Flow in my IM 25 Lagoon?

[Fish Fan]

Hey guys!

I have recently started an Innovative Marine 25 gallon lagoon AIO to serve first and foremost as a temporary QT for any new corals or motile inverts that I hope to add to my next (in process) DT tank (see link for 25 gallon in sig). Because this tank is in a living area, I wanted it to look decent, and be more than just a bare tank with a frag rack, kind of thing. To that end, I've created something of a 'scape, and I've been letting this run with mostly well cycled rock for the last two months. I was going to wait to add livestock until after we get back from a vacation in a week or so, but I got wrapped up in a Tidal Gardens live sale last Sunday :rolleyes:

ln all the tanks I've had over the years, I've never really gotten into SPS keeping, I have mostly kept softies and easy LPS like Duncans and Frogspawn, etc. I've decided to try some of the easier stony corals in this tank, and I have on order (being delivered today lol!) ten pieces total including some Pavona, Porites, Psammocora, Leptoseris, two Seriatopora, and one Montipora that was very inexpensive, so I'm hoping it's one of the easier varieties to keep and grow (Seasons Greetings Monti).

I need some help with flow for this tank and these animals please.

Let me say: I have ZERO interest in getting into Acros and the real demanding SPS at this time! <Please read that twice before replying :)

The tank is a corner tank, so I'm trying to keep circ pumps all on the left side or back, which I know may be challenging.

Currently, I have a single Might Jet 538 return pump feeding the two return lines on my tank, and running full blast right now. I was considering adding some RFG outlets on the returns. I have one of the SpinStreams now, I could get another, and I know there's other brands as well. Would a couple RFG's help me here? What would you guys suggest?

I also have two MP-10's in this tank, one high/back on the left, one lower/front on the left (please see pic). I don't love these pumps, they were used when I got them, and though they move some water for sure, they both have noisy dry sides. I have both pumps running, but I don't have them sync'd together (I'm not even sure that's possible with these MP-10's).

I have been considering running the mp-10's like we used to do with old powerheads and a light timer. I was going to have each run for 40 minutes, offset by 20 minutes, so you'd get pump 1 on for 20 minutes, then both pumps on for 20, then pump 2 on for twenty, then back to pump 1 on and so on and so forth. Maybe I should learn how to really use these MP-10's lol!

Because of how shallow this tank is and how high my rock gets, not to mention the Seriatopora can grow tall, I was considering adding some kind of gyre. Would that be a good idea here? I saw a Jeabo MCP-120 (4300-4600 gph) at a good price, is that too big for my 25 gallon?

Any help with flow for this tank and the corals I want to keep would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Fish Fan]

Hers a pic of the tank today.

 

[Hishman]

A gyre sending a blade of water across the top has my vote if you’re wanting to get rid of the mp10s

 

[Tahoe61]

That would be a lot more flow than I am using hmmm, and you're not interested in keeping Acropora. The Hygger Nano 1600 gph looks like a lot of flow in my tank but I will not be stocking with corals for a month.

I think the Jeabo MCP-120 might be over kill, unless you can dial it way down.

I would go with the Gyre as well.

Love the scape.

 

[Fish Fan]

A gyre sending a blade of water across the top has my vote if you’re wanting to get rid of the mp10s

Thank you for the reply!

What do you think of the Jebao MCP-120 gyre, is that too big for this tank? I have no idea how to size a gyre.

Thanks again!

 

[Fish Fan]

That would be a lot more flow than I am using hmmm, and you're not interested in keeping Acropora. The Hygger Nano 1600 gph looks like a lot of flow in my tank but I will not be stocking with corals for a month.

I think the Jeabo MCP-120 might be over kill, unless you can dial it way down.

I would go with the Gyre as well.

Love the scape.

I appreciate your help here!

Are you thinking that the Mighty Jet 538 plus the two MP-10’s is overkill?

