Powerheads

I have a few questions about the flow in my tank. I have a 28g tank that I want to buy powerheads for. I want to keep corals(zoanthids, mushrooms, colts, toadstools... all the noob corals) but dont know how much flow I should have. I dont want too much because the fish will have a hard time resting at night but I want the corals to get enough food and nutrition from the water that flows by.

Any help on how much flow I should have would be greatly appreciated.

It is generally recommended you have at least enough flow to move 10X the water volume of your tank per hour. Don't worry to much about the fish. If their faces aren't pressed against the glass they should be ok

You could try 2 maxi-jet 600's (160g/hr ea) or 2 Korallia nanos at 265g each

As a frame of reference, I run over 3000 g/hr in my 90g tank.

Good opposing or random flow(hence the need for more than 1 powerhead) is important will help to keep detritus from settling in dead zones. It also helps prevent cyanobateria growths and moves discharges away from corals.

HTH

i have a koralia 4 3 2 in my 80g, depends on how you have them set up..

On another forum I read that you're supposed to have 20-40x tank volume per hour. I forgot to mention that I will be getting a super skimmer 65, 325gph or something like that, should I still get 2 powerheads, or just have the skimmer on one side of the tank and the powerhead on the other?

BurgerKing wrote:On another forum I read that you're supposed to have 20-40x tank volume per hour. I forgot to mention that I will be getting a super skimmer 65, 325gph or something like that, should I still get 2 powerheads, or just have the skimmer on one side of the tank and the powerhead on the other?

Hi Burger.
You will notice in my original reply I said "at least 10X". And yes the other forum is correct, 20-40X water turn over is generally beter but there are no hard and fast rules. You will notice in the eg I gave you for my tank I'm turning over something north of 30X/hr
Do not count your protein skimmer as part of your flow. And yes I believe you should still have at least 2 powerheads in the tank to generate more random flow patterns keeping detritus suspended and avoiding tank dead flow areas.

HTH

Thanks, I meant they stated 20x as a minimum for a healthy tank, but thanks for clearing that up.

No worries Burger.

I am going to have 2 koralia #3's in my tank as of this evening, I am planning to place one at the top back left corner, and the other on the bottom front right hand side, so it's like a big circle of motion from top to bottom.

Sounds like you should have some decent flow in that 30g with 2 k3's Chevyguy.

2Frosty4u wrote:Sounds like you should have some decent flow in that 30g with 2 k3's Chevyguy.

do you think it might to much maybe?

Running those two powerheads at 850 gpm each gives you 1700 gpm total which equals like 57 times tank volume......You may have water spilling over the sides of tank depending at what level the tank water is kept and the position of the powerheads. That much flow will definetly give your fish a good work out. You may be just a tad on the high side.

Two #3's might be a bit much (850g/h each). A 1 and a 2 or a pair of 2's might be better choices.

edit: beat me to the response Frosty

well, that's kinda what I thought, it was a great deal on ebay, I got 2 of them for $60 brand new. I may just leave the current PH in the tank and just add one of the k3's and see how that goes. I can always take the k3 prop off and replace with a k2 prop, essentially I believe they are the same motor just different props.

Cookieman888*Admin* wrote:Two #3's might be a bit much (850g/h each). A 1 and a 2 or a pair of 2's might be better choices.

edit: beat me to the response Frosty

I'm happy to see we think alike....lol

ya I put one in and plugged it in, and wow...the tank instantly went cloudy, I won't be putting in the 2nd one in!! those things are insane but it was crystal clear this morning and the skimmer was just about the overflow with what smelt like raw sewage...I guess the skimmers workin HAZAAH! I think I will save the k3 for my next SW tank

Skimmate sure don't smell like roses..lol
Glad to hear that one K3 is pushing alot of water but I'd still consider getting two smaller ones to help with creating a more random and turbulent flow in the tank.

will have to wait a bit, I don't want to admit to my wife that I screwed up my thoughts are when buying stuff is the bigger the number on the model or price tag the product must be better. After I took it out of the box, and relized how big it was I relized that it would be better suited for one of the bigger tanks. This K3 looks like it could blow start a Harley.

I think we've all made a purchase at some point in this hobby that wasn't the best choice. I know I have made a few. I chalked it up to the learning curve and moved on. At least you've got some equipment for the larger tank when it comes.....and it will...lol

The powerheads are very important for fish tanks. These powerheads maintain the flow of water in the tank. They are also helpful in filtration of tank as well.