1 MP40 or 2?

[Leanan]

I'm planning my first reef tank, and I think I've settled on a 112 gallon 36 x 36 x 20 rimless semi cube from Miracles. It has 1/2 inch glass, which I understand is too thick for MP10's. With the current rebate up for Vortechs, I'm hoping to go ahead and get mine. The question is - would one MP40 provide enough flow for a mixed reef tank (probably almost entirely LPS and softies, with a couple of SPS higher on the rocks). I checked their flow calculator online, which suggested that 1 MP40 should be sufficient for LPS, if slightly on the low end of optimal for SPS. What do you guys think? I'm also worried about not having enough variable flow to deal with any dead spots if I only have one powerhead. But, would 2 MP40's be serious overkill?

My other thought was to step down from the 112 gallon to a 78 gallon, 30 x 30 x 20, which only has 3/8 inch glass. If I do that, would two MP10's work? That combination on the flow calculator is pretty much the same flow as the one MP40 on the larger tank, but this way there will be two powerheads.

So - for a 112 gallon semi-cube, 1 MP40 or two? Or, for a 78 gallon, would 2 MP10's work? Thanks so much guys!!

[MondoBongo]

i have one mp40 and a Koralia 1050 in my 75 gallon right now. 48x18.

i would like to get another mp40 to replace the koralia so i could have an mp40 on each side of the side.

my main reason for this is just getting the flow to move around the rocks right. a single mp40 puts out enough theoretical flow to be the only powerhead in my tank. however i can't run it at 100% because i would have some spots higher on my rock work where the flow was too much for anything to be in front of it.

so it would be my preference to have two mp40's running in a wave mode, switching in between 20 - 50% power back and forth.

realistically for my setup i could probably run an mp10 opposite the mp40, but i want something that will grow with me when i set up my larger tank.

[Reefnub]

Anything above 75gal I would use 2 mp40 regardless of what type of corals you're trying to keep.

[Guntotn]

If money is an issue, start with 1 mp40 and if you feel it isn't enough then add a second one. If not just buy 2 right away and then you don't have to worry about it because you will have more then enough.

[thegrun]

There are advantages to running two, you can set up much better random flow patterns with two units.

[BlindZide]

There are advantages to running two, you can set up much better random flow patterns with two units.

I agree with this. I do not own any VorTech products but if I had the money I would have 2 for the variety of modes they can be synced to.

[Leanan]

Running two makes sense, I was just hoping to avoid the extra expense haha. But I do want to do this right and not have to add things later, so I guess I'll go ahead and get them while there's a rebate. Also, if I do decide to go down to the 30x30x20 cube, would two MP10's be enough flow?

[BlindZide]

I would say yes. But then again I do not own them so I can't speak from experience.