established 55g reefs, how/what/where current makers?

enosmeanus

enosmeanus

Member
i'm trying to set up a 55g reef tank. wanted some opinions on what works for the right current for softies, lps, and maybe a few pieces of sps. i've been thinking about getting a wavemaker of some kind but even then, what would be some good ways to angle my powerheads and placement of them. i've got 2 maxi-jet 1200's, thinking about getting another one. i've got about 85 pounds of live rock stacked up against the back glass in a "wall" fashion. the tank is 48 by 13 by 20. currently the two maxi-jets are in the front 2 corners of the tank, closer to the water line, blowing at each other. is there a better way? can anyone with an established 55 reef enlighten me on how their powerheads are set up? i would greatly appreciate it.
 
T

thomas712

Guest
Been over a year since I have had my 55 up and running, but I also had two MJ 1200's on it. These were located in the back corners pointing toward the front middle of the tank. I also used two double cartridge whisper filters on the back for surface flow and filtration. All of this current toward the front serves to keep the viewing area clean of debris buildup.
Those MJ's might be a little strong for a sandbed in a 55 unless you angle them just right, so be warned.
I kept mushrooms, leathers, star and button polyps, BTA anemone and a frogspawn in there.
Thomas
 
ags

ags

Member
when I had my 55 I felt the 1200's were too powerful and disrupted the spacing I had in mind for the corals, especially with soft corals and LPS that did not like high current placement.
Although I prefer the 1200's I felt multiple 600's were better suited for the depth of a 55. I think I might have had one 1200 in there but that was so long ago I really can't remember.
 
enosmeanus

enosmeanus

Member
thanks thomas, thanks ags. wow, 2 replies that the 1200's might be too powerful. i think i'll check to see if they came with those little ball valve attachments so i can tone them down a bit. i think i'll put them in the back corners like you had them thomas, blowing towards the middle of the front pane of glass, but i wanted to ask you if you had the powerheads close to the waterline or if you had them deeper into the water, and also if you had them blowing straight out towards the middle or if you used those little "rudder" things to angle the streams of water.
maybe i'll supplement with some old penguins i've got, they're very close to the same gph as the 660 maxijets are, but i'm not sure where i would put them. any suggestions? i've got two of them and i think they're both rated @ 145 gph each.
 
rwhite

rwhite

Member
We're running the 660s (I think, they're covered in coralline now) and have them basically in the same position described earlier. We also have a Penguin 330 and Fluval 304 situated more or less in the middle, again producing the current towards the front. Posting a pic, hope you can see them.
 
rwhite

rwhite

Member
As far as corals, we have zoos, rics, GSP, bubble, hairy shrooms, blue shrooms and a toadstool. HTH:D
 
T

thomas712

Guest
Then perhaps setting them up in the front corners pointing toward the rock work is a better plan, unless they are pounding some corals there as well. If so.
Then I would drop down to MJ 900's
One other thougth, perhaps you could build some type of pvc spraybar to attach to the MJ 1200's. I gave it some thought at one time but never wound up doing it.
Thomas
 
enosmeanus

enosmeanus

Member
maybe i'll try building the spraybars, right now i'm only running one of them. i've got some frogspawn and a hammer and it's just too much for them. my toadstool doesn't seem to mind though.
 
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