Flow - Multiple scwds?

T

tdapple

[Lately I have been contemplating how I can improve the flow in my tank. I have 3 seios + the return now, but that doesn't leave much room for randomness. Most say seio's can't be put on wave machines...but that is when they turn off...I have toyed with the idea of more of a dimmer solution(from what I know tunzes never completly turn off..just slow down) how I would implement it is inknown right now...or...

I thought of a closed loop...but with my tank being 6 feet I am thinking one scwd is definatly not going to deliver the effect I want..so maybe two or three scwds. I want to maintain high flow, so would I have to do 3 seperate loops...or do you think I could get a huge pump that could push the whole loop...say with 3 squids and 6 outlets...maybe even 10 outlets(thinking of putting a couple real low in back). with my seios I am doing close to 3000gph. I would like to maintain this kind of flow.

As far as tunze and oceansmotion...I am trying to keep cost down, and minimal mechanical parts...I just think it would be great to be powerhead free with lots of random flow...am I asking to much? :cool grin:]
 
[Tim,

If you buy 3 SCWDs at $30 each, you are looking at $90. You could do an OceansMotions Squirt for $125. I have had a SCWD for over a year on my 65-gallon and it did finally lock up. I removed it and had to soak it in vinegar and scrape some junk out of it with a screwdriver to get it working again (if I were plumbing this thing again, I would have unions on both outlets and inlet so it would be easy to remove and clean from time to time). If you search RC on SCWD, people either love them or hate them (due to failures and being too restrictive on flow).

On the new tank I am working on (yep, still), I bought the OceansMotions Squirt and will be running only about 1000 gph through it (at least for now). The Squirts are rated for about 1200 gph, but if you have a stronger pump, you can put a T in the line before it enters the device and divert some of the flow that way.

Another inexpensive thing you may want to try is Anthony Calfo's return manifold. Check out his thread on RC at: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=520145

Good luck with whatever route you go.

Lee]
 
[Although more expensive that a OM Squirt, a motorized ballvalve allows you to alter the flow.

Or as Bomber does with his tank, he has outlets at each end. Every two days, he closes a set of valves and opens another set, reversing the flow for 48 hours.]
 
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