Balance

[Samper]

This might sound a little stupid but my tank is getting out of balance. I took out one of the MJ 1200's cause I had so much flow on the left side of my tank that I couldn't really put anything there. I still have too much flow on the left side of the tank to put anything there that I have. I have some yellow polyps in the high flow area and some zoos in a medium flow area but that's it. The zoos are in the middle and everything else is on the right side. What are my options for some lps or softies that can handle pretty brisk current?

[James]

In my opinoin you can never have too much current in a reef tank. I seem to never have enough

If your looking to add some softies, Tree and finger leathers love high flow areas, even a cult coral would be a good choice. Thats whats in my 55gal.

I have two high flow returns and two MJ 1200 in my setup and the coral look great.

good luck

[saltjunkie]

i use the flow deflector on my maxi jets to control the flow... you cant have to much flow.. just too much velocity...
a nice thick truncked leather would be a good choice..
like a toadstool....

[Poseidon]

How about going the other way... Smaller polyps, like Blasstomoussa, or a nice candy cane, or trumpet coral... I agree with saltjunkie, there is such a thing as to much VELOCITY, but not flow... I read some where that if you take the nozel off with a dremel or saw and hook your MJ1200 up to a wave maker it will actually alternate the direction of the flow... I think it was Scubadude that mentioned it...

[Samper]

I understand what you are all saying about the velocity vs flow but in a 20g there are only so many ways to aim a powerhead this large. I have the nozzles off of both. The one on the right side of the tank is aimed at the front left corner and the one on the left side of the tank is aimed at the back corner of the left wall. I can't aim the left one to the front right corner. I tried before and my brain, sinularia, xenia and candy didn't seem to like the flow.

[saltjunkie]

put those little flap. flow things on it.. thats what i do.. it splits the flow coming right out and makes it less of a stream..

[Samper]

I didn't like the way the way the tips dispersed the water. I prefer to just run them without.
Do you guys feel that my sinularia and candy can handle the flow on the left side?

[saltjunkie]

my green sinularia gets hit directly with the return from my mag 7..
but that area it hits.. dont open up fully......

[Samper]

I'll try moving it and the candy over since they are attached to the same piece. Anyone else think this will work?

[ClintoninCali]

Try aiming it at the back wall just at the edge of the live rock if you have much. Going along the back wall and through the rock may disperse some flow.

[Samper]

I have around 50lbs.

[Poseidon]

Maybe move the whole pump down and behind the main structure... that way it will blow out any ditritus that has accumulated back there!

[Samper]

I wish you guys could see what I have going. All my LR is up on stilts. I blow it off with a turkey baster and vacuum up everything every Saturday when I do my water change. I tested exactly where my powerheads are blowing by hooking up an air pump and putting the stone in front of it. The water circlulation covers everything even under the rock but some areas are stronger. I really think all of this is why my system has been successful being so small and me being so new. I'll try aiming a little differently but it's gonna have to be this weekend when I get some time.

[scubadude]

Go to home depot and get CPVC (I believe thats what its called) its yellow instead of white and its smaller than 1/2" and the nozzle of your MJ wont fit unless you use a dremel or a drill bit and open the inside diameter of the pipe up once you get it to fit (dry fit it...dont glue it) you can make a spray bar and disperse your flow as needed. I do this with small tanks and its ideal for maxijets. HTH

[Samper]

So you just cap off the end and drill 4 or 5 holes in the tube?

[Poseidon]

More like 10-15 at least...

[Samper]

I'll make that my project this weekend.

[scubadude]

So you just cap off the end and drill 4 or 5 holes in the tube?

Right!
Or put a T on it and span 2 spraybars....hell put some whirly twirlys on it if you want, the only limitations you will have is your creativity of plumbing ;;