How much water movement?

[islandgirl]

In my 37 gallon tank with standard eclipse hood....do I need anymore water movement? I have read that alot of you guys have water movement in your tanks and my lfs said that it really isn't necessary for a tank my size. Also, what exactly is the water movement's purpose in the tank...besides the obvious?

 

[michaeltx]

water movement carries that food through out the tank and oxygenates the water by suface aggitation.
do you have any corals or are wanting corals in this tank?
if so I would add atleast on powerhead to it to add extra current.
FW it isnt as important but the density of SW it looses oxygen rapidly and that why all the water movement.
Mike

 

[dreeves]

Water movement accomplishes several things...
There are no calm spots in the ocean...water is always moving.
Water moves nutrients throughout.
Water moves O2 throughout.
In the home environment...water prevents dead spots in the tank...keeps the entire tank circulated.
Water being forced over the substrate will aid in the denitrification process.
Agitating the surface will increase or maintain O2 levels, and aid in temp control.
Circulation throughout your entire tank is very important.

 

[harrysreef]

As stated above by dreeves and michael it is important and you should add one especially if you are thinking reef at all.

 

[islandgirl]

Hummm...eventually I think I would like to add some corals or something. I think getting a small powerhead to add to the tank. Keeping the tank circulated will be a benefit to me and the tank inhabitants too.....especially the clowns, I believe they like to play in currents

 

[armageddon]

A smaller powerhead is a good idea for a tank of your size.

 

[logan15]

i would shoot for a hagen aquaclear 402 powehead

 

[fshhub]

if you are going to get corals, then you want a little more than one powerhead, probably.
Ina reef tank, you want alot of movement, between 10 and 20 times your tank volue per hour of circulation. In a reef, I really reccomend going high, like 20.
In a fish only, some say 4x is fine, but I personally will not go below 10x in any tank. It serves a great jsutice, in all the areas mentioned, esp in the biological filtration and helps with denitrification. Gotta have circulation.
Yes, youcould possibly get on ph in a smaller tank, but to achieve those numbers, it would require a big one, which would be quite powerful in one area in general. I like multiple sources it calms things alot, while fiving you your targeted movement.

 

[armageddon]

I have a 402 in my 45 and it works wonders

 

[jacrmill]

I had that same tank for a while. I would deffinitly add a powerhead, (I had one in mine), towards the bottom. The way the filter works, it provides enough surface agitation, but its kinda deep for the filter to ciruclate the water at the bottom.

 

[islandgirl]

Thanks guys! I'll be looking into a powerhead this weekend I think. I'll keep ya posted!

 

[radcast2]

Hey let me ask this in here. Is there a thing as TO MUCH current? I have a 55g FOWLR and i have a 1 maxi jet 1200 (295gph), 1 maxi-jet 400 (105gph), and the output of my canister filter and the output of my protien skimmer.? I will post a pic of it so you can tell me if i should move any of them lower. I am slowly adding the LR it cost $9lb here

 

[radcast2]

sorry heres the picture

 

[michaeltx]

you can order LR off line a lot cheaper ;-Þ
as far as the powerheads you need water movement throughout the tank so if you dont have all that much movement at the bottom of the tank then you might think about moveing on or more of the PH lowere in the tank.,
IMO
Mike

 

[radcast2]

thanks i went ahead and moved the maxi-jet 400 down to just above my highest piece of LR. I can actually see the sand moving a little in some spots and I dropped a flake in there and it took over 15 minutes to hit the floor, and wow it really moved.

 

[fishman88]

you should be pumpin 5 to 10 times the amount of water in yr tank every hour so you have a 37 you should be pumpin max 370 min 180 i hope that answered the question

 

[fshhub]

Originally posted by radcast2
Hey let me ask this in here. Is there a thing as TO MUCH current? I have a 55g FOWLR and i have a 1 maxi jet 1200 (295gph), 1 maxi-jet 400 (105gph), and the output of my canister filter and the output of my protien skimmer.? I will post a pic of it so you can tell me if i should move any of them lower. I am slowly adding the LR it cost $9lb here
IMO, there could be such a thing as too much, but that would be such a ridiculous amount, that I don't even know if we could achieve it. 20x is not near too much, unless you have seahorses. The more the merrier.

 

[radcast2]

thanks for the help on the to much ?

 

[islandgirl]

Yah...thanks you guys for the advice. I'll be getting one for sure this weekend. My lfs has a anniversary sale and I can get LR for $3.99/lb

 

[radcast2]

nice price on the LR wish i lived near you.