Flow in a 48" peninsula

dbleoh7 · Sep 2, 2020

I'm having a 48" x 18" x 14" (L x W X H) built and I'm wondering about flow... I'm going for a very clean look so Im doing a XAqua InOut for a sleek combo overflow/return. I was going to do powerheads only on the side of the tank that is against the wall in the peninsula. Will I need powerheads on the other side of the tank? That would defeat the clean look I'm going for. In that case I would have the tank drilled from the bottom so I can do a closed loop system for flow on that side of the tank. Just seeing if I should do the closed loop or if powerheads on the one side only (side against the wall) will be sufficient... I just don't want to drill the bottom unless it's necessary.

I should also add that the scape will be minimalistic with only a few shallow islands in it.

BlennyTime · Sep 2, 2020

Are you doing SPS, or a mixed reef, or fish only?

teddymoos · Sep 2, 2020

I think if you're doing sps or mixed reef a gyre would work well as that's what I use.its a jabao brand pump. got it for around 100 on amazon

dbleoh7 · Sep 2, 2020

teddymoos said:
I think if you're doing sps or mixed reef a gyre would work well as that's what I use.its a jabao brand pump. got it for around 100 on amazon

Are you saying a Gyre only on one side (side against the wall) would be sufficient to circulate water across the entire 4 foot tank?

dbleoh7 · Sep 2, 2020

BlennyTime said:
Are you doing SPS, or a mixed reef, or fish only?

Mixed reef. I have a colony of green slimer and red planet. Those are and will be my only SPS. The rest softies and one hammer

teddymoos · Sep 3, 2020

dbleoh7 said:
Are you saying a Gyre only on one side (side against the wall) would be sufficient to circulate water across the entire 4 foot tank?

yes I am. with the right size pump of course. I have a 36" tank and my smaller gyre is sufficient for my mixed reef needs

dbleoh7 · Sep 3, 2020

teddymoos said:
yes I am. with the right size pump of course. I have a 36" tank and my smaller gyre is sufficient for my mixed reef needs

Awesome. You don't have detritus building up on the side farthest from the gyre?

BlennyTime · Sep 3, 2020

dbleoh7 said:
Awesome. You don't have detritus building up on the side farthest from the gyre?

It should create circulation around the tank, but you can play with the placement in the side to maximize it. Really depends how your rocks are laid out.