ... most high-flow SPS tanks use one or have a Tunze Stream from what I've seen. As I can't afford a stream ... I'm just getting a kick-butt pump, some PVC, and doing a closed loop.

Have about 6 or 7 times tank turnover thru my sump [with skimmer] ... but this one is just all about flow. Maybe putting a SCWD ... but I'm doubtful right now whether I'll do that or not.

[Reefdude5]

Cool, no skimmer, hows that! Must be excellent husbandry! My friend is starting a 270g, as a first tank, and he has to pump the water from the sump up about 20'! What pump works best for this kind of work? Not to hijack or anything.....

[MiddletonMark]

No ... I have a skimmer ... it's in my `open loop' I guess you'd call it ... where the water goes over the overflow, to the sump [with skimmer, fuge] ... then back to the tank.

But this is in addition, so I don't have a zillion powerheads in the tank trying to get the flow I need.

I'll thus have both `open loop' and this closed loop ... as I'm aiming at 20 to 25 times tank turnover in flow [minimal substrate ...]

Really, check that link I showed ... it has pics of what I'm doing - but I'm doing a spray bar [instead of plain outlet] and without the SCWD.

[yardboy]

well, here's my just completed 150 plumbed with two closed loops using Mag 18's. Suction is a surface skimmer box on both sides of the overflow and two discharges, one low and one high on each side. Should really blow'em around in there!
Sump is a temporary rubbermaid due to the lfs dropping and busting my 55 tub. Maybe next week!
Funny when you first increase flow, it seems way too much, but I've got a MJ 1200 in a 20L and Freddie the tomato clown just loves to surf into the wave it sets up. Seems to get his kicks that way. Definitely doesn't avoid it.