Reef tank flow question

[pmcg]

I am collecting everything I need to setup my 90 gallon. I have done a ton of research but am still unsure about how much flow I need. I want to setup a reef tank, with fish, and soft corals (maybe hard corals later but do not have the funds to upgrade lighting from PC to MHJ). Can anyone recommend some power heads? I've heard good things about maxi jet. Would two 900's be enough? Is it worth the extra money to go Tunz? Thanks for the help.

Pat

[kfowler]

You'll defintely want to get more opinions but you'll want to shoot for the 20-30x turnover range. MJ's are great but you'll want more than just two 900's. You'll only be getting around 5x turnover there. I have a Tunze 6025 and I love it. It's defintely more money but if you were going to do the MJ Mod it's not that much more. Have you considered a closed loop?

[Dan9]

I just ordered two tunze nanostreams for my 65. I did a lot of research on them and they seem to be a good way to go. I went with one 6025 and one 6045. You would need more for a 90 however.

[Amphiprion]

I would shoot for more than you would expect to need. In my mixed 75 I have well over 80x turnover. You may not need that much from the beginning, but around 40x or so should work well. I suggest Seio powerheads and the maxijet mods, if you are handy. Tunze would be even better, as long as you have the budget for them.

[pmcg]

Ok great. thanks for the quick response. I like the Tunze If I went with three of the nano stream 6045 the Flow rate would be : 4,500 l/h (1,189 US gal./h) per unit and 3567 total. Like 39x turnover rate.
can I get away with this. Would I need a Multi controller? Are there better options from tunze for a tank of this size? I feel like if I put 8 of the Maxi jets in the tank it would look silly.
Thanks again
Pat

[pmcg]

...

[chris.hampton]

I have 3 modified Maxi Jets 1200 on a wave maker (which are rated around 2,400 GPH each if i have done the mod properly!!) and a Sequence 750 (rated around 3,600) on a wavy sea for a 90 gal ish tank. I think it's a little more than i need for the moment but you never know whats around the corner!!

[kfowler]

You'd be fine with that much flow but if you're not going to keep SPS then I think you can scale back your flow rate.

[cbitter]

Keep those ugly pumps out of the display tank. I'd recommend drilling the back in 2 or even 4 places and setting up a closed loop with an external pump. You'll be glad you made the investment later...

[pmcg]

I have thought about closed loop but am worried about cracking the tank. I consider myself very handy, but this seems pretty risky. Anyone know of a place in jersey that does it?

[cbitter]

Grab a yellow pages and call a few glass shops... any of them have the equi[pment needed to cut a hole in the glass. You'll probably find that they will warn you over-and-over that they've "never drilled a tank before" and that they "can't be held responsible for what may happen" ... but I've used two different shops to drill two tanks (a 50g and a 20g) and each time it was easy as pie. It's really not a big deal...

[kfowler]

I've drilled 10g glass and it is fairly easy. That being said, I would have a prof galss shop drill anything of value. Check with your LFS. They can typically recommend someone. I believe it runs $20-30 per hole.

The closed loops do look nicer, IMO.

[papagimp]

Chris made a good point. I just removed 3 powerheads from my tank and modded the 4th, which was a maxijet1200. I used the low flow mod (around 1500gph) and so far it's all the current my tank will need. They are much cheaper than the tunze's, seio's and extremely easy to do, heck I didn't even use a rotary tool, just an old kitchen knife.

[popimp06]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8803098#post8803098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kfowler
You'll defintely want to get more opinions but you'll want to shoot for the 20-30x turnover range. MJ's are great but you'll want more than just two 900's. You'll only be getting around 5x turnover there. I have a Tunze 6025 and I love it. It's defintely more money but if you were going to do the MJ Mod it's not that much more. Have you considered a closed loop?

i was thinking of geting that. is it a nice pump ? does it stir your sand up ?

[pmcg]

If I get the holes drilled I guess I should go witht the 4 hole system so two separate closed loop systems. Where should I have the holes drilled, how big, closer to the top I am guessing.
You guys are the best
Pat

[Smitty750]

tagging along

[chris.hampton]

You can do a closed loop with out drilling the tank, you just need to plumb the input of the pump up and over the lip of your tank. I think Melves reef has a diagram for it.