Need Advice on Flow Design for My 18" Cube

[ReefNutsThailand]

Hi everyone,
I recently rebuilt the aquascape in my 18" cube reef and I'm now re-evaluating the flow throughout the tank.

Current setup:
18" cube, bare bottom
Dual return nozzles
Maxspect Jump GF2K Gyre (right side)
Jebao MOW-9 (rear glass)

The new rockwork is much more open than before, and overall circulation seems better. However, I'm still finding fine detritus settling on the bottom in some areas instead of staying suspended long enough to reach the overflow and filter floss.

I'm beginning to wonder if the interaction between the Gyre and the MOW is actually reducing flow efficiency near the bottom. While they create plenty of random movement in the water column, I'm not sure they're generating enough effective flow to keep detritus suspended.

As an experiment, I'm planning to turn off the Gyre for about a week and run only the MOW (keeping the return nozzles unchanged) to see how the tank responds.

I'm also considering these options for the long term:
1. Keep the current Gyre + MOW setup.
2. Replace the Gyre with a second MOW and run them as a Master/Slave pair.
3. Keep just a single MOW.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience designing flow for small cube reefs, especially if you've switched from a Gyre to propeller pumps (or the other way around).

I'll attach front, top, and rear photos of the tank so you can see the aquascape and pump placement.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

#reefsquad

 

[X-37B]

If it was my system with that scape I would put a ow-25, or similar, on the left side and move it back and point it at the front glass. You can adjust the direction of the flow also. Its not fixed like your current ones.
No need for the gyre.
This was my 18" cube running the Jebao ow-25. More flow was not needed.

 

[Freenow54]

Hi everyone,
I recently rebuilt the aquascape in my 18" cube reef and I'm now re-evaluating the flow throughout the tank.

Current setup:
18" cube, bare bottom
Dual return nozzles
Maxspect Jump GF2K Gyre (right side)
Jebao MOW-9 (rear glass)

The new rockwork is much more open than before, and overall circulation seems better. However, I'm still finding fine detritus settling on the bottom in some areas instead of staying suspended long enough to reach the overflow and filter floss.

I'm beginning to wonder if the interaction between the Gyre and the MOW is actually reducing flow efficiency near the bottom. While they create plenty of random movement in the water column, I'm not sure they're generating enough effective flow to keep detritus suspended.

As an experiment, I'm planning to turn off the Gyre for about a week and run only the MOW (keeping the return nozzles unchanged) to see how the tank responds.

I'm also considering these options for the long term:
1. Keep the current Gyre + MOW setup.
2. Replace the Gyre with a second MOW and run them as a Master/Slave pair.
3. Keep just a single MOW.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience designing flow for small cube reefs, especially if you've switched from a Gyre to propeller pumps (or the other way around).

I'll attach front, top, and rear photos of the tank so you can see the aquascape and pump placement.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Why worry ? Its on the bottom so just make it a maintenance thing and suck it out ? It will keep it off the rocks which you can use a turkey baster to clean if you have to

 

[Freenow54]

Why worry ? Its on the bottom so just make it a maintenance thing and suck it out ? It will keep it off the rocks which you can use a turkey baster to clean if you have to

Another thought is to use a Marine Land Water Clarifier $165 Canadian . Multi use comes with a 5 micron filter and mine sucks it up perfectly. I don't know if you have Amazon but I would say you could find a source for replacement filters . Mine lasts a week . Its that good