Is a vortex too strong for my tank?

[PhamousPhish]

I want to get the mp vortech. My tank is a IM 50 gallon fusion pro 2 andwas planning on ordering Tropic Eden Mesoflakes for sand.
Will the vortex be too powerful and move my sand. If I put it towards bottom I get that heightens chance but what do you think? Is my tank too small for these pumps and would i need more than 1? I also wanted to get the oscillating heads instead of my narrow ones on back of tank. I think that's my return pump? Not sure.
Here are some pics of my scape

 

[Tamberav]

A vortech?

Not too small, I have run them on tanks as small as 5 gallon.

 

[PhamousPhish]

A vortech?

Not too small, I have run them on tanks as small as 5 gallon.

Any idea on the size of sand you used? Debating which Tropic eden sand to get. Atm leaning towards meso but wanted to mix it with the 1 lower size also

 

[Red_Beard]

Go meso. I mixed reef flakes and meso, wish i would have just gone meso. I have a load of flow though.

 

[PhamousPhish]

Red baron could I get a pic please.
Ok so go meso what about mixing it with the one size below it? Maybe 2 bags meso and one whatever is below. I really liked the pink one but dont any sand flowing around...think mixing pink and meso is ok?

 

[Tamberav]

Mixing sands, they eventually settle out and separate unless something keeps mixing them (flow, cuc, you).

Fiji pink is fine enough to blow around

 

[Red_Beard]

Its been 6 years... this is what it looked like when i put it in. Might be a better one in my build thread somewhere though.

This is from the other day.

 

[PhamousPhish]

So you'd say go meso and nothing else?
How many 10lb live sand bags should I get for 50 gallon? And I'm assuming you went live?
Your tank is epic! What is this thing on ground i love it. I attached pic

 

[PhamousPhish]

Its been 6 years... this is what it looked like when i put it in. Might be a better one in my build thread somewhere though.

This is from the other day.

 

[PhamousPhish]

Is there a size you'd recommend for the vortech for my 50 gallon. And would I need 2 or 1? I'd prefer it in back of tank for more concealment

 

[Red_Beard]

So you'd say go meso and nothing else?
How many 10lb live sand bags should I get for 50 gallon? And I'm assuming you went live?
Your tank is epic! What is this thing on ground i love it. I attached pic

Thank you! That is a lobo. I would go all meso, unless you plan on keeping something that requires finer particles. Meso is plenty small for gobies and jawfish though. My tank is a 48 inch 75, i think i went with 60lbs? They should have a calculator somewhere, ill see if i can find it. I went with 2.5 inches. 3 wouldnt hurt though.

 

[Red_Beard]

Is there a size you'd recommend for the vortech for my 50 gallon. And would I need 2 or 1? I'd prefer it in back of tank for more concealment

Mp 10s for mixed reef, unless you want to go wall to wall thick with sps, then 40s.

 

[Red_Beard]

I told you backwards! Forgot the meso are smaller than reef flakes...

Mesoflakes - 2.7mm
Reefflakes - 3.5mm

Same advice but flip those 2 names. Go with the reef flakes.
I did get 60lbs, 30 of meso 30 of reef. If you are just getting 10lb bags, 50lbs should give you enough.
Live doesnt matter. I will recommend rinsing it out thoroughly before using it though. Get a big bin and dump a bag in, take it to the back yard and stir it heavy with a garden hose untill the water runs clear. Then drain it and give it a quick rinse in ro. That will save you a lot of headache with clouding up front. Then seed it with bottle bacteria of your choice. Dr. Tims, microbacter etc.

 

[PhamousPhish]

Would the meso float around and move? I was set on trying to get the smallest and whitest size and not have it move around. From my research meso is more white than reef and I was going for that fiji pink look which I guess meso would be CLOSEST to that vs reefflakes....thoughts?

 

[Red_Beard]

I had problems with it blowing around, as well as with a diamond watchman goby causing sand-storms pretty much every day for a few months until it settled. a 50/50 mix of the 2 does give a really nice look with the white color and pink flecks though. If you don't anticipate super strong flow or something stirring it up regularly, it will be great.

 

[PhamousPhish]

Sorry confused. If the sands settles away from each other and doesn't it just look uniform? Maybe if I do 3 meso and 1 reef that would be sufficient weight to keep it from stirring up?

 

[Red_Beard]

Depends how much flow you have. If it is medium-low, you will be good.

 

[SaltyBlue]

While size isn’t an issue, I wouldn’t use a vortech on your system because it can’t be mounted in the back with your AIO setup. You’ll have the motor housing sticking out on the sides, for me it’s an eye sore but it may not bother you. The 3rd party deflectors make them much more usable, you can angle them to blow sideways or away from sand. I have a 3D printer and was able to print it out.

 

[PhamousPhish]

While size isn’t an issue, I wouldn’t use a vortech on your system because it can’t be mounted in the back with your AIO setup. You’ll have the motor housing sticking out on the sides, for me it’s an eye sore but it may not bother you. The 3rd party deflectors make them much more usable, you can angle them to blow sideways or away from sand. I have a 3D printer and was able to print it out.

Is there any wavemaker i could mount on back? I want a very minimalistic look

 

[RoanokeReef]

Is there any wavemaker i could mount on back? I want a very minimalistic look

Nero 3/5 or AI Orbit. I would also go with the Meso flakes non-live and rinse well.