Is this enough current in a 230?

[Canadian Man]

Hey people.
so here's the plan. Mainly SPS in my new 230.

My plan for circulation is;
-Return pump LG 4mdqx-sc feeding refugium so a little bit cut off so let's say 800gph to 2 nozzles in the center of the tank pointing to the front corner.
-Closed loop, mak 4, 2 holes drilled in each side of tank with a scwd hooked up to each of the pairs of holes on the ends of the tank. So about 1000gph from the mak.
-Red sea wave maker with 4 mj1200's on it @300gph each. 2 on at a time so another 600gph or so.

So total GPH at one time(because of wave maker) 800 + 1000 + 600 =
about 2400gph

Is this enough?
It should be very alternating with the closed loop alternating between 2 sets of 2 bulkheads and 4 mj's alternating

[Aquattro]

Jon, I would save all that work and money and pick up a couple of streams. Once your SPS grow, you won't have enough current (IMO)

[Canadian Man]

Hmmm Well that poses a problem because I allready have the mak pump, the scwd's, the wavemaker, the powerheads and the holes drilled in the side of my aquarium with the bulkheads installed.

I know that's the ultimate answer but It's just not in budget right now as I allready have all this stuff purchased and have to finish the basement as it is.

I didn't just purchase all the stuff either I just purchased the mak 4 and scwd's. the other stuff I had.

[Aquattro]

I knew you were going to say that. Unfortunately I think you'll find that the current from that equipment won't be enough in a SPS dominated tank.

[Delphinus]

Well ... how about that as a starting point, though? I would have guessed it to be not too bad, but then again I'm inexperienced with larger tanks.

If he has the stuff lying around anyways, why not use it for the first little bit or so, while he finishes the basement and whatnot, and saves up for a stream or two? What about having all that AND a stream (or two)? I bet there'd be some trick currents and eddies happening then. ( )

Don't get me wrong, I'm intrigued by both the stream, and the wave2k. They seem like a lot of coin, though ... Definitely something to save up for!

[Jack]

Jon, I don't know what to say because I thought that sounded like a nice setup.. but maybe run a seperate pump per pair of SCWD's. Like one pump on each side of the tank.

That should be some random current that's forsure though Should be nice.

[smokinreefer]

FWIW, i have a 135 6' x 2'W x 18"H sps dominated tank.

at the time being i have a MAG12 as a return, split on 2 outlets.
and 9 PHs!!, i believe they are...
4 x hagen 802 PH
2 x hagen 402 PH
2 x hagen 301 PH
1 x hagen 201 PH

IMO the flow in my tank just doesnt cut it...
my problem is i have a "SHOW" colt coral smack dab in the middle of my tank. i am very reluctant to part with it, but at the same time i know i need more flow, i am trying to figure out how i can add a tunze 6080 to my set up, without flattening the colt.

your set up sounds good, for now.
down the road you'll need to add to it though.

[Doug]

First, I agree with Brad. A pair of 6080 pumps would solve all the problems.

However that not being a happening for now, I can only comment on my same size tank. And it was never sps dominated, YET>

I ran a Mak 4 return across one end to the other, a Mak 4 closed loop on the other end and a 3MD closed loop in the center. Plus my scrubber dump. It was decent current but not even close to what my two Tunze pumps generate. Without the closed loops, I experimented with about 6 Hagen 800 powerheads, About the same as the closed loops.

Now although not a match for the streams, I would say it was enough current for a tank, even with sps, as long as the rock was well spaced. In my tank it was just to packed.

I have no experience with the squids, so cant help there. I would think as long as the 4MD, is not losing to much or the Mak4 is not back pressured by the squid, then the current should be fine for now.

Unless of course you have some honkin large sps colonies already. I have read threads where they retard the current big time. My plan, even with the two streams, is to run some 800,s later on when they grow.

I still think its fine for now though and see what happens as the tank progresses.

[Aquattro]

Jon, I didn't mean to imply you couldn't use the stuff. I twill give fairly decent current in an open tank. HOWEVER....when your SPS fill in all that openness, you will need to add more. Tony had the best suggestion with adding single stream to your setup. A 6080 is only $259 or so ("only" compared to the 6110 kit!). This would add ~2200gph to what you have. Again, this could be a year or more down the road.

[spikehs]

i did a bit of reading on rc about flow to determine what i needed and it seemed most sps dominated tanks where 10-20x turnover, the 20x wasn't even that uncommon.