Filtration Question - gph, dsb

[oracledba72]

I currently have a a Emperor 280 at 280 gph, and a UGF with 2 penguin 550 powerheads running at 145gph i believe. So right now i think i'm filtering 570 gallons per hour. Do you count powerheads in the gph equation or just your filter for times turning a tank over. If I were to switch to a DSB and remove the UGF would i still count the powerhead gph's in the equation or would i lose that since i wouldn't be using the ugf and the uplift tubes. Would i just be at 280gph from my hang on power filter?

 

[demosthenes]

IMO, an UGF shouldn't be added into the equation. The powerheads may be rated at 145 gph, but the key word is rated. That is the highest they can go, but are most likely running at a lower gph. The CC becomes clogged and such, and that slows down the powerheads. If you put in a DSB, the powerheads will only be there for water circulation. So, you will only have 280 gph, which IMO, you already have. I would try to add some filters to increase the gph and such.

 

[oracledba72]

Hmmm....that's they way I was thinking too. I'm still new at this, but the lfs told me to count the powerheads/ugf and figure those into the equation. So right now my 280/65 = 4.30 times per hour. Not enough i'm assuming.
If I added a Emperor 400 it would boost me to 680/65 = 10.46.
Is this the way I should go then? I really don't want to invest tons of money into a sump and worry about water spilling and all that crap. Any recommendations on filters? I have also read that my nitrates could by high because of insufficient filtration.

 

[demosthenes]

Well, here is a list of what I would do, if it were my tank.

• Change from UGF & CC to a DSB
• Build a DIY sump
  Add a refugium

 

[oracledba72]

The dsb is beggining to sound like a step in the right direction, but as far as the diy sump and refugium, i have no clue. I'm not really a diy type of guy, but have been known to put together swingsets and other childrens toys. I have no idea what a refugium is. I guess i'll have to use the ole search utility here. I do have years of experience in databases, programming, and computers in general though.

 

[nm reef]

I may be figuring it all wrong...but I've always attempted to circulate my water volume 8-10 times per hr.
Now to accomplish this I've added the estimated maximum out-put of my power heads(2 maxi jet 1200's(295 GPH)..3 maxi jet 600's(160 GPH)..plus the 2 hagen 802's(460 GPH) that feed my refugium.The total rated output is 1645 GPH(29.9 times per hr). But the actual output is much lower than that!
I estimate the actual amount of circulation is actually half of the estimated total out put....so its more like 820 GPH for 14.9 times per hr....thats figuring a 55 gal water volume. I actually have closer to 100 gal volume if my refugium is added in....so I estimate my circulation thru my entire system at closer to 820 GPH for 100 gal volume=8.2 times per hr. Those numbers seem to be accurate based on actually seeing the circulation in my system.

 

[oracledba72]

Wow, so now it *REALLY* sounds like a need more filtration. So I should include my powerheads because they are moving water. Still if i were to cut that in half because the other calcs being the maximum turnover, i am way under. Does going back to freshwater ever come to mind when shelling out more and more and more money for sw.

 

[demosthenes]

NM- So you are adding your powerheads into the equation? Are those powerheads used in conjunction with a sump/refugium, other than the 802s, or are they in there for circulation? I thought that he was talking about filtering that amount of water per hour, not just circulating it, if so, I'm not sure we're all talking in the same language and in the same measurements.
PS No, the cost of SW could never drive this fish out of the water.