evolved's 190g DSA Reef: Wrasse Retreat

[gobeach]

Return Pump
Eheim 1262 (on a UPS which will run for ~45 min)

Does the Eheim provide enough turnover for your tank? It's rated for about 960gph right? I've got a 100G tank using a return pump rated for about 1290/1300 gph. I've had some restart problems with both my Rio and Mag pumps at some point - I'll turn them off for tank cleaning/water change and when I turn them on they clatter about - sometimes on/off works to get them going again - sometimes I tear them apart to clean and then they restart - and most recently I had a Rio that just wouldn't restart correctly.

I've heard good things about the Eheim but didn't think I'd get enough turnover in the tank with only ~900+ gph.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on this.

Thanks,
Cheryl (aka GoBeach)

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Absolutely stunning tank! I just read through the entire thread (and looked at all the pics!)! I've never seen so many wrasses together! Beautiful! I'd love to see a video of this thing!

 

[jporter17]

Hunter's tank is really nice. I could put a chair in front of it and spend hours looking at it. I am also going to have to talk with him about some coral trades. Did anyone else see a small bounce mushroom in any of the pictures? JP

 

[skinz78]

Dang sweet tank! We need some more photos!

 

[evolved]

Does the Eheim provide enough turnover for your tank? It's rated for about 960gph right? I've got a 100G tank using a return pump rated for about 1290/1300 gph. I've had some restart problems with both my Rio and Mag pumps at some point - I'll turn them off for tank cleaning/water change and when I turn them on they clatter about - sometimes on/off works to get them going again - sometimes I tear them apart to clean and then they restart - and most recently I had a Rio that just wouldn't restart correctly.

I've heard good things about the Eheim but didn't think I'd get enough turnover in the tank with only ~900+ gph.

I'd be interested in your thoughts on this.

Thanks,
Cheryl (aka GoBeach)

It's really a matter of your sump size; it's plenty of flow for me (35g sump). I intentionally did my plumbing in such a way to minimize head loss, so the 1262 ended up flowing even more than I anticipated. A good rule of thumb is having no more than 10x turnover in the sump; any more flow than this and your equipment doesn't have enough dwell time to function optimally.

In the sense of tank circulation, relying on a return pump for such is inefficient. This is where powerheads come in; they are much more efficient at providing turnover and circulation in the tank. In terms of power consumption, combined the 4 vortechs I have on the tank use about the same amount of power as the return pump, yet provide about 8x the amount of flow.

Absolutely stunning tank! I just read through the entire thread (and looked at all the pics!)! I've never seen so many wrasses together! Beautiful! I'd love to see a video of this thing!

Thank you kindly. I developed a full blown case of wrasse addiction a few years ago. I don't believe I have shot a video of this tank yet, although Gary Parr has...

Hunter's tank is really nice. I could put a chair in front of it and spend hours looking at it. I am also going to have to talk with him about some coral trades. Did anyone else see a small bounce mushroom in any of the pictures? JP

Thanks for the kind words Jeff. (Jeff has a very ugly tank too, for those that don't know)
You can't see that bounce behind the rocks... :gossip:

Dang sweet tank! We need some more photos!

Thank you!
I think you all want photos of zibba's quality; sadly I'm not capable of that. :)
Perhaps next week I'll have some spare time.

 

[zibba]

Perhaps next week I'll have some spare time.

Or I'll get down to your place to take more pictures next week -- I have your precious...

 

[gobeach]

It's really a matter of your sump size; it's plenty of flow for me (35g sump). I intentionally did my plumbing in such a way to minimize head loss, so the 1262 ended up flowing even more than I anticipated. A good rule of thumb is having no more than 10x turnover in the sump; any more flow than this and your equipment doesn't have enough dwell time to function optimally.

In the sense of tank circulation, relying on a return pump for such is inefficient. This is where powerheads come in; they are much more efficient at providing turnover and circulation in the tank. In terms of power consumption, combined the 4 vortechs I have on the tank use about the same amount of power as the return pump, yet provide about 8x the amount of flow.

Thanks I appreciate the response. I'm not at all relying on my return pump for flow. I've got 2 MP40s on each side of my tank and 3 small (forget the name) powerheads on the back. I wish the MP10s would work for thicker glass, I'd put 2 of them on the back glass.

Based on your input, and quite a bit of additional reading - I've got too much turnover with my return pump. My sump is not very large, it's got ~12.5 Gal in it now plus or minus a bit. My current return pump is ~1290gph so it seems that I should reduce by an order of magnitude.

I ordered an Eheim from BRS that will give me 640 gph capacity - I can dial that back a bit and see how the tank responds. I'm hesitant to make any really big changes.

Thanks again for the feedback.

 

[evolved]

MP10's will work on 1/2" glass (my tank is 1/2"), but their "hold" isn't super strong. I've yet had that be an issue, however.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Awesome job bro!

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

Ive had a mp10 fall off 3/8 inch class. Now I can't reach the dry side.

 

[evolved]

Awesome job bro!

Thanks Rev!

Ive had a mp10 fall off 3/8 inch class. Now I can't reach the dry side.

This is why you leave enough room to comfortably reach behind the tank when placing the tank. ;)

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

Real reefers like me have a 6' tank. Just saying bro how long is your arm! lol

 

[evolved]

About as long as yours, but my torso is a little narrower. :p

 

[Aquaph8]

Real reefers like me have a 6' tank. Just saying bro how long is your arm! lol

That's not cool at all, you hurt my five foot tank having feelings.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

About as long as yours, but my torso is a little narrower. :p

I see how its going to be.

That's not cool at all, you hurt my five foot tank having feelings.

I stand by my statement.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Nice to see all the wrasses that arent normally seen at the local LFS.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Bump! :)

 

[evolved]

Nice to see all the wrasses that arent normally seen at the local LFS.

Thanks!
And I laughed at your original post. Maybe someday I'll have new photos. :p

Bump! :)

I know, I know! Life is busy.
Thanks for the bump Rev!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Hehe!

 

[TJ's Reef]

Wow! Great build thread and story to go with it Hunter, glad you stuck with it and was willing to share with all of us your ups-n-downs. Hopefully encourage others to do the same in following your lead.

Cheers, Todd