Extra powerheads

[John Hamilton]

Does anyone run extra power heads just for circulation?

What would the benefits be?

What are some setup/option/recommendations?

[Steven Pro]

A lot of people use powerheads for extra flow. I myself am using a Tunze 6060 Stream pump for additional flow in my 120 gallon reef.

Extra circulation keeps detritus in suspension so that it can be exported via the protein skimmer, aids in oxygenation, keeps dirt from settling on corals, brings food and oxygen to corals while carrying away feces, .....

[BubbaWPB]

I have 4 Maxi Jets on a Wavemaster Pro on my 75 gallon tank, and two Tunze 6100's and a Vortex on my 265.

[jiggly75]

I have 4 maxi jet 1200's on my 90 gallon.

[charlie]

I run 4 maxi-jets in addition to my return on my 80. There is a modification that you can do to the maxi-jets, that make the output a little wider, for lack of a better term, but I haven't tried it.

[Reefland]

Sure you can run some for extra movement. I run 2 MJ 1200's and 2 Tunze 6060's in our 75.

[BubbaWPB]

...and extra flow means increased metabolism and faster growth of the stationary critters (i.e. corals) in addition to helping to stir up the fish-poo (detritus) and get it filtered out. If some of the extra flow is directed to top surface of the tank, it will help gas exchange by breaking the surface tension (oxygen into the tank, and carbon dioxide out of the tank). Flow is good.