I need some help with flow...

[SorshaKay]

I have a glass 75G reef tank. It's not drilled I, in the past, have/had 3 powerheads that are 530 GPH. However, one of them just died and my coral are on the fritz.

The guy at my LFS said that it wasn't enough. He recommended a 1100GPH and 1500 GPH the magnetic ones (because I hate the sticky pad ones we have now that fall off and spray sand everywhere!) He said to put them at opposite ends of the tank. However, I never 100% trust my LFS and thought I would ask first.

I'm scared to do this because I feel like my fish and coral are going to be pushed to China. I could be wrong and that could be part of my problem lol

Please also leave me a brand suggestion if you know of a magnetic one that is good for non-drilled tanks.

 

[Lenny_S]

Hydor Koralia Gne 3. Their smallest one is like 1300 GPH, but they have a diffusion end that makes a wide pattern and softens the flow a bit. A couple of those would work. Or one Maxspect Gyre 130

 

[SorshaKay]

When you say a couple of the Hydor Koralia, you mean two?

 

[Eckolancer]

You can't really have to much flow in a tank. Now don't go but 20 power heads. But I would get 2-4wp40s or 3-5 wp25 or the gyre 130-150. the korilla power heads seem to burnout kinda fast.

 

[Lenny_S]

When you say a couple of the Hydor Koralia, you mean two?

Yes 2, if you have a pretty standard size 75 then it's only 4' long right? 2 would work fine. Make sure you go with the Gen 3's if you decide the Koralia is the way you go.

 

[SorshaKay]

Yup, it's pretty standard.

Uh oh if it's that expensive, I don't want it to burn out fast. What brand is the 4wp40s you are talking about? I copy and pasted it in Amazon and didn't come up with anything. I'm sorry I am so uninformed

 

[Lenny_S]

The MPxx line of power heads are from EcoTech Marine... If you think the Koralia's are expensive wait until you get a load of those [emoji12]

 

[SorshaKay]

I have EcoTech Radions . I think I know what may be coming O_O

 

[Lenny_S]

You can't really have to much flow in a tank. Now don't go but 20 power heads. But I would get 2-4wp40s or 3-5 wp25 or the gyre 130-150. the korilla power heads seem to burnout kinda fast.

I haven't heard any more about problems with the Koralia power heads than any other. No more than say the wet side or dry side of the MP's anyway. My nephew has been using the older model for a couple of years with no issues. If thousands of them are out there, I suppose there's bound to be a few bad ones.

 

[SorshaKay]

I may be looking at the wrong thing, but 200.00?!

 

[seargentslice]

I have A pair of wp25 Jebao I got in 2013 that have bin running flawless . A pair of the RW-8 wider flow than the wp series fully adjustable flow IMO you cant go wrong with them. Also check the forsale sections on forums alot of good deals if you have a little patience.

 

[Lenny_S]

I have EcoTech Radions . I think I know what may be coming O_O

[emoji16]
The MP's are very innovative and cool, you'll just need to decide on one of those or a half dozen Koralia's for the same price and have a few spares. I jest of course. But from the standpoint of flow, your LFS was not off base, 3000-4000 GPH is pretty standard in that size reef tank. Focus on the flow rate first then pick a power head or combination of heads the give you what you want and the pattern that fits your aquascape.

 

[Lenny_S]

I may be looking at the wrong thing, but 200.00?!

Sorry my bad, I misread WP for MP... Need new glasses.
Yes the WP's are from Jebao and much more reasonably priced.

 

[SorshaKay]

So you all think 2 Jebao WP-25's would do okay? I don't want to go cheap because that never ends well, but I want something that will greatly improve my tank, last me for a long time, be semi easy to operate, and hopefully let me grow some harder corals like hammers in the future. (I killed one already) I'm really trying to stay on my parameters and just do better. I want a good looking tank. Well...as good as a HOB not drilled can look lol

My problem is all on placement. Where do I stick these things when I get them?

 

[nervousmonkey]

Place them where your corals need flow.... It's an easy answer for the LFS or anyone else to tell you to put two at opposite ends of your tank so they push water against one another, but you just need to place them so your entire tank is getting good flow, i.e., no dead spots where detritus can accumulate. A picture or two would be really helpful so everyone can see your live rock placement, etc.... Either that or just get two Jebao's, two Koralia Evo's, or just google "good reef tank powerheads" and buy two of what you find, put them at opposite ends of the tank and let 'em go to work. You'll find where you need flow once you start messing with them. Don't get overstressed about placement; you can always move them where they need to be and you'll know where to put 'em.

 

[SorshaKay]

Okay I just bought two WP25's, they will be here Friday. I will post a picture once I set them up like you suggested so I can get my tank settled. Thank you guys for all your help.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Looking forward to seeing your tank! Don't worry about what it looks like; most of us have a tank or something we don't like and want to change. Everyone here will help you with placement, but you'll still be the best judge of that since you can see the flow in the tank. Sandstorm=too close to sand. Obvious, right? You'll definitely see improvement with the WP-25's.

 

[SorshaKay]

Great! Thank you so much Yeah my tank is uh....not that great looking....

 

[SorshaKay]

Okay I will hopefully be getting a battery soon for my camera. I put both the powerheads on the lowes setting and even then it was way to much flow. All my coral were blowing around and everyone closed up so I only have one running on the Else setting on W2. They seem to do the best on that, but I thought everyone said I needed two of them???

 

[SorshaKay]

Here are some terrible phone pictures, sorry!