Too much flow? 20L

I thinking about starting a 20g long reef tank. I have a lot of used equipment from past tanks and that friends have given to me over time. In particular I was given 2 Hydor Koralia 1050 pumps and a Smartwave controller. If I put both pumps in a 20l on the alternating setting is this going to be far to much water movement for a small tank? I was thinking I position one pump at the rear facing the front glass pushing water between a two island aquascape and other on side of the tank pushing water across the face of the scape.

 

I wouldnt say thats too much flow. I do think it would be too much for a softie tank tho.

 

what are you wanting to keep in your tank? It seems from what I've learned on this forum, flow is always a good thing.

 

If it alternates, I think that should be okay. I have half that (constant flow) on my 20 tall. I have mostly SPS.

 

seems like a good amount of flow but like others had said it really depends what you're planning on keeping. If you plan on softies id remove a powerhead, but if you wanna go SPS you're in the perfect amount of flow range!

 

The plan right now is to have a few sps in tank and just allow the to grow out into large colonies so as not to overcrowd such a small tank. I might add a fungi plate or acan colony but that would the only non-sps in tank.

 

You will probably have a hard time placing them without turning the tank into a snowglobe.A coarse substrate will help.

 

That was my main concern as well. Would you recommend just a very course sand or actually using crushed coral substrate?

 

I would use one of these.

Marine Aquarium Substrate: CaribSea Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand

Aquarium Substrates: Nature's Ocean Bio-Active Reef Sand and Reef Substrate (reef substrate)

Even if you can keep the sand from blowing you may find them to be too powerful.I guess trying them is all I can suggest.:-/