gph queston

[chadman]

last week i set up a 55g tank...i currently have my gph at exactly 20gallons per hour...will this be sufficient for a reef tank or should i add another power head?

 

[acrylic51]

What type of corals are you planning on keeping?

 

[chadman]

i want to put everything in...hard and soft, anemones clams you name it....

 

[chadman]

hey just noticed your from harrisburg...i am just down the road an hour or so outside of reading....

 

[backcountr]

if you want a bit of everything you will want ATLEAST 15x turnover per hour
a 55 gal that would be 825gph

 

[chadman]

yeah i have two powerheads doing 300 gph each and my hob does 400gph so that puts me at 1000gph...i am going to be adding a protien skimmer in a month or two once the tank is cycled and such so i will be adding even more flow...so i should be in good shape right?

 

[fedukeford]

IMO add one more larger (400-600gph) powerhead and you should be fine.
Feduke

 

[chadman]

won't a protien skimmer add enough flow to make up for another powerhead?

 

[teen]

Originally Posted by chadman
won't a protien skimmer add enough flow to make up for another powerhead?
if its in a sump, then no. it may add a little flow ( more along the lines of circulation) if its an in tank/ hang on back model.

 

[aztec reef]

still IMO you should add another powerhead, i dont think current from skimmer is enuf and is really weak.Imo theres no such thing as too much current(without blowing dsb all over)