Flow rate

anarchy

anarchy

Active member
I'm looking to see how much flow I should be running through my sump and through each tank. For those that don't know the system it's a db 30 cube and a 93 cube sharing a 55 gallon sump. Right now there's a dc3000 as a return running 100% so 800gph. The 30 is getting about 200 and the 93 is getting the other 600. This is about 6.5x water volume for each tank. I've heard everything from running 5x all the way up to 25x for return flow.

What are your suggestions or atleast how much flow do you use?

2nd

I know in tank flow needs to be random with no dead spots and plenty of cross flow, but from a gph stand point how much do you recommend? Right now I'm pushing 3500gph through the 93 (37x water volume) and 750gph through the 30 (25x).

Do you guys think I need more flow in the 93? It has a total of 4100gph

ANARCHY
 
I don't overthink this stuff. I really don't care about how much flow is going through my return pump. As long as it it flowing through my sump, I don't care. I run a DC12000 at 50% on my 220 and I think it's pretty slow. I'm fine with it though.

Same thing with in-tank flow. I don't overthink it. If the polyps on my coral are moving gently and I don't have any dead spots, I'm good. I use a RW20 on else at 100% on one end of my tank, a RW40 near the bottom of my tank on the back wall on 100%, and a RW60 that goes on for 8 seconds and the off of 6 seconds on high on the other end of the tank. I'll probably get a gyre some day.

I'm sure this isn't the answer you're looking for, but I don't think there are hard and fast rules.
 
Sawdonkey said:
I don't overthink this stuff. I really don't care about how much flow is going through my return pump. As long as it it flowing through my sump, I don't care. I run a DC12000 at 50% on my 220 and I think it's pretty slow. I'm fine with it though.

Same thing with in-tank flow. I don't overthink it. If the polyps on my coral are moving gently and I don't have any dead spots, I'm good. I use a RW20 on else at 100% on one end of my tank, a RW40 near the bottom of my tank on the back wall on 100%, and a RW60 that goes on for 8 seconds and the off of 6 seconds on high on the other end of the tank. I'll probably get a gyre some day.

I'm sure this isn't the answer you're looking for, but I don't think there are hard and fast rules.
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Great thanks. It helps knowing how other people have their flow. Now I'll probably only upgrade to the dc6000 instead of the dc12000

ANARCHY
 
Well as you know I'm running the dc9000 running at 75% and have good flow, I like to have little soak time for the skimmer, algae scrubber and live rock to grab what they need out of the water , if your pulling water through the sump to fast what's the point of all the fancy equipment we buy and put in the sump when it doesn't have time to work?



Tom
 
rockhead said:
Well as you know I'm running the dc9000 running at 75% and have good flow, I like to have little soak time for the skimmer, algae scrubber and live rock to grab what they need out of the water , if your pulling water through the sump to fast what's the point of all the fancy equipment we buy and put in the sump when it doesn't have time to work?



Tom
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Yeah ill probably actually get the dc9000 and run it a little slower than yours since I'm only 20 gallons less than you. Glad you chimed in

ANARCHY
 
I have the dc3000 feeding my 25 gallon display and 12 gallon frag tank. I only run it on like 2 out of 5. I run it just enough to circulate water. I personally have always been a fan of more flow than less in an sps tank. I have 2 MP10s in my 25 cube running at about 60-70%
 
Sawdonkey said:
I don't overthink this stuff. I really don't care about how much flow is going through my return pump. As long as it it flowing through my sump, I don't care. I run a DC12000 at 50% on my 220 and I think it's pretty slow. I'm fine with it though.

Same thing with in-tank flow. I don't overthink it. If the polyps on my coral are moving gently and I don't have any dead spots, I'm good. I use a RW20 on else at 100% on one end of my tank, a RW40 near the bottom of my tank on the back wall on 100%, and a RW60 that goes on for 8 seconds and the off of 6 seconds on high on the other end of the tank. I'll probably get a gyre some day.

I'm sure this isn't the answer you're looking for, but I don't think there are hard and fast rules.
Click to expand...

+1

The rule is 10x display volume per hour, but I'm doing 6x an hour and having great results. So much depends on other factors (bioload, filtration setup). Turn over rate has some relative importance but is on the lower end of concerns. If you can get to 10x then do it, but if there reasons not to (cost of pump or electricity, already own one that you want to use, noise) then I wouldn't sweat it.
 
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