need help with flow

[Christopher]

I have a 55 gallon tank that I believe does not have a good flow rate. I have a wet/dry filter with a pump that is rated at 600 gallons per hour. It has only one overflow that I believe is 1.5 inches with a 5/8 return line. The tank has been up and running for two years like this. It is home to 100lbs live rock and about 4 inches of live sand. Several small crabs worms pods ect. The only fish in the tank is a very healthy Yellow Tang. My system is plumbed like this. Water from tank goes to a home made sump which has 4 inches of live sand and several pieces of live rock, algae and a light 24/7 from sump to wet/dry filter in the filter I have a skimmer which puts the water back into the filter sump and then the pump puts it back into the main tank. My problem is I have bairly any water movement at the surface even when I aim the discharge to break the surface of the water. What can I do to incress the water movement and at what point is to much water flow. On a side note I had three hagen 802 Power heads hooked up to a Red Sea Wave Maker The wave maker works great but the power head impellers went bad in just a few months. My water tests fine but my rock and sand are allways covered with algae. If I incress the flow I believe the algae wont settle in the tank. Sorry this post is so long but I need to get a grip on this tank. I have been keping fish most of my life but keeping rock is new to me. Thanks for any help. Chris

[tendar]

Go with Maxi Jets for wave makers they are much more durable and mine last 1-2 years on a wave maker before the impellor gives and have to get a new one. Other than that you sound like you have a very good system running but could definetly use more water flow.

[Christopher]

Thanks Tender I will order the Maxi-jets. Do they chatter like the hagens when they start up? I am sure that is what killed my 802's

[scubadude]

Hey Chris!

I agree w/ tendar....Hagens are very nice PH's but I think the MJ's are better for the wave devices. You could quit screwin around and put you a tunze stream or reeftec in there, but they are pricey and a bit bulky. There is also the option of seaswirls but that would require another pump.....probably the most cheapest way would be to try a few maxijets like tendar suggested. I have never heard my MJ's chatter on me on startup

[tendar]

Most of them don't chatter. I have a old one that is probably a few years old that chatter a little till it finally gave out but like I said it was a few years old. Other than that single one I have not heard any others and have have a bunch of them running on a couple of tanks.

[Christopher]

Ok I ordered the power heads and will let you know how they work when they show up. Now I have to improve the flow rate going to the filter and skimmer. I will try a larger pump.