Need advice with Flow options (image inside)

[Otogi]

As the subject says I need help with my Flow and what you all know to be the best arrangement for the PH's. I did a quick drawing of my current set up along with some possible options. Right now I have 1 MJ 1200 and 1 MJ 900 on opposite ends of the tank blowing at each other. I am planning to get 2 Koralia 3s or 4s this weekend (not sure what is best for my 90g with the MJs). I am also not sure what would be the best arrangement for the 4. The problem I am having is right now my 90g FOWLR only has the clean up crew in it at the moment, and I have noticed that the waste from the crew is settling on the bottom and not being picked up or kept in the column thus my need for more flow.

So my questions are, which koralia should I use in my 90g (two 3s or two 4s or maybe one 3 and 4)? I plan to get 2 and use the with my MJs.

Will this be to much Flow for my FOWLR tank? I want things to stay clean and my fish to be fit, but I don't want them to have to fight every minute of their lives just to keep swimming.

Which option would be best to create the chaotic flow that will hopefully not make my tank a Snow Globe and have me shifting sand everyday?

Any other recommendations or advice?

Thanks in advance :D

http://a518.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/54/l_4f1baf98330348321e3cf920c55a3775.jpg

[The_Browns]

I have 2 #3's and 1 #1 in my 72g and I am still trying to configure it so I dont have sandstorms. BUt I like them. IMO I would probably go with 1 #3 and 1 #4

[Ismellikefish]

Going to leave the flow questions to someone with more experience but wanted to give you props on the nice drawings :)

[LobsterOfJustice]

Can we get a picture or diagram of the rockwork in the tank? At this point I'm leaning towards 2 or 4.

[Otogi]

here is a pic of the tank from a few days ago looks the same just with my clean up crew now. My SB doesn't look so clean right now due to the PHs not keeping in the column to get taken into my over flow. There is 120lbs of LR, 7 different peices iin the pic. Really need some help on what kind of PHs to add and where cause I plan to get them in the next day or so, but I don't want to over do it.

http://a739.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/75/l_e50c300ff7eaaa7ab7013ab501c6e41a.jpg

[Otogi]

bump

[scotmc]

With my 90. I have found the best results to be a power head at opposit ends of the tank. I have seen a three power head set up. All on the back(spread out) facing the front glass. Each tank is different. I would move them around, and see what works for yours,

[Otogi]

ok so the majority ruling seems to be just move them around till I find the position that works best for me. Which is what I will have to do.

But what size Koralias should I get? I keep thinking I should get two #4s but I am getting the feeling that will be way to much. I want to have enough flow to keep the tank clean yet allow my fish to swim comfortably. What the recommendations for size on the two koralias I plan to get?

[Otogi]

bump again
anyone have any advice to offer me on this?

[jhendu]

I've got 2 # 3s in my 115 at opposite ends and pointing from the side at an angle towards the front. Seems to be good. 4s may be more than you need.

[buddah001]

I have 2 #3's with a sea swirhl and a mag18 in my sump on a 65gal tank and I still think I want one more #3 in there. I think I came up with my tank is turned over 40X's an hour being conervative. You are going to really like the koralias over the maxis trust me.

[Kannin]

I like option 4 but I would switch the Mj's to the back and have the Koralias in the front.

I have 2 Mj's on the back wal and my returns back center directing water to the front glass and the K's pointed at the center of the tank right in front of the reef.

[Otogi]

Thanks everyone and thanks Kannin I think that sounds good to but to make sure i understand, your suggestion is to have both the MJs on the back wall and my returns pointing to the front of the display and have the 2 K's near the front pointing back and to the center of the display? Sounds like a good way to get the chaotic flow to keep the waste suspended till it gets filtered out. Do you think this would be to much flow for my fish?

[webbstock]

I would suggest placing the koralias low in the tank (Hide the wire down the corner seam of the tank) I had my koralia at the bottom angled upward which was realy nice s it helped to really turn over the water on the bottom and doesn't cause a sandstorm.

[wrott]

Any of those configs will work as suggested--move them to fit your need.
I have a #3 and a mj1200 in a 20g, so if it were me I'd do #4s--that up to you. And it's always nice to have a couple of extra PHs lying around.

[Kannin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11665044#post11665044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Otogi
Thanks everyone and thanks Kannin I think that sounds good to but to make sure i understand, your suggestion is to have both the MJs on the back wall and my returns pointing to the front of the display and have the 2 K's near the front pointing back and to the center of the display? Sounds like a good way to get the chaotic flow to keep the waste suspended till it gets filtered out. Do you think this would be to much flow for my fish?

I have 41 times turn over. It is a 54 gallon with 800 from 2 returns... 590 from 2 MJ1200 on back wall and 800 from 2 K 1's in front corners...

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w172/Kannin_photos/100_1280.jpg

[Otogi]

Thanks again. I am going to pick up 2 K3s this weekend, and I think I am going to go with this option which seems similar to what you have in your pic but changed slightly to account for the difference in space from my 90 vs. your 54. And you have a beautiful tank I might add, almost makes me want to do a reef but I am set on my FOLWR setup :D. Sorry if the pic is kind of small. At work atm and not allot of time to mess around with it.

Also just a reminder I am doing a FOWLR setup not Reef so I don't think I need the 40 to 50 time turn over, think I am looking for 20 to 30+ times but setup to keep the tank clean. But not sure. Like I said before I want good Flow, but I don't want to make it to hard for my fish to swim and be comfortable. Thoughts?

http://a239.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/17/m_a1dc43e2f5158add83a75c942909adb6.jpg

[Kannin]

Thanks for the compliment. It would be prettier w/o a butt load of powerheads in it. My new build will have 8000 gph w/o powerheads.

I think your new diagram looks great. I also think that having the fowler gives you some great fish options that reefers don't have... like puffers and triggers. I wouldn't worry about 30 times turnover. You'll be fine... these fish live by the surf. My tang and my bi-color blenny both love to swim right up to my powerheads..

[Kannin]

I forgot to compliment you on your rock work. Very nice!

[Otogi]

Thanks for the compliment its 7 pieces ranging from 15-30lbs each the two base rock on the bottom far left and far right is Fiji and the rest is all premium Tonga. very full of life and color. I am very pleased with it ^^.

I am also coming to the conclusion of weather or not I am ok with having so many power heads cluttering my tank. I am tossing around the Idea of just getting 2 k4s and taking out the MJs, I would then keep the Ks in the same place as in my last diagram with just the returns face the front glass. but not sure. the end result needs to be good flow with no dead spots and enough force to keep waste suspended in the water column but not lift the sand. So I need to decide on weather or not to stay with the k3s and MJs or no Mjs and 2 K4s.. But at least I have a general idea of PH placement at this point.

[wrott]

Fish love strong current as stated--it's what they're used to in nature.
And w/ as much flow as possible, you will not have as many cyano outbreaks, etc....
My 20g is anemome only--the Ocellaris do not like it when a pump is off either.
Good luck, and LR looks very cool.