Koralia Powerhead "Issues"

[stevedave08]

Well, I'm not sure if its an issue really or if I should just let it be. I have a Koralia 3 on the left side glass of my 75 gallon on the top rear pointing accross the back of the tank from left to right. It's angled upward a little for surface agitation. I have a Koralia 1 on the back glass all the way to the right side of the tank shooting forward toward the front glass, also angled upward slightly. The last Koralia 1 is on my right side glass on the top front pointing across the tank from right to left angled slightly downward. I originally started off with only the two #1's but the flow was not strong enough. My filter and skimmer returns into the tank are 400gph and 200gph respectively plus the powerhead gph numbers, and this has worked pretty well so far.
The 3 has never given me any problems, always has strong flow, and I've never cleaned it (I will be soon though). About two months ago I removed my two #1's, took them apart, and cleaned them out because I couldn't feel or see much flow coming from them. When I opened them up there was a clear goo basically filling the inside of the plastic casing around the propellerhead. I cleaned them off and brushed off any excess coralline with a toothbrush. I did this all while submerging the pumps in a big bowl with tank water in it to avoid losing my corraline. I do love my coralline very much.

Anyway, I put them back in and it seemed like I had pretty good flow coming from them, so I was happy with that. The goo/jelly wasn't stopping the propellerheads from spinning, but they were definitely impeding flow. Still, I feel like the # 1's flow less than the Koralia nano I have in my 24g JBJ Nano! The flow just doesn't make it all the way across the tank with the #1 shooting across. I"m going to swap the #1 on the right side glass to the middle of the back glass shooting straight at the front of the tank and put a #2 in it's place on the top front of the right side glass shooting right to left. I'm not putting another #3 in cause I think that would be too much. Let me know what you guys think and any similar experiences you may have had. I do love Koralia powerheads though.

Here's a pic for reference. Sorry about the crappy quality. I took it with my phone cause my Nikon isn't with me right now. The orange sponge has since been moved to the right back corner of the tank. I had just put it in when I took this pic. Lights had just come on, so not everything is open.

And here's a pic of my paintball gun just because it was next to the previous pic on my photobucket. you can tell the difference in cameras. I'll post some HQ updated pics of my tank soon.

 

[spanko]

You really won't get much in a standard 75 gallon, 48" long tank from the K1's. I think I would try putting the K3 in the rear left corner at the top more than you have it and point it down a little towards the front right corner, not blasting at the rocks but not agitating the top either. This should give you some good flow throughout the tank. I would leave the K1 on the back wall just as you have it and move the other K1 to right side, and point it towards the wate surface. The both of those should give you some great surface agitation and gas exchange. Try it out, see how you like it and maybe you will have to tweak it some.
By the way your fear of 2 k3's being too much flow is just a fear and I think that 2 of them would add a great amount of flow to this tank. Especially since you have the gorgonian, sponge and leather corals in their. They like flow and they actually need a good amount for when they shed and to keep algae from growing on them.
Let us know what you decide and how it works out for you.

 

[stevedave08]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3185651
You really won't get much in a standard 75 gallon, 48" long tank from the K1's. I think I would try putting the K3 in the rear left corner at the top more than you have it and point it down a little towards the front right corner, not blasting at the rocks but not agitating the top either. This should give you some good flow throughout the tank. I would leave the K1 on the back wall just as you have it and move the other K1 to right side, and point it towards the wate surface. The both of those should give you some great surface agitation and gas exchange. Try it out, see how you like it and maybe you will have to tweak it some.
By the way your fear of 2 k3's being too much flow is just a fear and I think that 2 of them would add a great amount of flow to this tank. Especially since you have the gorgonian, sponge and leather corals in their. They like flow and they actually need a good amount for when they shed and to keep algae from growing on them.
Let us know what you decide and how it works out for you.
My b-day is tomorrow and i was just talking to the wife. Apparently she bought me a K3 online yesterday, so I should be getting it by next week. When you say to move the k1 on the side to the right, I don't get what you mean? To the right of the k1 that is already on the back?

