Too much flow?

[mag395]

I have some questions concerning flow rates and turnover rates.
How much flow is too much flow?
What is considered low, medium, and high flow?
I have a 29 gallon tank with 2 Maxi-Jet 600 powerheads that put out 160 gph each. Also the return pump I will have for my sump will put out about 250 gph. (It is rated at 382gph but has to go straight up like 4 feet). I will also have a small powerhead in my refugium putting out about 50gph. 160 + 160 + 250 + 50 = 620gph. This means that the water in my tank turns over 21 times every hour.
Is that too much?
Also, does a pump running a UV sterilizer count?
Sorry about all the questions, but that's how you get the most answers.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[reefnut]

A turn over rate of 21x every hour is not to much if your inhabitance are happy. What kind of corals do you have??

 

[dogstar]

Some fish and coral can handle or need higher flow rates and some others can not and will not survive so it depends on what you are or will try to keep.
Adding flow devices, count everything that moves the water " in the display "
Everyone has their own ideas but i would say, up to 10 x is low, 10 to 20 x is med. in over 20 x is high, so if someone says the critter need high flow then something 20 X or better is good. Ofcourse everything has its limits on both sides as far as too much or not enough.

 

[mag395]

Thanks for the replies!
The fish seem happier than ever. I have 3 damsels in there right now and they are more active than before. Whether that is because they physically can't stand still or they like to swim, I don't know.
I plan to remove 2 of the damsels and put a clown and a purple pseudochromis in. I am planning to keep some xenia, frogspawn, zoo's, mushrooms, and maybe a hammer coral. Will these corals hold up?
So if I count all flow devices in the display, does that mean that I don't count the return from the sump? If that isn't counted, I'm at 320gph, 11x per hr.

 

[dogstar]

The return pump does move water in the display, right ??.......count it.

 

[dogstar]

IMO, the frogspawns and hammers can only handle up to a middle medium flow. The others can go higher.

 

[mag395]

thanks for the response Dogstar. Where in South Florida do you live? I also live in South Florida, Lighthouse Point.