How do i keep the current at lower depths?

[shnabbles]

Ok iv had my tank up since October.. recently i had a out break of red hair algae... iv cut back the lights, cut back the feeding and im trying to put some more current at the bottom of the tank. I guess it was next to no current before because my flowerpot would barely wave. I have to maxi jet 1200's in a 55 gallong tank..
How do you guys keep a decent current at the bottom of the tank with out blowing the sand all over the freaking place? ..
Iv lowered my power heads only to find huge dunes on the bottom of the tank. (3-4 inch deep sand bed)

 

[mudplayerx]

Do you have a total of about 1,200 gallons per hour flowing through your 55 gallon tank liek you should? As long as you have 20-25x water flow, then the current usually has no problem finding its way to the bottom of the tank.
I don't recommend pointing the powerheads down at all. Even if it doesn't look like it, it will slowly displace the sand until it starts piling up in areas.
Powerhead placement and waterflow is just trial and error depending on what shape your tank is and how you have your liverock set up. Good luck!
ps- get yourself a phosphate test. Phosphates are one of the leading cause of algae growth. Do you have a decent protein skimmer?

 

[shnabbles]

I just got a Aqura Remora? Protein skimmer. Does a much much better job then my old seaclone does.
Is 2 maxi jet 1200's enough in a 55 gallon tank?
I was pointing the power heads down

i just lowered them they were 2-3 inches below the surface... I lowered 1 to about half way down and kept the other were it was.

 

[mudplayerx]

How many gallons per hour do those powerheads shoot out? My guess is that you have inadequate water flow. You probably have around 240 gph now when you need around 1,200+ in a 55 gallon tank.
You can get a couple of hang on the back power filters with 330 gph and another powerhead and you should be fine. This shouldn't cost you more than about $100 if you shop around.

 

[shnabbles]

The maxi jets i have do 295 gallons per hour... So do get 1200 gallons per hour of turn over i should have 4 of these 1200's in a 55 gallon tank?

 

[mudplayerx]

Yep, you definately need to get around 1,200 gph in the tank if you have live rock and inverts. Are you sure those powerheads are 295 gph? Wow, those are powerful!

 

[shnabbles]

I will look into adding 2 more very soon.
Yes the Maxi Jet 1200's put out 295gph and run on 20 watts of power.

 

[shnabbles]

Ok i just added a 3rd maxi jet that iv been using to mix the salt water prior to adding it to the tank so now im at about 900 gallons.
I actually have been still running carbon but i just unplugged it, and plan on removing it unless crap starts floating all over the place. (just cant grasp not needed a carbon filter lol)
ill be ordering 2 more maxi jets monday.
thanks for your help

 

[mudplayerx]

Like you said, carbon is great for clearing up cloudy water as needed, but beyond that it is unneeded in saltwater. The chemical potency of the carbon is lost extremely quickly in saltwater to the point when carbon is totally inert by week two.
You can always replace your carbon media with nylon stockings full of aragonite, or pieces of live rock. I converted my two 330gph hang on filters this way into little fuges.

 

[hermitkrab]

I heard Seios made by the same people who make Maxi-Jets are good for deep currents. But I think they put out a lot of gph like 600 and up. Is that to much for a tank like mine (40 gallons)? I currently only have one powerhead, one wave make, a hang-on fuge, and two filters one that is 300gph anf one that is 280gph. Should I get one more wavemaker and one more pwerhead if I want SPS corals in the future?

 

[squidd]

The difference in the Seio vs Maxi is the "size" of the flow column...
A bigger/wider column of moving water is "gentler" (even at more gph) than a narrow "shot" of water from a small diameter opening...

 

[hermitkrab]

Well I have the basic test kits... pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. My ammonia is 0 my nitrite and nitrate is 0 and my pH is 8.3. My salt level is 1.023. I use only distilled water and of course pre mix the salt. I also have a powerfilter, a bio-wheel, and a refugium. But for some reason anytime I get a fish it dies in several days to several weeks. So what other test kits should I get? Oh and I use Salifert test kits.