OK, between me and you and the rest of the internet, I kind of want to by “acro capable”, but that’s a down the road thing for sure. I’m still deciding on how to dose calc and alk for this tank :rolleyes:

I’m really liking a gyre here with this shallow tank, I have no idea how to size them. I assume I could turn down that Jebao gyre, but they do make smaller versions that may be more appropriate.

Would one gyre on the left side of the tank do it, or do I necessarily need to put one on the right side viewing panel as well?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Tahoe61]

I appreciate your help here!

Are you thinking that the Mighty Jet 538 plus the two MP-10’s is overkill?

OK, between me and you and the rest of the internet, I kind of want to by “acro capable”, but that’s a down the road thing for sure. I’m still deciding on how to dose calc and alk for this tank :rolleyes:

I’m really liking a gyre here with this shallow tank, I have no idea how to size them. I assume I could turn down that Jebao gyre, but they do make smaller versions that may be more appropriate.

Would one gyre on the left side of the tank do it, or do I necessarily need to put one on the right side viewing panel as well?

Thanks for your help!

Gee I don't know for sure yet.
I get the feeling from this post and another you don't love the mp-10. Therefore I would remove all doubt and go with the Jebao Gyre. Since you have a RFG I would think one Gyre would be fine.
It's all speculation on my part because I haven't introduced SPS to my IM 25 Lagoon yet.
And then you add the bare bottom variable, you can really amb up the flow to move detritus.
Between you and me I would start off with some Seriatopra, Digitata and then some Acropora. The Acropora bug bites hard, I feel you would like the challenge.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Two MP-10s are not overkill. You can get 3dprint adapters to change the flow pattern. This way you can do crossflow and get a good wave motion.

If you find them to loud. You can go the DMP-10s route.
I have a single DMP-20 with3 print adapter in my IM 25.

 

[Fish Fan]

Two MP-10s are not overkill. You can get 3dprint adapters to change the flow pattern. This way you can do crossflow and get a good wave motion.

If you find them to loud. You can go the DMP-10s route.
I have a single DMP-20 with3 print adapter in my IM 25.

Thank you for your help here!

If I swapped my MP-10’s with the Jebao’s, are you thinking two Jebao 10’s, or one Jebao 20?

Thanks again!

 

[Fish Fan]

Gee I don't know for sure yet.
I get the feeling from this post and another you don't love the mp-10. Therefore I would remove all doubt and go with the Jebao Gyre. Since you have a RFG I would think one Gyre would be fine.
It's all speculation on my part because I haven't introduced SPS to my IM 25 Lagoon yet.
And then you add the bare bottom variable, you can really amb up the flow to move detritus.
Between you and me I would start off with some Seriatopra, Digitata and then some Acropora. The Acropora bug bites hard, I feel you would like the challenge.

Yep, you got me, I don’t like these MP-10’s, they came to me used, and both dry sides are loud.

I do have two more MP-10’s in storage, also used, untested in recent history.

I remember that you just started your 25 lagoon, I’ll be watching what you do with yours.

I do own one SpinStream, but would need to purchase another. You think a couple RFA’s and one gyre would flow this tank?

Years ago I had a small stick of acro that I was gifted. It lived, I don’t know if it really thrived. I’ve always thought of acros as a lot more work in testing, dosing, and keeping up on water. I’m thinking, let me try to ease into this SPS thing :)

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Thank you for your help here!

If I swapped my MP-10’s with the Jebao’s, are you thinking two Jebao 10’s, or one Jebao 20?

Thanks again!

A single DMP-20 will do the job. The DMP-20 with turbulentflows adapter let me run it around 45% without blasting my torches.

I would personally run 2 DMP-20s with the turbulentflows design and run them at 40-50% if adding SPS. That back and forth crossflow is real nice.

 

[Fish Fan]

A single DMP-20 will do the job. The DMP-20 with turbulentflows adapter let me run it around 45% without blasting my torches.

I would personally run 2 DMP-20s with the turbulentflows design and run them at 40-50% if adding SPS. That back and forth crossflow is real nice.

Thank you, I’ll take a look at those!

