How much flow is enough?

1856 Views 14 Replies 7 Participants Last post by HD Blazingwolf, Jul 30, 2012

Lnd

Discussion Starter · Jul 28, 2012

I am currently in the process of converting my reef tank into a planted tank, I've been away from freshwater too long to remember what's a good amount of water flow.

In my reef I have a Sicce 4.0 950 GPH (give or take due to it being a return pump), with 2 MP40w running. Since I won't need as much flow in a freshwater, I was wondering I should sell both of the Mp40w and just keep the Sicce 4.0 running (or maybe upgrade to a larger return pump if necessary. Would 950 GPH be sufficient for my tank

Tank Dimension - 48"x36"x20"

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

rrastro

· #2 · Jul 28, 2012

That's almost 150 gallons.
What is it that you are wanting to do with the tank?
Planted only? Fish + Plants? Shrimp + Plants? etc...
The needs of the occupants will, in some part, determine the required flow.

HD Blazingwolf

· #3 · Jul 28, 2012

I shoot for the 10x turnover rate. so through my fiter if i had ur tank would be somewhere between 1300-1600 gph 1300 being 8.6x turnover rate which i would find acceptable

not many fish complain at that range, its a good all around number to hit.. how u distribute the flow will determine the fish really. a wide slow flow wi still move water but it wont be like trying to swim through a jetstream

Lnd

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 28, 2012

Well my aim is aquascape mostly, create an Amano type tank. Fish will mostly be tetra or shoaling fish with some small cleaner like oto and shrimps.

Should I just keep one of the Mp40w and run it? Or upgrade to a bigger return pump

fusiongt

· #5 · Jul 28, 2012

Amano tanks usually have lily pipes which are supposed to create a gentle flow but also move the flow in a circular pattern so there are not dead spots. Generally they are south american or asian habitats with lower PH in the 6.0's and don't house fish that like fast moving streams.

Lnd

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 29, 2012

fusiongt said:
Amano tanks usually have lily pipes which are supposed to create a gentle flow but also move the flow in a circular pattern so there are not dead spots. Generally they are south american or asian habitats with lower PH in the 6.0's and don't house fish that like fast moving streams.

I love ADA products, but having used the lily pipes before.. I don't see what the hype about them are. I will probably keep my 950 GPH pump and have 1 of the MP40 running, my only concern now is.. would the fish be caught in the MP40?

fusiongt

· #7 · Jul 29, 2012

Just don't forget, you're trying to mimic the water flow from this:

Gentle, not too harsh. Tetras don't like a ton of flow. Shrimps will avoid the flow and stay where it's not so bad. For plants we just want a slight sway from them signifying that flow is reaching there.

Your tank might be large enough for the mp40w to not make the flow too strong but it's something you need to try. No ADA tank I've seen uses that and the natural habitat of tetras/shrimps aren't going to need a lot of flow so personally I'd give it a go without it. You don't have coral in there so nothing in the tank needs such a flow. But give it a try, some fish will enjoy it. Try getting slimmer tetras that are more streamlined for swimming (bloodfin tetra) or even look at rainbow fishes.

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Lnd

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 29, 2012

Well the thing I was mainly worry about was not enough flow throughout the whole thing. At 950 GPH (minus head loss), I will probably be turning the main tank over at 5x water volume.

Though I just finished designing the scape in my head... and it will be a scape without much big plants so maybe it wont be as bad

HD Blazingwolf

· #9 · Jul 29, 2012

i have no idea the pump ur using but ur probably down to 500-600 gph if i were to guess with head loss..

jcgd

· #10 · Jul 29, 2012

HD Blazingwolf said:
I shoot for the 10x turnover rate. so through my fiter if i had ur tank would be somewhere between 1300-1600 gph 1300 being 8.6x turnover rate which i would find acceptable

not many fish complain at that range, its a good all around number to hit.. how u distribute the flow will determine the fish really. a wide slow flow wi still move water but it wont be like trying to swim through a jetstream

Just curious, how many returns do you have? I have less than 5x through my sump and throttle it back because the jets from two returns are too strong if they are wide open.

Lnd

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 29, 2012

jcgd said:
Just curious, how many returns do you have? I have less than 5x through my sump and throttle it back because the jets from two returns are too strong if they are wide open.

I have 2 return and use the flat open one. I might change the nozzle for a different type of flow, not sure yet.

Do you have any picture of your sump by chance? I'm trying to gather information so I know how to convert my current sump into a freshwater.

Django

· #12 · Jul 30, 2012

My tank is a 10 gal. with an Aquaclear 30(gal.) HOB. I run it at the minimum setting and get a slow water flow that seems to reach all of the tank. That's the kind of flow I like.

People have said that, particularly with tetras and other fish that are not from fast-moving water need a slow movement but that circulates the tank well. I have read that people should use 5 to 10 tank circulations per minute - is that right?

Anyway, I imagine that you have some issues that only come up with a big tank. I wouldn't know about those. Good luck with it.

Eldachleich

· #13 · Jul 30, 2012

I just make sure all the plants are moving ever so slightly..
Just a tiny bit of wiggle..
My tiny fish do not seem to appreciate more lol..

jcgd

· #14 · Jul 30, 2012

Lnd said:
I have 2 return and use the flat open one. I might change the nozzle for a different type of flow, not sure yet.

Do you have any picture of your sump by chance? I'm trying to gather information so I know how to convert my current sump into a freshwater.

It's just a 54 breeder with bags of media thrown in. I don't have baffles but I have this plastic sheet media that looks like foam that is rigid enough to create sections. The drain dumps straight in under water to keep turbulence down.

HD Blazingwolf

· #15 · Jul 30, 2012 (Edited)

jcgd said:
Just curious, how many returns do you have? I have less than 5x through my sump and throttle it back because the jets from two returns are too strong if they are wide open.

i have one large output . it adds surface agitation, bounces off the glass and puts flow through the wholetank. roughly 330-350 gph based on taams spec sheets and head loss calculators. my overflow is rated for 300 gph and its pretty maxed out as well. this is on my 29 gallon

AND a shot of the return from the side

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