Water Flow Overkill?!

So as I contemplate my ongoing list of equipment for my 65gal "rebuild", I was wondering if you can have too much flow in a tank. I have a MP40W and was thinking to get another MP10W for more flow. Because of the position of the tank in the room (and my daughters little curious, prying hands always trying to knock my pump magnet down), both pumps would be on the left side of the tank where my internal overflow will also be.

So question is, would a MP40W and MP10W be overkill for a 65gal? I think the syncing function is pretty cool, but not sure how effective it will be if both pumps are on the same side.

 

i dont think it will be overkill. i had a mp40 on a 65g and i still had additional powerheads.
Vortechs really work best when on opposite sides of the tank working against each other. If putting one on the other end isnt a option because of your daughter i would add the mp10 on the back glass. Both of them on the left isnt really using there full potential.

 

Yeah I figured. Back also isn't an option since the tank has to sit pretty close to the wall else it will stick out too much into the walkway (non-wife approved, ha!). That's why the internal overflow also has to be on the left side for space for the piping. It sucks but it is what it is. I'm just happy to rid myself of my canister filter and get a "real" setup with a sump like everyone else ;D.

So anyway, you think no then to an additional pump cause it won't benefit too much?

 

I believe a mp10 only needs 2.25 inches of clearance. is your tank really going to be that close to the wall?
a mp10 and mp40 on the same side will just be alot of water pushing in only one direction, also with the return pushing the same way (assuming it comes out the overflow?) it will be very one directional. at least thats the problem i had in my old 65g

 

Yeah, it's basically flush against the wall currently so I don't have much clearance. Also, I plan to put a 3D rocky background, so I didn't want to put a pump on the back (would have to mod the background and also once installed, can't move pump if needed without cutting another opening in the background). My return actually will be on the other side flowing towards the overflow. The overflow box is an internal from BRS (the rectangle type). My 3/4" return hose barely clears the back.

 

Your planned stocking will drive some of your flow too. If you looking at some fish, softies, lps you dont need immense turnover. As long as you dont have dead spots youll be fine. If youre talking SPS then yes higher flow.

 

sps love a ton of flow

 

I have this exact set up on my tank. Its exactly 65 g but I dont it is 4' long. I dont know what yours is. The MP10 keeps about a little less than 1/3 of its side clean and the MP40 takes care of about 2/3 of the tank. The flow on the 40 side is much broader as you would guess so I run that one at about 40%. The 10 I have running at about 75%. Looks like your set up might be different with back placement. If you are placing on the back you may consider to 40's. I know it sounds crazy but this way the flow will be even.

 

I think it will be too much. I had 2 MP40s in my 90g, but they were opposing and only ran about 60%

There really isn't a yes/no answer... it depends on your tank. But you most certainly can have TOO much flow. Corals can only catch food between a range of velocities. Many will not open in too high of flow. SPS grow funky in too high of flow. They will branch out quickly in high flow, but the colony does nor grow together in a dense fashion.

I saw a tank that only used wave boxes for flow... and while it is not exactly my cup of tea, the SPS were phenomenal... all tightly packed and dense as heck. Beautiful tank.

I also had LPS in my tank and you learn real quick it is very hard to keep both happy in one tank even putting them in what you think are low flow areas of the tank. I had to get rid of some of my LPS for that reason.