sps flow?

whats the rule of thumb for turnover in a sps tank? i currntly have a 200gal with a mag 9.5 for one return and a rio 20hq(1200gph) on the other. I also have 3 korilla 4's. so i have a turn over of around 29 an hour i believe. is this enough to promote healthy corals?:yelrotflm

 

Most people will say at least 50x. I ran my tank with some SPS in it for a few months with about 30x and I did notice a big boost in growth after I bumped it up to over 70x.

 

+1 with mikejrice - I was at 40x when I added 1st couple of SPS but found particles would settle on them, upped it to over 50x and this improved matters (placement of SPS in relation to flow is important)

Steve

 

Agree 40-50x has been best in my tank as well and is what I'm shooting for (at least!) in my new system.

 

You could get away with less as long as the flow is random from some kind of wave maker, surge device, or swirl steins.

~Will.

 

How do you guys fiqure how much flow for a given tank size? I have a 180 G and i'm using 2 Koralia #4's, a Mech. 1200GPH Closed Loop, and my normal sump return pump. I just odered 2 more #4 Koralias last night also. I am hoping this is enogh. Also need to know best locations to get ultimate flow.

Surfing

 

[Flow rate for all pumps]-[Inefficiency caused by bends in plumbing]
----------------------------------------------------------------- =Turnover
[DT size]


For yours it would be 2 K4's at 1200 each=2400.
Add 1200 for the closed loop and I'll say 600 for the return (just a guess)
This brings your total GPH to 4200gph.
Now divide your total flow (4200) by tank size (180)

That makes your current tank turnover about 23x per hour.

 

That makes your current tank turnover about 23x per hour.

Is 23X sufficient for 180G's????

How do you guys get 40X and 50X????? WOW, your blowin rock out of the tank dude.

 

For softies and LPS that would be enough but still on the low side IMO. With the addition of the two more K4's you ordered you will be at about 37 which should work pretty well for you. If you decide to start getting SPS I would push it to at least 50x turnover.

More pumps, bigger pumps or better pumps. You can get some really nice pumps such as: Vortechs, Tunzes... They do come at a fairly big price though. One option a lot of people use is the Maxijet Mods. They can pump out some major flow for very cheap.

 

Fishguy, sorry to steel your thread. Good One!


Colorada Dude, Thanks for the lesson, I'm getting quite alot of them here. It's beats trial an error by a long shot!!!!!!:


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