Circulation Question?
 

So I currently have a LG 4mdqx-sc on my 90g (48x24hx18w) plumbed into a closed loop with 4 outlets, 2 on each side. There is about 500-600gph on 2x 1" returns in the center of the tank.
So I have a new wave maker comming from Jack and I am confused what to do with the wave maker. Here are the 2 choices that I have come up with, Please let me know what you think. My tank is almost full on sps.


Option #1. Add 2 MJ1200 powerheads to each side and put the Mj's on the wavemaker to create some variation in currents back and forth as the mj 1200 come on and off at diffrent times. This would give me about 2000 gph (calculated with only 1mj on at a time)

Option#2. Take the closed loop off the tank and add 4 mj1200 to the tank on the wave maker. Maxgph = 1700gph(with all 4 powerhead's on at once, which wont happen often I dont think.Mingph = 1100gph with return and 2 powerheads on at a time.

The Flow in the tank basically now is somewhat random but it definatly meets in the center and flows downward. This results in the two bottom corners of the tank getting linear flow to the left on the left side and same on the right.

Thanks for your opinions.

how big is the tank again.. I would leave the closed loop and buy 4 powerheads or the aproperat size for the wave maker.. the more flow the better ;)


Steve

A 90g Steve! :roll: Says right on the top line :wink:
thanks for the input. I am kinda leaning toward that but?
Any others?

Leave the closed loop. get two powerheads + wavemaker to intermitantly break the linear flow at the sides of the tank - use the PHs to push against the flow.

Doh didn;t see that.. if you have two outlets on your closed loop pointing inwords I would get 4 powerheads.. maby line them up on the back wall pointing in different directions and go nuts.,..

I have over 2000gph of current in my 90 now and I am adding another 1000ish soon

Steve

That's what I was thinking do do, thanks Kim.
I am doing that on one side now with a timer so it's on for 30 min but it still breaks it up a little.

What were you going to add to the tank Steve to get the increase in circ?

going to upgrade my return pump from a mag 12 to a mag 24.. then I might make a close loop out of the old mag 12.. so I could be upwords of 4000 gph..

Steve

:shock: Wow!
Your fish are going to be pinned against the glass :lol:

I suppose I have to agree. I moved a kinda stagnant (no growth) frag of coral into the high flow area in my tank and within 5 days it has started to spout growing tips again.

I think I will add the 2 mj1200 on either side and then as my SPS grow larger I will add 2 more somewhere in the tank.
Thanks guys

So how is the flow with the closed loop? I was thinking of maybe using my 4MD for the same, once my MAK4 arrives to replace the 4MD as a return pump. Got any pictures of the closed loop system?

Lee