Overflow Question

[bguile]

hey all,

I hope I have this in the right forum but I am having an issue I can't seem to figure out. I have a 90G AGA with overflow. The overflow is situated on the left 3rd in the back of the tank. The return comes from a pipe in the overflow. my problem is taht I can't seem to figure out a way to have the return water pushed out so that it will help direct the surface scum to the overflow. Currently I only have the return for water movement and it almost seems to just move the scum in circles away from the overflow. Any ideas or suggestions?

[Samper]

You can actually see scum on the surface of your water?

Can you show a pic of what you mean or describe a little better? I don't understand what you mean when you say the return is from a pipe in the overflow.

[bguile]

This is a pic of my overflow. The pipe on the left is the return.

I'm not able to get a clear picture of the "film" at the top of the water, but I'm sure someone knows what I'm talking about. This sits on the left 3rd in the back of the tank (not in the corner).

[Samper]

Is it possible to swivel that elbow at all to spray water in a slightly different direction? Do you have any other flow besides that return?

[bguile]

I bought some Loc-line so that I could direct the return flow a little, but I guess due to the square dimensions of the tank I can't get the water to flow in a complete circle. Currently, that's the only keeping circulation in the tank. I was thinking on purchasing a Tunze, but they look so big and I don't know if it would be too much flow for my tank. I've only seen one type a 1600 I think. Besides..I dont know if I want to hang something that big inside the tank blowing my corals (to come) off rocks and constant sandstorms.

[zhenya]

You may want to lift your return line(lockline) a tad so that surface of the water is agitated. This should solve the problem. If you can't, than adding couple of small powerheads and aiming them towards surface should help as well.

[bguile]

cool. Any suggestions on a good powerhead to use? I saw that the tunze's create a broad stream which I would think would be a more gentle movement of water, however, I dont want to spend $150 to find out different. Also, any suggestions on good smaller sized powerheads? I'll search around while awaiting replies.

Thanks.

[Samper]

Just get a few Maxi Jet 1200's

[zhenya]

Just get a few Maxi Jet 1200's

Ditto what Samper said. Those powerheads have special nozzles that fan the output water and could be aimed at the surface. There are also powerheads that look like Tunze but cost a lot cheaper, one disadvatage to them is that cannot be run via wave makers. I think they called Seio, or something like that and I believe 820 model would be fine for a 48" long tank.

[kevinpo]

The Maxi-jet 1200 model is quite small for the amount of water they push (295 gph) and are quiet. They also last a long time. I just had one fail that I have been running since 1996. Not bad for a $25 pump.

Regards,
Kevin

[Poseidon]

Ya get the Maxi Jets... they rock!

[bguile]

Cool. I'll check those out. Thanks.

[saltjunkie]

what size return pump do you have?

[bguile]

Mag 9.5 950gph rating. Elevation is 5ft.

[Samper]

Yeah you definately need more flow IMO. I've been told no but I'm planning on a mag 24 on my 75 at around 4'.

[Poseidon]

Yeah you definately need more flow IMO. I've been told no but I'm planning on a mag 24 on my 75 at around 4'.

Woo Hoo a WHIRLPOOL tub!!

[bguile]

Woo Hoo a WHIRLPOOL tub!!

Yeah basically!! I'm with Poseidon on that one. Nothing would be still in my tank with that much flow! I hope you're doing bare bottom and all SPS, otherwise everything will look like Dorothy's house in the tornado funnel!