Not quite sure if these hob filters are pulling anywhere near their rated flow, but it is a strong current. I'm sure the sponge prefilter and rubble rock slows the flow down a bit but hard to say how much. 1 ac50 full of rubble rock and 2 ac110 as fuges with about 1-2" of rubble rock, have to keep all 3 on high flow or the flow starts cutting out, fuges get a film on the surface. Also have 2 Koralia nano 425gph power heads. Big question I have and this is probably geared towards people with bubble tip anemone experience, is what would be my best setup as far as hydor wave pumps to make this flow work for a bta? Have read they like random indirect flow, so was curious if going up to the 565gph or another pump run intermitently with the wave controller would be a better option. Plan to make a prefilter/nem guard out of a filter sponge for the ac110 which might cut the flow down as well.
Any advice out there on what would be my best solution to make this setup work in the best way for a bta? I think eventually I will swap the hob filters for hob refugiums and vortech wave pumps but would like to get by for now without tearing into a massive upgrade. Bumping my tank mainenance budget a bit going to the lfs for prepared saltwater, rodi and frozen food so I really don't want to jump into a major equipment upgrade heading into winter. Had posted some of this info in a thread I had about stocking which turned more into a build thread I suppose. I debate if I have too much flow currently, factor the hob filters rated at 1200gph, not including rubble rock and prefilter, plus the wave pumps at 425gph each. Want to say I had tried sanding down the ac110 impellars and it gave me more issues.
Also tank has been running for 8.5 months, not in a rush to add a bta but would like to have it ready for one in case I come across a tank raised one in the next few months. Pulled a small live rock out of the ac50 to improve the flow in it and cap off the rock work. Lights are coming in Friday, Photon 24 V2+, bta aside I'm curious if this is overkill on the flow regardless. Thinking of going with the wave pump controller either way, just not sure which pump would be best after factoring the sponge prefilter/guard. Heard rare cases of the hydors starting up in reverse which I'm not sure they have the ability to, but simple option would be a sponge over side and front but that would really impede the flow. Long story short, I want to figure out how to make the flow in this tank ideal for bta's without breaking the bank too much at the moment. Can't quite justify the dc pumps and controller, so I can cross that one off the list but could consider the 565 or going up into the evolution series and controller.
Any advice out there on what would be my best solution to make this setup work in the best way for a bta? I think eventually I will swap the hob filters for hob refugiums and vortech wave pumps but would like to get by for now without tearing into a massive upgrade. Bumping my tank mainenance budget a bit going to the lfs for prepared saltwater, rodi and frozen food so I really don't want to jump into a major equipment upgrade heading into winter. Had posted some of this info in a thread I had about stocking which turned more into a build thread I suppose. I debate if I have too much flow currently, factor the hob filters rated at 1200gph, not including rubble rock and prefilter, plus the wave pumps at 425gph each. Want to say I had tried sanding down the ac110 impellars and it gave me more issues.
Also tank has been running for 8.5 months, not in a rush to add a bta but would like to have it ready for one in case I come across a tank raised one in the next few months. Pulled a small live rock out of the ac50 to improve the flow in it and cap off the rock work. Lights are coming in Friday, Photon 24 V2+, bta aside I'm curious if this is overkill on the flow regardless. Thinking of going with the wave pump controller either way, just not sure which pump would be best after factoring the sponge prefilter/guard. Heard rare cases of the hydors starting up in reverse which I'm not sure they have the ability to, but simple option would be a sponge over side and front but that would really impede the flow. Long story short, I want to figure out how to make the flow in this tank ideal for bta's without breaking the bank too much at the moment. Can't quite justify the dc pumps and controller, so I can cross that one off the list but could consider the 565 or going up into the evolution series and controller.