Hmmm...Not Enough Flow?

bacffin

bacffin

Member
I was just running some numbers on my tank and I think I goofed somewhere on my total flow rate. I have got a 45 gallon and have a 300 gph pump and a 200gph power head. Is this enough of a turn over rate? I am actually getting 275 gph from the pump due to head loss. Would moving up to 500gph be OK? Will the tank handle this amount? The HOB surface skimmer is rated for 600gph I think. Any suggestions.
Thanks,
Bruce
 
who dey

who dey

Active Member
no such thing as two much flow! although i had two rio 2500's in my 55 and it bubbled like a hot tub!!!! 10 -12 turnover/hr rate at a min.
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
O-Yea...that might help... he, he,
I have got 45 lbs. of LR and 20 lbs of LS. I am using a coralife 192w pc. We are going to start out with fish and inverts and then eventually move to soft corals. Don't have the lighting for sps from what I read.
Thanks
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
Hey Who Dey....Now that's a great idea :thinking:
I wonder if my wife would mind if I turned the Jaccuzi into a reef tub!! :D
 
who dey

who dey

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bacffin
Hey Who Dey....Now that's a great idea :thinking:
I wonder if my wife would mind if I turned the Jaccuzi into a reef tub!! :D
reef tub hehe
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
OK, Did I do this right.
275+200 = 475
475/45 = 10.5pgh total turn over.
What is the minimum I can use for soft corals?
Who Dey, do you guy's miss Cory Dillon? He's a hero out here.
 
who dey

who dey

Active Member
don't miss dillon. he was a thorn in our side. i can't stand people who talk about them self in the 3rd person. its all about rudi now. playoffs this year. and yes you did the math right. should be good flow for corals. but remember each coral is different. some require heavy flow and another may require light so research that placing them in iyour tank
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
I would do around 15GPH for fish and inverts and move up to around 20GPH when you get the corals.
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
Based on that number Snipe, all I would have to do is put in a 500gph return pump and I would hit that number. I am looking into a HOB fuge too. Should I include that flow number into the overall turn over rate? :notsure:
Thanks,
Bruce
 
christie<3

christie<3

New Member
How do you check the flow rate? My tank is not yet established so I want to make sure my pump has enough flow as well.
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
You take the GPH for everything all the pumps,filters and skimmers and you add them together then divide by your tank gallons.
 
nate0729

nate0729

Member
So would a turnover rate of about 35X/hr be too much?
170g/h PH
295g/h PH
140g/h filter
275g/h skimmer
:thinking:
My new skimmer is coming in this week, just wondering if I should take out a PH or not? Don't have any corals yet, but plan on getting a couple this weekend.
Oh yea, 25g tank.
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
IMO I would say 35X turnover is to mutch I would take out a powerhead or two and get it to the max of 25X.
Bacffin yes include anything that moves water into the flow rate. I would buy 2 smaller powerheads instead of 1 larger one it allowes you to get multiple directions of flow instead of one constant one.
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
Even the skimmer Snipe? I didn't include that one either. Another issue with different opinions...ay?
Just noticed your a Tang Cop....Gonna have to get me a big fat one for my 45 now :D
Bruce
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
Yup im the tang police so watch out!!! :).
And yes the skimmer, anything that has a pump that pulls or pushes water.
 
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