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- Apr 21, 2020
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Hello all,
Having powerheads in your tank to create random flows or to push water around is great, but has many pitfalls especially if your looking for majority soft coral type tanks that require much less flow. Too many powerheads can add heat to your tank, then theres the additional wires, additional outlets needed, electricity cost, and invaluable viewing space that can be taken up as well. You also run the risk of having dead spots in your aquarium ny trying to keep your rockwork and softies out of direct flow. Here I will be discussing the ability to get direct lighter flow exactly where you want it without having powerheads all over.
A little about me. I have been back in the hobby roughly 1 month after a 10 yr hiatus. I started out about 17 yrs ago with my first 75 gal FOWLR. After 5 years I had 3 FOWLR tanks with aporox 300 gallons taking up 1 bedroom in a 2 bedroom apartment. Work got in the way and was sending me to different offices around the US every 9 months or so. It became too much and unfair to my fish and inverts. I broke down and sold off everything and waited until a promotion firmly planted me bak in NY for the long term.
Upon getting back into the hobby I made these same mistakes mentioned above. I bought several powerheads and a gyre thinking it would be adequate for softies. To my surprise the flow was way too much and fit more for SPS. Now I went back to the drawing board and posted about my situation and was reccomend RFG's from Vivid Aquarium Aquatics.
Upon purchasing I came up with the idea of using loc line and RFG's to create four multiple outflows stemming from each of my two sump return lines. I have 1 return creating surface agitation, 1 flowing around the right side of the tank, 1 flowing into the back rockwork, and another along the substrate in the rear keeping water flowing through the rockwork to prevent detritus build up. I get about equal distribution out of each outflow which was surprising to me. It took a few hours and some patience but this is the best pinpoint flow I have ever had. Best part is I can still put softies in the path of the direct flow without worry since it is diminished. I will only have the redsea reefwave gyre and the return pumps simplifying my setup tremendously. Over time the loc line will be covered in coralline and all will blend in.
In summary, for half the price of many wavemaker systems I was able to use loc line, splitters, and RFG's to give pinpoint flow while keeping my glass clear of wires and powerheads. I hope this gives people more options.
Having powerheads in your tank to create random flows or to push water around is great, but has many pitfalls especially if your looking for majority soft coral type tanks that require much less flow. Too many powerheads can add heat to your tank, then theres the additional wires, additional outlets needed, electricity cost, and invaluable viewing space that can be taken up as well. You also run the risk of having dead spots in your aquarium ny trying to keep your rockwork and softies out of direct flow. Here I will be discussing the ability to get direct lighter flow exactly where you want it without having powerheads all over.
A little about me. I have been back in the hobby roughly 1 month after a 10 yr hiatus. I started out about 17 yrs ago with my first 75 gal FOWLR. After 5 years I had 3 FOWLR tanks with aporox 300 gallons taking up 1 bedroom in a 2 bedroom apartment. Work got in the way and was sending me to different offices around the US every 9 months or so. It became too much and unfair to my fish and inverts. I broke down and sold off everything and waited until a promotion firmly planted me bak in NY for the long term.
Upon getting back into the hobby I made these same mistakes mentioned above. I bought several powerheads and a gyre thinking it would be adequate for softies. To my surprise the flow was way too much and fit more for SPS. Now I went back to the drawing board and posted about my situation and was reccomend RFG's from Vivid Aquarium Aquatics.
Upon purchasing I came up with the idea of using loc line and RFG's to create four multiple outflows stemming from each of my two sump return lines. I have 1 return creating surface agitation, 1 flowing around the right side of the tank, 1 flowing into the back rockwork, and another along the substrate in the rear keeping water flowing through the rockwork to prevent detritus build up. I get about equal distribution out of each outflow which was surprising to me. It took a few hours and some patience but this is the best pinpoint flow I have ever had. Best part is I can still put softies in the path of the direct flow without worry since it is diminished. I will only have the redsea reefwave gyre and the return pumps simplifying my setup tremendously. Over time the loc line will be covered in coralline and all will blend in.
In summary, for half the price of many wavemaker systems I was able to use loc line, splitters, and RFG's to give pinpoint flow while keeping my glass clear of wires and powerheads. I hope this gives people more options.