Powerhead Selection and Placement

C

coralreefer

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Hello all. I am going to buy a couple more Koralia powerheads and would like some input on size and placement. Below is a pic that represents my current setup. 140 gallon tank with center overflow. All of rockwork is against the backwall, but it doesnt go to the top as depicted by the hexagons. The two cylinders are K4's that I have now.

I want at least two more Koralia evo's to increase flow in the lower levels of the tank but dont want it to blow the sand all around! What size would you suggest (750, 1050 or 1400) and where would you place them. i am willing to move the two K4's I have now, but wanted to at least leave the left pane open for viewing from the side and not looking through unsightly powercords.
 
Hey Tom, it's been a while !! As you well know, my experience is limited [smilie=smile.gif] , but i'll share my opinion [smilie=lipssealed.gif] , and let others correct me if I'm off [smilie=wait.gif] . Based on your tank size, I would say go with the 1400s. Your corals won't mind. In this case more is better. Be sure to place most of them on a wave maker if possible, so as not to bombard your stock with constant flow. Having placed the rockwork against the backwall, creates a disadvantage for the Reef. It tends to create dead spots, or low flow spots, where food, detritus, ect can sit undisturbed. This in turn creates a nutrient build up which causes nitrate problems. If you can open up the back some, do it and save yourself some headaches. Having read a bit on gyre flows, I decided to change up my powerhead configuration. Maybe this could work for you as well. I placed one powerhead on constant flow, as low as I could, on the left side (all the way at the back). I tilted this powerhead at a 45 degree angle, so as to push water up towards my (center) overflow. I placed a 2nd powerhead on a 3 minute timer above this one (about mid point) only slightly tilted, so as to push water in a more direct way. One of my returns sits just above this 2nd powerhead, and it's also slightly tilted towards the overflow. I then repeated the same on the opposite wall, but with water being pushed through the front wall. I think this creates enough circular flow, which pushes upwards and ends up in the overflow. It's new to me, but appears to be working better than my old configuration. If this doesn't work, you can always place your powerhead on the side panels, pointed towards the backwall, and tilted up so as to push towards your overflow. Again, on a timer is best.

Leaving the left pane open, leaves a big ?????? marc on my head [smilie=rofl.gif] . I'll let more experience folk answer that one. JM2C.





Best of luck !!
 
Thanks for the reply. I am worried that the Koralia evo 1400s would be too strong closer to the sand bed and would end up displacing my sand too much. Even though I have lots of rockwork in the center as I stated above, there is plenty of holes and space for water flow around the rocks. Ill try to get a better picture of the actual rockwork.

The tank sits in the living room, but faces away from the center, so viewing is done from the left side as well as the front. This makes me not want to put a powerhead on the left pane of glass. The powerhead is not really the problem, its the dang electrical cord that runs it!

I was thinking of placing two smaller evo's maybe a 750 or 1050 in similar locations, just lower in the tank. That would help eliminate some dead spots that I have down low and in the front. I would likely leave the top left PH where it is, but could move the top right PH to the middle of the pane to give a good flow across the middle of the tank.

As far as controllable, that is why i want the evo's. I dont have the capability to control yet, but would soon. I would eventually replace the K4's with Evo 1400s. I know most people would just say get a Vortech or Tunze (and that may be why no one else have offered an idea) because they are much better pumps in general and are better when used with controllers, but I am not going to shell out that kind of cash. Maybe Ill win won at nextwave!
 
Here is an older pic of the tank, but the K4's are in the same place.

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I hear you man !! No way I'm forking out $500.00 for 1 powerhead for this tank. I went with Korallia also. Maybe when I upgrade to a 300g, but who knows when that will be. It's on my wish list at this time.
 
have you looked at the magnum series koralias. they have a higher flow and are fairly inexpensive. Also i liked the maxijet with the mods on them really high flow and i even had them on a wavemaker
 
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