93g cube circulation - powerheads and return

[danielh]

I've got two RW8s and I'll be running about 1000gph through the return. I feel like the return should handle the surface agitation and the RWs should hand more of the lower currents. Any better ideas and why? Either way, where should I place the powerheads on the cube? Most of what I've found is regarding rectangular tanks.

I also have a hydor that I am considering using for back up surface agitation... Program a float switch or two to turn it on when they've detected a return pump failure based on sump and or display levels.

 

[danielh]

Still hoping someone has some insight on the placement of my RW8's in a 93g cube....

 

[Tim Gentry]

Just getting my 93 cube going. Using a Maxspect gyro 130 for now

 

[FF337]

I have two mp40s turned to the third light mounted on my back wall. About 6" down from top of water. Flow is plenty. So back wall is a good spot for any powerhead imo

 

[Blackhawk Fan]

Imo you have too much flow for the return. 3x to 5x system volume is plenty in my experience. Also, if you have a 1" drain it can only handle about 700gph. I'm not familiar with the RW8's, but I do have a 93g cube. I use two modded 6025's on the back wall that blow down into the back corners and have a gyre 150 on pulse mode blowing from right to left.

 

[danielh]

Thanks for the info. The dct8000 lph pump is definitely too much, but at it its lowest setting is working while I'm also using it on a manifold. I'm only running the algae scrubber through the manifold right now. It's still a lot of flow though. Right now the return is what I'm using for surface agitation and it's pointed straight across to the other corner.

The two RW8s are in the other corners. I had them just above half power and on the more random movement. I changed it to the wave mode that keeps them both on for intervals so you can get the whole tank swaying... and my torches seemed to hate it. I turned it back and turned them down.

Now I added some xenia and turned the 8s down to the first power level and the xenia is still getting pummeled. Do I really have too much?

 

[Winschuc]

I've got two MP4o's on the back of mine and an RW8 on the back aiming down and across.

I've been running cubes for a few years now and have found that a gyre type motion works best for me. I generally try to get the water moving in one direction at various speeds and then target dead spots as needed.

 

[danielh]

Why does it seem like that dct and my two 8's at the lowest setting are too much? It's blowing around pretty much everywhere. I actually want some dead spots....