Best way to increase circulation - Keep price in mind

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BrianC

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[Looking for what way is worth the money. now that I am shallow. (meant to sound funny)!

I'll need to increase my display tanks circulation. I hate powerheads!]
 
[Realisticly...a closed loop with a scwd is the cheapest / best solution IMO...but

Since you listed it I'm gonna have to vote on the wave box. If I was doing it over again I'd save the closed loop for a wave box in an instant. I don't think anything compares to the type of water movement it makes, all dead sponts are eliminated since the whole water column moves.

Hopefully in a year or so they will come down in price a bit and be somewhat affordable, the concept is so easy there must be a way to DIY it!]



Edited By mwolek on 1105510542
 
[Increase the size of your return pump and splitt the outlet pipe so that one is on one side of the tank and the other is on the other side of the tank aiming one high and the other low to push the water down and then up the other side in a big circle. Cost effective, a little black pvc from Lowes.

just a thought.]
 
[Matt it's a poll so your tank this is kind of a run off of the few others I've started. Water changes, your next tank etc. I am redesigning how my tank works. A shallow sand bed a new skimmer etc.

In short my redesign is my motivation...but, I think these threads help people figure out the different variations and remind you pros (I am not a pro) what variations there are! Reminding them to teach more than what they do. what works for you might not work for me!

p.s. I voted for a wave box. I saw Peters tank...motiviation!]
 
[If your using an SCWD in any variation please SCWD... oh, and keep in mind the new 1"! thanks in advance!]
 
[I think Steve is on the right track...I think the key is the term "worth the money" I would like to say more cost effective then anything else. Every penny you save in one area is money you can spend in another. If you can take what you have and make it better by redesigning it then that is truly the best way to go]
 
[There is nothing wrong with Steve's suggestion. I have a dual over flow and returns. I learned the hard way with a mag 24 and Marc lecturing me for a hour. The return needs to meet the size of the overflow. There is a flow calculator on the board somewhere. My max was like 1400 gph. So I went with a mag 12.

With two overflow boxes I get more than enough surface agitation. Personally going high wouldn't do any good with two overflows on opposite sides (or a single center over flow).]
 
[Sorry Matt, I just got your question... I miss phrased that 2nd statement.

I probobly intend on waiting a while but will go with the tunze box. I don't have a 180 gallon tank or 6' of length. So I think the tunze are out of the question. I will not jury rig them to get them to work. With dual overflows I think the box is great.

Not using powerheads and the right size pump is the greatest single descion I made I got to throw out the heaters. My temperature is stable without a chiller or heater and in perfect parameters!

Lastly the first time I got shocked by a powerhead was the last!]
 
[I vote wavebox. I am still impressed by how it moves the water back and forth, and polishing everything in the tank. HOWEVER, wavebox may not be good to LPS/Soft coral that do not need too much flow. This observation is limited to a few days of running wavebox in my 211 G, and the LPS do not expand as large as now when wavebox is removed.]
 
[I voted other simply because the product wasn't listed. I'm running a closed loop, but I'm using an Oceansmotion Squirt. I absolutely love it. Running off the same pump I was using on a SCWD and it beats it hands down. Now I know its more expensive, but you would have to compare it to two SCWDs to be fair since it hase four ports. It's not much more expensive after you look at it that way.

An added benefit is the headloss is minimal compared to the SCWD and the switching times don't speed up or slow down with flow.]
 
[If I ever upgrade my tank I'd go with an OM on my sump return and a wave box I think.

Peter, can you turn the wave down for LPS?]
 
[Well, since you stated cost was a factor I don't see a bigger bang for you buck than a closed loop and you have the option to add the SQWD.

Depending on the size of your tank and what size pump you need the cost/asthetics/flow really is a win. Go with a Mag or similar priced pump and you still barely touch $100 - $150 and can double or triple your waterflow.

You can also get creative with the plumbing if you need to reach behind rock work, spraybars, etc....]
 
[Using Scwd with closed loop and I voted closed loop..oops, mag 5 pump is not cutting it, but my friend pointed out that I am moving water and changing the direction it takes. When I get more cash going to upgrade it to a mag 7-9.]
 
[Ever thought about having too much rockwork causing the poor water circ? I've been fighting hairy algae for a while now. Tried many things. JoeT pointed out that maybe one cause is that I have too much rockwork impeding proper waterflow. The thinking makes sense. So, next action is to take some out to improve flow within the tank.

I hope Joe will trade me some of his beautiful SPS for some LR ....]
 
[Howard I cut mine down to increase circulation... i think we overstock live rock on the basis of some great denitrifying effect. I think that is greatly over emphasised!

Live rock is mainly necessary in a coral reef for lighting. As i am guessing with the reef in the gulf that is flat there is not a large coral skeleton and it is flat!]
 
[
i think we overstock live rock on the basis of some great denitrifying effect. I think that is greatly over emphasised! said:
I have seen a LOT of death in saltwater aquariums over 32 years and IMHO the addition of liverock in our systems has done more to increase success in keeping things alive and healthy than ANY other developement.
Live rock is mainly necessary in a coral reef for lighting. As i am guessing with the reef in the gulf that is flat there is not a large coral skeleton and it is flat! said:
What are you trying to say??]
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
[I think hes saying people and LFS typically recommend using too much LR. The wisdom is that 1-2lbs per gallon is needed to keep your tank running.

When you put that much rock in your tank, you end up with more of a wall then anything else. This wall of rock can really impede water flow, and create dead spots in the tank to harbor nutrients.

I think the biological capacity of rock was very underestemated early on. Combined with heavy hitting skimmers of today, and refugiums, the demand on our biological system and live rock is decreasing. Ths is good, as the end result of live rock is Nitrates (well I guess technically rock will 'eat' the nitrates but thats a slow process)

My tank only runs 80lbs of a rock or so, in a 125g, but I also don't plan to have more then about 5 small fish.]
 
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