Flow and Sand question

luckyk0505 · 12/11/2017, 11:26 PM

I have a 36 x 24 x 20 rimless tank. I have minimal aquascaping setup with the shallow sand bed of Tropical Eden mesoflake. I am running 2 x MP40wqd which placed in the back of the tank shooting flow directly to the front glass. It does not create any sand storm. However, it is moving sand on onside of the tank (Left corner front, but other side is ok). Both pumps are synced so they are running at same speed. I am not sure why it is only moving sand from one corner. Is there any way to prevent this without reducing the flow?

thanks,

JUNBUG361 · 12/11/2017, 11:31 PM

Where is your Return line?

luckyk0505 · 12/12/2017, 10:03 AM

I have two return line pointing at same direction as my powerheads. My return line isn't strong. Maybe 2~3 times of turnover rate.

RobZilla04 · 12/12/2017, 10:10 AM

You can try placing a small rock in the area where the sand is being disturbed. It'll take some playing around but you can redirect the flow and that should reduce the substrate blowing around in that spot.

VoltzNSalt · 12/12/2017, 10:19 AM

2 MP40's on the back pointing forward is a lot of horsepower...

I second the rock placement idea...about all you can do if you don't want to play with the flow rates...

luckyk0505 · 12/15/2017, 11:39 AM

Thanks, I will try a small rock. I am still having same issue. I can't even run this powerheads at 30%. I moved powerheads to about 2 inches below the waterline and it didn't solved the issue. I am surprised that sand is moving from only on side of corner, not both.

lapin · 12/15/2017, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyk0505

Thanks, I will try a small rock. I am still having same issue. I can't even run this powerheads at 30%. I moved powerheads to about 2 inches below the waterline and it didn't solved the issue. I am surprised that sand is moving from only on side of corner, not both.

I had a similar issue with a 125. I had 2 sea swirls at opposite ends of my tank, blowing across towards each other. On one end the sand would move on the other it would not. I ended up using some cal reactor medium in the bare spot and left it at that.

Kevin Guthrie · 12/15/2017, 06:48 PM

See if you can get some micro bubbles in the tank to help you visualize the flow, it might reveal what's going on and suggest a solution. For example blow some air bubbles into a pump with airline.

Lsufan · 12/15/2017, 07:12 PM

I agree that 2 mp 40’s are a lot of flow pointed at the front glass of a 24” tank. It is more then likely hitting the glass & going straight down to the sandbed. I imagine u have them on the back glass for cosmetic reasons but not being able to point mp’s in a certain direction makes it tough to point them directly at the front glass on a shallower tank. If possible I would place one on the end panel. If not then u could try moving it over from the corner so all the flow isn’t at the corner on the front glass

12/11/2017, 11:26 PM	#1
luckyk0505 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 368	Flow and Sand question I have a 36 x 24 x 20 rimless tank. I have minimal aquascaping setup with the shallow sand bed of Tropical Eden mesoflake. I am running 2 x MP40wqd which placed in the back of the tank shooting flow directly to the front glass. It does not create any sand storm. However, it is moving sand on onside of the tank (Left corner front, but other side is ok). Both pumps are synced so they are running at same speed. I am not sure why it is only moving sand from one corner. Is there any way to prevent this without reducing the flow? thanks,

12/12/2017, 10:10 AM	#4
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	You can try placing a small rock in the area where the sand is being disturbed. It'll take some playing around but you can redirect the flow and that should reduce the substrate blowing around in that spot. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

12/11/2017, 11:31 PM	#2
JUNBUG361 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Antioch,CALIFORNIA Posts: 1,091	Where is your Return line?

12/12/2017, 10:03 AM	#3
luckyk0505 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 368	I have two return line pointing at same direction as my powerheads. My return line isn't strong. Maybe 2~3 times of turnover rate.

12/12/2017, 10:19 AM	#5
VoltzNSalt In Memoriam Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Higher than the Mile High City Posts: 137	2 MP40's on the back pointing forward is a lot of horsepower... I second the rock placement idea...about all you can do if you don't want to play with the flow rates...

12/15/2017, 11:39 AM	#6
luckyk0505 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 368	Thanks, I will try a small rock. I am still having same issue. I can't even run this powerheads at 30%. I moved powerheads to about 2 inches below the waterline and it didn't solved the issue. I am surprised that sand is moving from only on side of corner, not both.

12/15/2017, 06:48 PM	#8
Kevin Guthrie Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 506	See if you can get some micro bubbles in the tank to help you visualize the flow, it might reveal what's going on and suggest a solution. For example blow some air bubbles into a pump with airline.

12/15/2017, 07:12 PM	#9
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	I agree that 2 mp 40’s are a lot of flow pointed at the front glass of a 24” tank. It is more then likely hitting the glass & going straight down to the sandbed. I imagine u have them on the back glass for cosmetic reasons but not being able to point mp’s in a certain direction makes it tough to point them directly at the front glass on a shallower tank. If possible I would place one on the end panel. If not then u could try moving it over from the corner so all the flow isn’t at the corner on the front glass