[dinor2]

Ok, I'm getting very frustrated with not being able to get a good flow in my tank! I am hoping if I post a couple pictures, could someone please make recommendations as to where/how to place powerheads? I've noticed that most or all powerheads in other tanks are at the top of the water and pointing towards the surface and this makes great sense to me. However, the shape of my tank makes it extremely difficult to cut out dead spots in the lr. So, any ideas/suggestions are very much appreciated! Do I maybe have too much lr? I have about 70lbs of it.... tried to aquascape it all so that there are many caves all over but, maybe I need to take some of those out?

Here are the pictures, I have currently, 1 mj900 from the overflow (at top left) 2 mj 1200's (one on either side of tank) and 1 koralia #3 (which i LOVE!).

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...2/P1039904.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...2/P1069908.jpg

Both these pics do not have the new koralia in it but, it's on the right side towards the top and pointing at the rocks towards the top/back.

Thanks guys!

[ilovemash]

Is this the 55gal?

[patrick1234]

im not able to look at the pics right now but you can do what im going to do with my 46 and that is lay 1/2
pvc down and do little out lets all over so one power head will move water all over the tank and if you do your nice sand bed it will cover it all

[NATIVEVAMAN]

The shape of that tank should make it easier to get rid of dead spots because two of the worst spots have been eliminated by the 45 degree corners.I ahve always been a fan of having 3 medium sized pumps rather than one or two high powered pumps.If you have continuous direct flow you will always have dead spots.(They are not really dead spots but spots with less flow). you can get flow deflectors for the hydor pumps and there circular motion makes the flow change direction constantly.These may help somewhat.I would also be looking for a flow rate somewhere over 20x the tank volume.And even at higher flow rates I think most will tell you that you are going to have dead spots.

[dinor2]

Yes, it is my 55gallon.

So, I'm going to mess with it, again, later tonight and try to find places towards the top of the tank. I'm also moving my huge protein skimmer back onto the side as I'm going to have to hang my light fixture. (Nativeman, I'll post how the new nova extreme pro works out, had to wait for a hanging kit, my tank is 41", how crazy is that!?).

My goal is to have two main currents (with the koralia there'll be more since it makes four currents on its own.) I just feel like I need more flow along the back, but, without leaving the left side right next to the overflow dead or the left front side of the overflow dead. And like I said, in the back flow is pretty low. I took my turkey baster and blew water towards the back in the caves and all this nice junk filled the water....

So, here's my first plan, put the protein skimmer on the side again, leave the koralia on the same side it's on but put at the back side on the right side, aiming somewhat up and over the rocks that are closer to the surface. I guess I'll just be messing with it for a while, still messing with high nitrates and now that i have my new lights, really wanting to get corals, but I'm not gonna till the nitrates are down! Am I totally off base thinking better flow to low flow areas will help lower my nitrates? I am thankful it's not sticking to ammonia or nitrites, but, I can't figure out where else they're coming from, other than low flow areas. What do you guys think? About the nitrates going down after improving water flow?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Better flow may help in the respect that it will help keep all the nasty stuff suspended and make it easier to get to the skimmer.I also think there are more and better ways to get rid of the nitrates,such as adding live rock,a well stocked fuge,less food at feeding times,a deeper sand bed.All the parts of a natural filtration system work together as a team.If one team member gets lazy the others have to do more.The aquarist supervises the team and must provide them with the tools to do the job.1.5+pounds of live rock to the gallon,4 inch's of live sand and a fuge full of green stuff.

[dinor2]

Hmm, never thought of it all that way, makes sense though. Would you say I need more sand judging by the pictures? If it all was spread evenly on the bottom I'd probably have close to or 3 inches, I also have 7 nassarius snails, tons of cerith snails, 4 peppermint shrimp and a cleaner shrimp that help keep the sand clean, the first doing the most work in the sand.... someone mentioned that after adding the nassarius snails to my tank, it made sense to see higher nitrates because as they dig thru the sand they release nitrogen pockets, but they've been in there for two months and still I am battling these nitrates. I'm still researching nitrates online and reading threads about it but, am stumped. Unless you think I need more sand...

Thanks very much for helping me with this! I love my tank but this is getting frustrating! Can't do anything else with it till i get this nitrate problem solved!

[NATIVEVAMAN]

It seems that science point to the fact the 4 inch's is were good denitrification begins.I would add an inch.

[dinor2]

Ok, so I found this little web page here.... Nitrogen Cycle

Now it's starting to make sense! I'm going to the pet store to get one more bag (25lbs should add at least another inch, maybe more) of ls. I really do think that those cool little nassarius snails are what's killing off my good nitrifying bacteria, moving thru my sand so much, and I added four more a few weeks ago!

So, going to do a water change today for sure, since nitrates are at 80 now, 'cough'. And adding sand this afternoon, then going to practice that thing called patience that I feel I'm a master of now! And will continue to monitor the nitrates.

Hey, um, when i put up my new light fixture, is that going to cause another cycle to my tank with the added 100w or so of light?

Thanks guys!