Is my flow OK?

[raymac]

150 gal, and I've got the return from my sump with a Rio 1700 pump...It's turned on a little more than half way to time it with the siphon on top.
Then in the tank, I've got two more Rio 1700's as powerheads....one in the opposite corner from the sump return, and one in the middle, pointed directly at the front glass.
None of these are pointed directly at my rock. The tank has been up about 3 1/2 weeks, and I've only got about 80 lbs of rock total (it's a small pile in the middle), and over 200 lbs of dsb.
I just put in the powerhead in the middle in last night. I'm wondering if anyone thinks it's too much. No corals or fish yet (one small coral on the LR), 35 turbos and 25 hermits.
Thanks for your advice....Ray

 

[option720]

Personally i think you are VERY underpowered in regard to your return pump and overflow. A RIO 1700 puts out 650 GPH at 0 ft of head. At 6 ft of head it is barely putting out 100 GPH. I'm pretty sure that from you sump to your tank there is at least five feet of plumbing it runs through. You say you have to throttle it back to half.....so you are saying that your siphon is only pulling out 50 gallon an hour and your pump is set to match that. Something is really screwy here. What diameter is your siphon hose ...1/8"?
Your tank should be circulating throught the sump some where in the area of 6 to 10 times per hour. I would say you get a Gen X MAK4. Thats what i run and it puts our 1190 at 0 FT. That is the kind of power you need for your tank.
Give us some more details about the overflow and sump.

 

[burnnspy]

I recommend circulating your tank volume 10 times per hour, using at least 3 pumping sources to create turbulent flow within the reef. I prefer 1 powerfilter(filtration removed) and 2 powerheads.
BurnNSpy

 

[raymac]

Thanks for the replies!
Option720-- I've got an Amiracle Wet/Dry for the sump (no bioballs). It's rated for over 300 gallons (they claim).
The overflow and skimmer box apparatus hangs on the back of the tank. The overflow isn't large....about 6-8 inches wide, 3 inches front to back and 8-9 inches tall.
The siphon is going well....I've never stopped it yet in 3 1/2 weeks. To get the type of flow you're talking about, I'd have to have the siphon taking water 10 times faster....how do I do that?
The tubing is, I don't know...1/2" or 3/4". Not 1/8" like you suggested.
My ammonia is 0, yesterday.
The pH is over 8 somewhere...need to test tonight.
I think I'm OK here. Oh, yeah, in the sump, I have my heater, the Rio 1700, and a EuroReef skimmer. No carbon yet.
Any suggestions you guys have are WELCOME!!
Thanks again.......Ray...

 

[broomer5]

Ray,
Go to the Amiracle website. They have most all of their wet/dry's listed with photographs.
Find the model that you have an let us know.
I agree with Option720 - that you may need more flow, bigger return pump for your size tank. But without knowing what model wet/dry sump you have - we'd be guessing.
Be glad to help anyway we can, but let us first know what equipment model you have

 

[option720]

Raymac
You may want to consider purchasing a larger u-tube for your overflow. Mine is 1 1/8 inch and it take tons of water out of my tank. You can buy them from Lifereef.com. What diameter is you hose from you overflow to your sump? We’ll get this figured out for you.

 

[raymac]

Thanks again for the help, guys.
Here's the specs on my Amiracle wet/dry
Model SR-300
24 x 14 x 14
Biological filter size 7.2 Gal
Rated for 180-300 Gal
Sump size 12 x 14
The siphon tube is about 1" in diameter
The intake to the sump is a flex hose.
Earlier, I've said that the Rio 1700 in the sump was only turned on half-way. That was maybe a little exageration on my part. Almost full way, probably 3/4 or greater.
Might I consider putting the skimmer box lower into the water to force more water into the siphon?
Thanks, Ray.....

 

[jimi]

You definately need a larger return pump. You are WAY under powered which may hurt your oxygen levels and nitrification process when you stock your tank. You should have 8 to 10 times tank volume circulating between the tank and sump. Dont count the powerheads in the tank. A 150 should have two overflow boxes to handle the flow.

 

[raymac]

Jimi and all,
I was looking through some of the online vendors last night and found several Overflow boxes, MUCH BIGGER than mine that will take water into the sump much faster than mine.
I didn't realize this was possible...remember I'm just a few weeks into this......this board is a great learning opportunity!
Thanks for all of your help. I'll be picking up one of these shortly. The pump will be an easy fix also. I'm not sure I'll be comfortable using my existing wet/dry, because of so much extra flow....7.5 gallons wouldn't be much of a comfort zone for me, but I do have an extra 29 gallon tank lying around I could use for the sump. I'm thinking this might be a good solution.
Thanks again for your help.....Ray