1 mp40 on 100g enough?

[Burrito]

I am filling up my tank as I type to start my cycle soon. For flow, besides the split return in the center of the tank I was planning on 1 mp40 on one side of the tank.

Would just the one be enough, or do I need something across from it? Will be mostly lps, some other softies and some easier sps

Tank is 48x24x20

 

[Diesel]

To start out I think one will do it.
Once your tank is maturing and corals will get bigger in a few months you want a second pump.

 

[ndrwater]

What he said^^^^^
Just for reference, I have a LPS dominated 120. Similar dims at 48x24x24 and have 2 MP 40's along with a split return.
Works out well. Not too much flow at all

 

[Burrito]

Any benefit in 1 mp40 with a gyre or icecap? I’ve never used those types of pumps so a bit curious. I hear high maintenance though.

 

[JBKReef]

I have a 93 cube, so different dimensions (30x30x24) but I have 2 MP40’s and have had to turn them way down. I purchased hoping to future proof myself for an upgrade but MP10’s would have suited me more. With your more lateral space though 1 should be plenty. A second smaller power head in the future in case of dead spots could be needed

 

[Reef Jedi]

Personally i think you'll want a second Vortech. I wouldn't switch brands, i'd keep it all the same. I personally run 1 mp 40 qd and 1 mp 10 qd in a 40 breeder. the customization and control you can have with these power heads is amazing.

 

[ndrwater]

Any benefit in 1 mp40 with a gyre or icecap? I’ve never used those types of pumps so a bit curious. I hear high maintenance though.

Different ways to skin the same cat really. Might be easier with 2 Ecotech products as they can potentially "talk" to each other. Many ways to run them in tandem, anti sync, etc.
With either of the gyre brand pumps, there is potentially a bit more maintenance, but negligibly so.

 

[Burrito]

I currently have 2 mp10s in my 30g tank but won’t be able to use them since the glass is 15mm in this one. They are great pumps. Love the customization with reeflink.

 

[ndrwater]

You might find a willing partner to swap a couple of 10's for a 40.
Another great thing about Ecotech products is they all hold their value pretty well.
If you already have a Reeflink, you already know how well it works. To me that alone would nix the gyre option.

 

[mcarroll]

Definitely plan on two of those for the size tank. No less.

Even for pumps with stronger flow, you generally want at least two flow sources in the tank. It's very hard, maybe impossible, to have a good flow everywhere with one pump. Plus unidirectional flow is unnatural or at least abnormal — pretty much every reef experiences bidirectional flow from the tides.

If budget is a thing you could easily divide the cost of that pump in two and buy two separate pumps with about the same money or just a bit more.

Thankfully no rush to sort this out since you're just filling the tank. :)

 

[DesertReefT4r]

2 for sure.

 

[reefwiser]

The more flow the better on a tank.:) two at a minimum four is really good. It is amazing how corals react to flow and the health that they get from it. In the wild corals are use to 1000x the flow that we can have in our aquariums. The lower flow causes issues of bacterial infections in areas of corals that do not get enough flow to clean the mucus off their skin.

 

[Burrito]

purchased another new MP40 today for a great price on ebay (ebays doing a site wide 15% off today) and an extra wet side. i just added rocks and the 1 mp40 handles it nice but id rather not have to be at 100%