Water Flow

Hi Everyone,

I have a 75 G tank with 90 lbs of live rock within the display tank (roughly). Right now I have 4 X Hydor 1400 approx. 3/4 down the back wall of the tank (behind the live rock) pointing upwards to drive debris upwards from below the power heads and forcing floating debris upwards into the over flows.

Is there a better arrangement than the pattern I mentioned above?

 

a pic would help, are they all 4 in similar areas?

Edit, but generally, you kinda want the flow on opposite sides facing eachother so it creates a random flow pattern, but hard to say without seeing

 

That is a fare critique lol

Without moving the live rock, you would not see the power heads..

Essentially they are all attached all 4 towards the bottom facing upwards and to the left.

 

Most people seem to have an equal amount on each side facing eachother. Does your method create a circling effect in the tank, or do you get adequate wave like flow, with high and low flow areas?

 

So do you have to move your live rock to maintenance them then?

 

Ok let's start at basics - which is more beneficial

A. Placing the power heads low and drive flow upwards?

Or

B. Placing the power heads high and drive flow downwards?

 

I purposely left space behind the live rock.

 

Upwards, you want surface agitation for proper gas exchange

 

Actually you can also keep power heads nice and high (1-2" from the surface) and aim them slightly downwards. This gives you good surface agitation from the suction of the powerheads, but all of the flow goes where you wanted. Best of both worlds IMO.

 

Hi,


Okay and these conflicting statements brings me too my point.


Let’s get straight to the point of why I am asking; I have placed a lot of live rock within my tank and although it was initially placed to keep quite a bit of space between the back wall of glass and the live rock – the end results, did not go to plan but it look fantastic, I have columns of live rock and over-hangs. It just looks amazing.


My original intent was to place the power heads low and drive the flow of water upwards and to the left to bring the water flow left-ward. I bought 4 Hydor units and when doing so the store keep offered me the advice “Remember if you do not have a wave maker, do not point the power heads towards each other – it will cancel out the water movement.”


So I am now trying to figure out IF I need to move my live rock to accommodate good water circulation.


General consensus to power heads pointed upwards
Many people have told me that I should have the power heads as low as possible and pointed up-wards. This is because they are causing flow in the “deadspot” by pulling from the location and sending debris to an area that can manage it. – great for gas exchange.


General consensus to power heads pointed downwards
Many people have told me that I should have the power heads as high as possible and pointed down-wards just enough to graze the sand but not to disturb it greatly. This is because they are pulling from the surface causing gas exchange but keeping debris moving and not resting on the surface of the sand.