Roger! Can you Help with Circulation Recommendation?

[archipelago]

Hi @rvitko !

When you have a moment - I would be grateful if you could make a professional recommendation for a Tunze Stream Powerhead combination for my SPS dominant display? I understand that this is not a small request - let me know if this project discussion is better suited for email or over-the-phone conversation.

Goal:
Achieve a museum-grade aesthetic which provides optimal flow for animals, while minimizing visual obtrusions (maximizing viewing area on 2-viewing sides of display), with the ability to provide necessary additional flow as corals mature.

Requirements:

• ALL Tunze Pumps MUST fit on the short, left, side panel of display (where the overflow is located). (See diagram below)
• Any Tunze pumps mounted to the back display panel must be able to work on ¾ in (19mm) glass.

Assumptions:

• No limitation on different pump models used, total number of pumps, total project cost, or required accessories.
• The pumps you recommend will be the only circulation flow in the tank (the Ecotech Vortechs will be removed)
• Sand movement is not a concern

Notes:

• Glass thickness of all display side panels is ~ 19mm
• The overflow box is thinner glass (15 mm) but will have a 1/8 in acrylic cover on it, making it effectively 19mm. If there were a significant impact on end performance, I could conceivably drill a hole in the overflow cover where the powerhead magnets would go, if an ideal pump you recommend cannot mount to 19mm glass. (See diagrams and pictures below).
• Current circulation pumps are being removed for a clear view from the right side panel
• If additional equipment or electronics, please include it in your recommendation. Examples:
  • Additional larger magnet needed so a pump can be mounted to 19mm glass
  • Additional controllers for the pumps, if they are needed for ideal flow

Illustrations:
Please see below, and let me know if any additional info, pictures, or videos are needed

 

[rvitko]

The fortunate thing here is the tank is short, I tried this exact same thing on a 72" tank and it is impossible, after about 5ft the flow is so weak you can keep zoos and mushrooms and generally a problem is detritus piling up on the far end.

I don't know if aesthetically this would work for you but a pair of these is likely the most likely to be successful from a detritus and flow stand point-

Turbelle® stream 6105 ORCA - Tunze

Hi-Tech für Aquaristik

www.tunze.com

This would be the other option, I would prefer the ORCA because I can say from experience the biggest issue you will have with this set up is you cannot change up the flow very effectively without flow from the other side. In the end on my tank I gave up on this aesthetic as having algae and detritus on the far side was less attractive than a pump and it honestly looked odd to have this 18" bed of mushrooms and zoas that matched nothing in the remainder of the tank. After that tank I vowed to just stick to the conventional back to the wall tank and no more peninsulas, but in this case, being shorter, it has a better chance.

Turbelle® stream 6105 eco - Tunze

Hi-Tech für Aquaristik

www.tunze.com

 

[rvitko]

I should add that if you do the 6105.005, you will need to replace the outside magnets to hit 3/4", 6205.501 is the upgrade magnet

 

[Maho.B]

Following. I'm considering changing to a peninsula style aquarium. If there were two Tunze on the same side of the overflow, one up higher and one lower (vertical) would the current hit the far end and "circulate" back effectively? Mainly for sps

 

[rvitko]

I think you would want one on each side and while flow does carry back, the velocity gets too low to be very effective.

To clarify, basically, if you had those neutral bouyancy beads in the tank, or even added bubbles, you would see a circular flow loop, but to have enough flow to sweep up heavy detritus (tang poop) and really meaningfully move things is the issue.

 

[Maho.B]

Makes sense. It would circulate, but not with enough force to be meaningful.

 

[Maho.B]

Makes sense. It would circulate, but not with enough force to be meaningful.

 

[archipelago]

Hi @rvitko - thanks for taking the time to read my post and putting together a thoughtful reply.

The fortunate thing here is the tank is short

Yes!

I tried this exact same thing on a 72" tank and it is impossible, after about 5ft the flow is so weak you can keep zoos and mushrooms and generally a problem is detritus piling up on the far end.

Ah makes sense. Most powerheads designed for 'normal' tanks seem to share this feature.

I don't know if aesthetically this would work for you but a pair of these is likely the most likely to be successful from a detritus and flow stand point-

Turbelle® stream 6105 ORCA - Tunze

Hi-Tech für Aquaristik

www.tunze.com

No, this will not work.

In the end on my tank I gave up on this aesthetic as having algae and detritus on the far side was less attractive than a pump

Haha! Unfortunately neither one is an option for me...

After that tank I vowed to just stick to the conventional back to the wall tank and no more peninsulas, but in this case, being shorter, it has a better chance.

I've thought about this as well.... I'm in the very beginning planning stages of my next tank, but it too will be a peninsula. Couple helpful factors is that is will be ~ 900 gal, 5 ft deep (front>back), and will have an external overflow. So, I'll have a flat pane to place/point my powerheads from, and, because it's so big I'm now looking at 6255 (maybe Master Stream?), and some of the other big boy powerheads that are designed to reach the full 8 ft length...

I should add that if you do the 6105.005, you will need to replace the outside magnets to hit 3/4", 6205.501 is the upgrade magnet

I purchased a few 6105's last night to play around with.

One last thought/question:
I originally bought 2 x 6255 Eco's for this build, but retired them because even at their lowest setting, they were too powerful. Right before I made this decision, I purchased 2 of the upgraded controllers (HUB, I belive), and installed other pumps before I had a chance to hook up the new controllers.

While I couldn't do it with the original (blue) 6255 controller, could I turn the flow down enough on these to make them a viable again with the extended programming options through the new HUB platform?

 

[ShawnSaucier]

I run Tunze pumps on my system and have been learning a lot both from Roger and over time with use.
I love these things. My display is 48x30x30 and I am running 2x 6105 set in the back corners and pointing diagonal across the tank, and 2x 6075 which are on the top of the L/R sides. The 6075 have a very wide flow and are used mainly for surface agitation, while the 6105 point across the tank to the diagonal corners. In the HUB, I have Left 6075&6105 paired and Right 6075&6105 paired and running inverted to the left. They are programmed to do a 15 minute slow pulse with a 5 minute ramp up and ramp down. Nothing goes over 50% at the moment. As the tank matures and corals grow in, theoretically I have some extra flow when needed.
My last system was a peninsula, and flow can be difficult to achieve at the far end. If I was to do it again, either closed loop or I would have a canopy over the tank and run my returns to the far side.
And then run something similar to what I have now L&R of the overflow. 6075’s up higher for the ripples and 6105 down lower

 

[Jamie814]

Ha! I just realized the "ORCA" is basically the same thing as the sea sweep...my bad!

Wasn't the sea sweep patented?

Are those orca's just 3d printed?

 

[rishma]

Are those orca's just 3d printed?

“Just” 3D printed is a bit of an understatement. Orca looks to me like some premium high end gear

 

[rtparty]

The Tunze videos are so cool! You can see the quality and craftsmanship that they put into everything they do

Felix has some good jokes in that video too

 

[Jamie814]

“Just” 3D printed is a bit of an understatement. Orca looks to me like some premium high end gear

I've been watching a lot of the videos on these things. Appears some parts are 3d printed and some not.
The more I watch and learn the more I want to sell my 6 tunze 6255/sweeps and update to the 6105 ORCA black for the finer tuning & less wires. My current tunze are not the HUB edition.

@rvitko when do you foresee the Turbelle® 6105 ORCA black hitting stateside? It looks like I could order and ship from Tunze direct online now.