Octo Pulse 4 too much for 4-foot 120 gallon tank?

[PicassoDan]

I just bought the Octo Pulse 4 for my new 120 build (2'x2'x4'), and I'm starting to wonder if it will be too much flow. I know there's no absolute answer to this question. Maybe another way to ask it is: would the Octo Pulse 2 be enough?
I plan on doing a 50/50 mix of LPS and SPS.
I don't have the 120 filled yet, so all I've done so far is test the pump in a 20 gallon long. On 100%, it's just about throwing water out of the tank.

 

[DavidJTawil]

Depends on your return pump. Is that already generating a lot of flow. Is it the only powerhear you have on the tank. I think an octo pulse would be enough running on max output. But the benefit of the pulse 4 is that you could run it below it's max output and achieve an even more quite result.

 

[DavidJTawil]

**the octo pulse 2 would be enough at max output.

 

[PicassoDan]

Without actually having tested either one in the 120, that's the conclusion I reached; that the Pulse 2 would have to be near 100%. The only other flow in the tank would be from the return pump, which would be somewhere near ~600gph.

 

[gobble]

Yes, no question. I had two on a 5 foot tank and it was too much even at a low setting.

 

[CoralVue_Marketing]

I just bought the Octo Pulse 4 for my new 120 build (2'x2'x4'), and I'm starting to wonder if it will be too much flow. I know there's no absolute answer to this question. Maybe another way to ask it is: would the Octo Pulse 2 be enough?
I plan on doing a 50/50 mix of LPS and SPS.
I don't have the 120 filled yet, so all I've done so far is test the pump in a 20 gallon long. On 100%, it's just about throwing water out of the tank.

It would be too much flow at the max setting, but you can always dial it back. I wouldn't classify this as complaint necessarily, but we do hear from hobbyists from time to time that tell us they underestimated how powerful the OP4 can be.

 

[pirate2876]

I have two 4's on a 7ft tank and I have to dial them back. They move a lot water!

 

[PicassoDan]

thanks for the feedback guys

 

[Maxx]

Would you recommend sticking with the Octo Pulse 2 for a 40 Breeder SPS reef, or could you dial down the Octo 4 enough to use in so small a tank?

 

[PicassoDan]

Good question - I would think the Pulse 2 would be enough, and the 4 would be too much even dialed way down. I have a 40 breeder frag tank - maybe I'll test the pump in there and see what happens...
My 120 is still dry while I finish the plumbing, but this week I should be able to get water in it, and I'll post an update.

 

[mfinn]

Good question - I would think the Pulse 2 would be enough, and the 4 would be too much even dialed way down. I have a 40 breeder frag tank - maybe I'll test the pump in there and see what happens...
My 120 is still dry while I finish the plumbing, but this week I should be able to get water in it, and I'll post an update.

IMO you should wait until you have water in the 120. Testing it in a small tank like a 40 will just make you question your choice again.
Give it a real test, in the planned tank.

 

[CoralVue_Marketing]

Would you recommend sticking with the Octo Pulse 2 for a 40 Breeder SPS reef, or could you dial down the Octo 4 enough to use in so small a tank?

OP2!

 

[PicassoDan]

IMO you should wait until you have water in the 120. Testing it in a small tank like a 40 will just make you question your choice again.
Give it a real test, in the planned tank.

I was going to test in the 40 breeder to give Maxx a recommendation.

 

[mfinn]

I was going to test in the 40 breeder to give Maxx a recommendation.

OOOhhh, guess I messed that up lol

 

[PicassoDan]

Just to report back - I have the OP-4 in the 120 DT now, and... it's a lot of flow! I have it at the lowest setting or maybe one notch up from that. I have it on the side wall about 9" from the top, and it moves aragonite on the bottom of the tank on the opposite side (+48" away). ;Wideyed

There's not much overlap in the flow rate between OP-2 and OP-4, so I'm glad I have the OP-4, since I would have to have the OP-2 at max setting all the time. Maybe they need to make an OP-3?

 

[madweazl]

They produce the same flow as an MP40QD; of which, I run two on a 150g running at 100% and they lack enough flow (also 4500gph). It would be much better on a four foot tank but my opinion is that you'd be crazy to go any smaller than the OP4. I also run two MP40WEs (twice the flow of an OP2) at 100% on our 75g.

 

[CoralVue_Marketing]

Just to report back - I have the OP-4 in the 120 DT now, and... it's a lot of flow! I have it at the lowest setting or maybe one notch up from that. I have it on the side wall about 9" from the top, and it moves aragonite on the bottom of the tank on the opposite side (+48" away). ;Wideyed

There's not much overlap in the flow rate between OP-2 and OP-4, so I'm glad I have the OP-4, since I would have to have the OP-2 at max setting all the time. Maybe they need to make an OP-3?

OP-3, not a bad idea. I know they have the Blade pump coming out this year. Each Blade can do 2,113 GPH. You can connect two together like a Gyre to double the flow. Looks neat. You can plug Octo Pulse pumps into the controller too to power them and make them WiFi controllable.

 

[PicassoDan]

Interesting about the Blade Pump - thanks Jeff, I'll check that out.