Do I have too much flow in my 150 tank?

[mmotown]

I have a 150 gal with overflows in each corner. I have each return on a MAg 12's plus my 2 x 6100 with a multicontroller. My problem is that I have a bald spot in the middle of my tank and I also have sand particles that are constantly floating and I am trying to have a polished look for my water. Also I am constantly blowing sand off my rocks only for it to resettle back on my rocks. My tank has been cycling 4weeks now. Do you think I have too much flow or would you make mods? If so what would you do? Thanks... Also my Tunzes are turned completely down.

[RGibson]

Do you have two mag 12s or one? and what is the size of your tank?

[mmotown]

Originally posted by RGibson
Do you have two mag 12s or one? and what is the size of your tank?

Each return is on a Mag12 so I have two and my tank is a 150gal.

[RGibson]

Your need only one return pump.On my 180 gal reef tank i have a eheim 1260 for a return pump,the 6100 streams will work just fine in your 150 gal tank and lower flow in the sump will help the protein skimmer work better.

[derrikd]

i have a mag 7 a mag 12, 4 maxijet 1200 and two seios 820. in a 180

[chadfarmer]

wow i ahve a wavebox and 2 6100 in a 58RR plus 9.5 return

[RGibson]

mmotown by changing out the return pumps your chiller will run a hole lot less and the ele bill will drop like a rock.

[mmotown]

Originally posted by RGibson
mmotown by changing out the return pumps your chiller will run a hole lot less and the ele bill will drop like a rock.

In the meantime until I redo the plumbing, will it be ok to turn one of the mag 12's off?

[bigmohawk]

Can someone please clarify how low sump turn over increases teh efficiency of a skimmer and chiller? Changing the amount of water going past the skimmer is not going to affect the amount of water being skimmed inside the skimmer in any given hour. The same goes for the chiller. Infact, I think the higher flow through the sump will help decrease the amount a chiller woudl be on due to evaporation. Please clarify....

[RGibson]

mmotown you will fine out more about low flow through the sump at- Lighting,filtration other equipment- Why do we assume a large return pump is needed, its a thread by Herbert T Kornfeld it will help you a great deal.Yes you can turn off one pump but make sure that the valve is all so turn off to that pump.

[RGibson]

You want the water flow though the sump to match the flow though the skimmer.And when you take out two pumps that put a lot of heat in the water the chiller will run a hole lot less.

[mmotown]

Thanks RGibson. I will read that thread...

[crash519]

Low flow throught the sump is also for microbubble reduction. 3-5x your tank volume is a good range while the 3x is best.

[rvitko]

Return pumps are very energy inefficient and produce a lot of heat, the skimmer cannot process water so quickly that a high flow rate benefits it, in fact the high turbulence that usual accompanies high flow is detrimental to skimming.

For the topic at hand. What are the dimensions of the 150? A one month old sand bed is still fairly new and likely not covered in bacteria and algae to help cement it together. Things you could do to help is run one pump at a time- alternate them using interval 1 on the controller. Aim the pumps for the longest distance, generally corner to opposite corner.

[mmotown]

Originally posted by rvitko
Return pumps are very energy inefficient and produce a lot of heat, the skimmer cannot process water so quickly that a high flow rate benefits it, in fact the high turbulence that usual accompanies high flow is detrimental to skimming.

For the topic at hand. What are the dimensions of the 150? A one month old sand bed is still fairly new and likely not covered in bacteria and algae to help cement it together. Things you could do to help is run one pump at a time- alternate them using interval 1 on the controller. Aim the pumps for the longest distance, generally corner to opposite corner.

Rvito. My dim are 72x16x24. I have since turned one of my Mag 12 return pumps off. Also I will postion the Tunzes as you have mentioned.

[rvitko]

Shouldn't be a problem in that size tank, though a 6ft 150 should be 72*18 *28, what you list is what they usually offer as a 135.

[SeanT]

Originally posted by mmotown
Do I have too much flow in my 150 tank?


I almost fainted when I read this. :spin2:

If I could figure out a way to put a Mercury 275 hp outboard engine on a timer, muffle the noise and vent the exhaust...I just might do it. :D

[rvitko]

:lol:

[mmotown]

Originally posted by SeanT
I almost fainted when I read this. :spin2:

If I could figure out a way to put a Mercury 275 hp outboard engine on a timer, muffle the noise and vent the exhaust...I just might do it. :D

So Sean I do have too much flow? My sump was sort of turbulant with all of that return activity.:smokin:

Rvito those dimensions you gave are correct. However each overflow is in the corner of each end of the tank. I believe the longest range to aim the Tunze would be straight across rather than the back corner to the opposite corner of the front due to the over flows in the way. Aiming them srtaight at each other across the front is that okay? Also is there some info on how the modes work in simplier terms for the multi controller?

[RGibson]

MMotown i would like to see simplier terms allso for the tunze multicontroller

[SeanT]

Originally posted by mmotown
So Sean I do have too much flow?
No, you don't have too much flow.

[mmotown]

Everyone I appreciate the input and Rvito I have disconnected one of the Mag 12's.

[rvitko]

Yes, I agree you definitely don't have too much flow. Aim them straight at each other but use Interval mode on the controller so only one pump is running at a time. Try setting lower speeds to start so the pumps pulse from 30-80% for example.

[mmotown]

Will do and I appreciate all of the feed back. Thanks everyone