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ReiferMadness
12/28/2008, 05:49 PM
I just started my 47g reef last night.

50 lbs. live rock
6" live sand base
Rena FilStar xP2 filter
ZooMed rotating PH (240g per hour)


The tank is currently cycling and I'm planning on adding 6 fish tomorrow (kidding)

The question I have is the top water movement. I can see the movement but there is no wave action or ripples on the top water of my tank. Should I buy another small PH to move the water and get some ripples going across it?

Any help would be appreciated.


Tank standing in corner
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Rich1515/100_1794.jpg

Live rock currently cooking
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Rich1515/100_1797.jpg

ReiferMadness
12/28/2008, 06:41 PM
Okay, I'll assume from the silence that it's fine. Thanks.

Slacker300zx
12/28/2008, 07:01 PM
You want water movement on the top and the bottem. How much flow would u say you have on the bottem of the tank? I have 2 hydor 3s on there and i have a 75g reef with the hydors near the bottem facing up. I get the water movement from the bottem and also making waves at the top of the tank.

kurquhart1
12/28/2008, 07:02 PM
im new to this hobby but i believe your powerhead is too small for your tank. if you want "ripples " why not try a a wavemaker?

ReiferMadness
12/28/2008, 07:23 PM
Slacker, I get a TON of movement right below the surface and the bottom of the tank. So I guess it will work. kurquhart, I actually bought a PH that was rated for a 75-100g tank so I don't think it's underpowered for the tank. I might get a wavemaker later but for right now I think it's okay.

ScottL4619
12/28/2008, 09:09 PM
IMO, you're going to want all of the surface agitation you can get in a tank with such a small surface area. Gas exchange is very important. You didn't list it, so I'm assuming you do not have a protein skimmer? Skimmers oxygenate the water and provide a means for gas exchange. It also looks like you do not have an overflow? If not, I would guess that without pretty good surface agitation, the top of your water will build up a layer of gunk. This will cutoff some of the light and affect gas exchange.

Koralia or similar pumps work well because they can be located just below the surface and pointed upwards a bit if necessary. The regular powerheads are often tough to get pointed up really well.

I would get some good ripples going if it were me. The surface of my tank is very turbulent and random:

Left:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff245/ScottL4619/DSCN7000.jpg

Right:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff245/ScottL4619/DSCN6986.jpg


Good Luck!

blakeorme
12/28/2008, 09:20 PM
My first tank was that exact tank. Unfortuanately, the LFS never gave me good advice as to what I should stock in a tank that shape. I would recommend a couple koralia 2's (note a couple) or a koralia 2 for the top of the tank and a 1 for the bottom.