Powerheads and Pumps

[Kibouchi]

REGARDING PUMPS OR SUMPS: How many times should your pump cycle your tank a day? I have a 105 gallon tank. I remember when I built a pond back home, the rule of thumb was that the pond had to cycle twice in a 24 hour period. I'm assuming it's a different for tanks.

REGARDING POWERHEADS: I read that for heat reasons it's better to have fewer large ones than more small ones. Would I be able to get away with two powerheads placed on either side of the tank?

[Chameleon Bob]

Well for freshwater 2 times an hour is fine, but reef tank it's more around 10 to 20 times an hour. Example I have a 55 gal display and run a velocity t4 at 1200 gph turning my tank over around 21 times an hour through a return manifold system. Before that I ran two maxijet 400 with mods and mag 7. If your going to use two power heads make sure their wide stream/wide flow like the moded maxi's you don't want a jet stream blasting through your corals.

[Kibouchi]

Cool, thanks.

I had another big question;

On average, how much does it typically cost to maintain a reef tank every month?

[Chameleon Bob]

Well in my case for a month would be $15.00 salt, $5.00 2-part, $20-$30 for electricty, couple bucks for water and food so proaly say $50 to $60 bucks. I make my money back since I sell water just and idea for ya

[Parrothead]

Another thing to factor in when discussing flow, is what are you planning on keeping, sps require more flow than lps and softies, as the sps grow, so does the need for more flow.

My 55 is currently running at 2500 gph not counting skimmer(add another 300 gph), But my ultimate goal is sps with a few lps.

So keep that in mind;;;;;;

[Flyboy450r]

Newb question how do you calculate flow. I mean you take in account your power heads and main pump head pressure. Do you include your skimmer gph. Or is that indirect flow?

[Chameleon Bob]

Newb question how do you calculate flow. I mean you take in account your power heads and main pump head pressure. Do you include your skimmer gph. Or is that indirect flow?

IMO flow is the gph running through your display, which for me is a main pump and soon to be 2 pico powerheads. The only time you'd include a skimmer is if it's attached to the back of your aquarium and supplies a current.

[tedlepplin]

Cool, thanks.

I had another big question;

On average, how much does it typically cost to maintain a reef tank every month?

Hi kibouchi,

I just did this myself to work out power consumption a week ago

phone your power provider and find out how much one unit of electric costs, or check your bill. here it costs 12p per unit.

one unit = 1kw or 1000w. go add up all your equipments rated watts. lets pretend you have 5x20w appliances so your running at 100w total. the rating is watts used per hour, so it means every 10 hours you are going to use 1000w or 1kw or one unit of electric so for me that would be 12 pence every ten hours.

a total of 1.2p per hour.

24hrs x 30 days =720hrs £8.64p a month on average..... not bad but for a 40 gall the heater alone is rated at 200w.......

add it all up lights especially for 105 gal it does start adding a bit more than you might expect to your monthly bill