 

[X-37B]

Jebao is a good choice. I run one in my aio IM15 cube.
With this pump I run it in C mode.
It comes on for 30 seconds then off for 30 and is adjustable time wise.
That mode works well and gives the tank a break every 30.
You won't need more than 1 or 2 0w-10's.I run mine on the lowest setting. I ran the ow25's in my old 36×24×12 frag system with good results.

 

[X-37B]

A single DMP-20 will do the job. The DMP-20 with turbulentflows adapter let me run it around 45% without blasting my torches.

I would personally run 2 DMP-20s with the turbulentflows design and run them at 40-50% if adding SPS. That back and forth crossflow is real nice.

I run the dmp 20 in my rs170 nem system. Nice pump but I prefer the adjustability, direction of flow, of the ow over the dmp in a small system.

 

[backbayreef]

Congrats - I started an IM25ext last month as well - we should start an IM club! lol Love the BB & aquascape - great job! Enjoy the ride man! Honestly, you can go with easy acros (I'm thinking old-school stags). They are no different from other SPS tbh.

I used to have one MP10 for softies and with two MP10s, that's way more than enough flow for SPS. I like Ecotech gear since they have pre-built UPS options. People don't like Mobius but honestly, it's been great for me.

Can't wait to see this tank get filled in...

 

[backbayreef]

Yep, you got me, I don’t like these MP-10’s, they came to me used, and both dry sides are loud.

I do have two more MP-10’s in storage, also used, untested in recent history.

I remember that you just started your 25 lagoon, I’ll be watching what you do with yours.

I do own one SpinStream, but would need to purchase another. You think a couple RFA’s and one gyre would flow this tank?

Years ago I had a small stick of acro that I was gifted. It lived, I don’t know if it really thrived. I’ve always thought of acros as a lot more work in testing, dosing, and keeping up on water. I’m thinking, let me try to ease into this SPS thing :)

You have the old version or QuiteDrive? Mine has been super quiet! You don't even hear them at 90%+ but that's too much flow for a 25gal. You should be able to run both at 60% on Reef Crest mode and should be fine...

 

[Dragen Fiend]

I run the dmp 20 in my rs170 nem system. Nice pump but I prefer the adjustability, direction of flow, of the ow over the dmp in a small system.

That's the nice thing about 3d printing. The adapter come with different flow patterns! But I can see the reason for the ow.

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics]

I would highly recommend the Random Flow Generator (RFG)... for obvious reasons :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:


Putting my bias aside for a moment, the Random Flow Generator is a very simply way to create flow and movement in these tanks.

The Spinstream is a good product, however it does require regular maintenance to prevented from sticking or staying in one position and it is pretty restrictive in terms of flow-through. At least more than an RFG is.


My advice would be to go with the single 1/2in RFG paired with the 19mm Slip-fit Drop adapter for each outlet.

Innovative Marine | Vivid Creative Aquatics

vividcreativeaquatics.com

Then crank that pump up to 100%. Or, if you really want to see them create waves, install two smaller pumps like a mighty jet 328 - one for each side.


With about 250 tp 450 GPH going through each RFG, you may not even need an additional power head talking up sapce. Especially if you're not considering SPS at this time

one nice thing about the 1/2in RFG paired with the 19mm slip-for-drop is that the over all size is exactly the same length as the sock flare nozzle and more narrow - so it doesn't take up a lot of room

 

[ShanePike]

Casting my vote with @Vivid Creative Aquatics. I'm using the RFG on my 20L and love it. My return pump gives me all the flow I need, and the RFG ensures that it's variable so that I'm not just blasting a focused stream of water at the same spot all the time. Plus, no additional unsightly powerhead.

With the MJ 538, you're getting ~500 GPH. In a 25g tank, that's a 20X turnover. Not quite enough for SPS, but it's a lot. You could add an additional small powerhead to get you into that 30X to 50X range you'd want for SPS, but you could also just beef up your return pump instead.

 

[Fish Fan]

Wow, thanks for all the replies guys!!