 

[spanko]

Duh!!! I meant the left side.
Here is a calculation for you.
Turnover = total amount of GPH movement / total volume of water.
So let's just say with displacement for rocks and sand you have about 60 gallons of water in thatt display. Filter plus skimmer = 600 gph. K3 + (2) k1's = 850+400+400 or 1650 total from the Koralias. 2250 total from all pumps. so;
Turnover = 2250 / 60 or 37.5 times turnover. For your system without any SPS coral (as they require an immense amount of flow) this is respectful. Just some tweaking around will help things here me thinks. The addition of the K2 that your wonderful wife so thoughtfully bought for you will add an additional 600 gph to you total so;
2850 / 60 = 47.5 times turnover. Still not too much. The one caution here, and this is a caution only if you have a problem, is that any additional pumps will add heat to the tank. So you need to keep an eye on temperature. Of course the least amount of pumps in the tank with the most amount of turnover is the best of all worlds, along with the amount of space and aesthetics of having all those Koralias in the tank. Just things to think about. You have a goodly amount of rock in there, and maybe for the aesthetics you could hide one or two behind some rocks and still get the most out of them as far as flow.
Long winded I know but you got me started!!!!

 

[stevedave08]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3185671
Duh!!! I meant the left side.
Here is a calculation for you.
Turnover = total amount of GPH movement / total volume of water.
So let's just say with displacement for rocks and sand you have about 60 gallons of water in thatt display. Filter plus skimmer = 600 gph. K3 + (2) k1's = 850+400+400 or 1650 total from the Koralias. 2250 total from all pumps. so;
Turnover = 2250 / 60 or 37.5 times turnover. For your system without any SPS coral (as they require an immense amount of flow) this is respectful. Just some tweaking around will help things here me thinks. The addition of the K2 that your wonderful wife so thoughtfully bought for you will add an additional 600 gph to you total so;
2850 / 60 = 47.5 times turnover. Still not too much. The one caution here, and this is a caution only if you have a problem, is that any additional pumps will add heat to the tank. So you need to keep an eye on temperature. Of course the least amount of pumps in the tank with the most amount of turnover is the best of all worlds, along with the amount of space and aesthetics of having all those Koralias in the tank. Just things to think about. You have a goodly amount of rock in there, and maybe for the aesthetics you could hide one or two behind some rocks and still get the most out of them as far as flow.
Long winded I know but you got me started!!!!
LOL. No problem with long winded. My posts are usually much longer for simple things because I love to write and I get carried away. I checked the order and my wife actually got a k3, which is what I preferred anyway. I just edited my previous post.

I have about 120-140lbs of LR and about 50-60lbs of sand. I'm actually pretty concerned about the tank because last time I checked with a level, my tank seems to be almost 2 whole degrees lower on the right side. Its's the floor that is off though. I have laminate wood flooring and I believe it settled under the weight of the tank. I don't know how to go about raising it as of yet.

 

[flower]

K1s are too small for any real use in a 75g except for direct flow on a coral that is in a cave or overhang where regular flow skips past. They just do not have the strength to get across the tank at any angle.
K3 is the smallest size IMO for a 75g. Use a K4 or a K5, even better.
Oh and Happy Birthday!

 

[stevedave08]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3185810

K1s are too small for any real use in a 75g except for direct flow on a coral that is in a cave or overhang where regular flow skips past. They just do not have the strength to get across the tank at any angle.
K3 is the smallest size IMO for a 75g. Use a K4 or a K5, even better.
Oh and Happy Birthday!
Thanks!

 

[stevedave08]

Well, I fixed this issue a while back, but I noticed I never updated. I cleaned all my existing powerheads and what a difference that made for me. I added the new #3 and flow is better than ever. Boner!