[bugaboo]

I am in the process of setting up a 50 gallon tank Live rock fish maybe some easy corals at a later time. Is there a guideline to water circulation in regards to powerheads. Don't want too much if there is such a thing the tank demensions are 48" W 18" D and 13" from front to back I was thinking of 2 MJ 1200's will this be enough are should I upsize one. Any thoughts?

[e_baer]

I have a 55 and I am getting 2 SEIO m620's and then a spray bar wiht 2 pumps that blow 360gph. I alreay have coral in my tank, but i need more circulation.

[bugaboo]

What do you have running now?

[e_baer]

i have 3 of these Aquarium Water Movement: ViaAqua Water Pumps model 1300 and i also have my protein skimmer which is 300gph and my filter which is 340gph. and i also have a small one that does 150gph.

[bugaboo]

what your putting in seems like alot but then again I am new to this with a 50 gallon tank and some easy to keep corals is there a minimum and max to the powerheads you place in your tank. If I get two MJ1200 that is only 295 x 2 a total of 590 gph on the powerheads. Now I have a emperor 400 on the back as a mechanical filter and a aquac skimmer but my concern is having enough water movement in the tank.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

the rule for water flow is 10x the tank capacity MINUMUM I.E. 10 x 50 = 500 almost everyone opts for more,about 20x+.The flow is to keep all tha nasty stuff suspended until it gets to the skimmer and to carry food to filter feeders.

[Tonz of fun]

I do 20x my tank size. I would suggest getting two smaller ones. I.E. 10x50=500. I would do two pumps that do around 500 gph. One directed to your overflow and the other going the other direction making a swilring effect on your tank

[reefnoob1991]

You don't want a swirling motion. My suggestion would be to keep one as a pump, and the other as a powerhead to direct current in another direction. Corals love multidirectional current. Or you can return both of them and get a larger GPH pump.

[Tonz of fun]

swirling motion=multidirectional doesnt it???

[NATIVEVAMAN]

CircMarArt All you ever wanted to know about water flow.

[Tonz of fun]

Nough said...Turblant crazy swirling water is good. lol. Mativ your so smart...

[reefnoob1991]

swirling water = tornado effect. For instance in mine I have one blowing straight against the glass which in turn blows backwards towards the tank, the other is pointed across which bounces off the glass from that direction...making a criss cross current.

[Tonz of fun]

You should check this out. Ocean surface wave - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This the ocean not a swimming pool were trying to duplicate

[reefnoob1991]

See how the splashes reflect off the water and criss cross each other?

[Tonz of fun]

see the rolling swirling waves lol

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Short Take This is a drawing of the manifold system he talks about in the previous article.I am going to use this system with one modification. I will not feed the manifold from the sump but from a 1 inch bulkhead about 6 inch's below the water line going to the pump and then back to the tank in a true closed loop.The primary reason for the completely closed loop is that the pump may outstrip the overflows ability to feed it.

[Tonz of fun]

Nativ that is going to be gangster!

[reefnoob1991]

Above the water the waves swirl...but below it it's a back and forth motion.

[Tonz of fun]

I wish I was 16 again...Then I could know everything again.

[reefnoob1991]

No need to be a smart alek...just trying to help.

[Tonz of fun]

Lol o come on that was funny. ok ok maybe too much. I sorry

[blind1993]

do the crisscross one because that is what i had and my was happy intill i sold it 5 min ago.