Need recommendations for supplemental flow for 5 ft tank

[SaltwaterScoop]

Tank is a Waterbox 180.5 (60.5"L x 23.6"W x 21.7"H)

I currently have 2 MP40s on either side of my tank rocking reef crest at 45%. I am unable to speed them up anymore without annoying my LPS but I need some additional flow in areas of the tank they do no reach. I decided to try a budget option and added a Jebao SOW-15 but it was way too strong and turned the tank into a washing machine. Corals and fish were not happy.

Any options for gentle supplemental flow? I'm looking for a pump that can be adjusted from basically 1% - 100% so I can dial it in. The obvious option would be 2 more MP40s running behind the rocks but I haven't been super happy with them.

I'm thinking of either mounting like this with a more directional gentle pump:

Or looking at gyres and moving the 40s behind the rocks):

 

[|FATHOM|]

I had this same issue and went with Gyres at each end. I found them to be over powering at first and they don't go below 30%. Gyres don't have a very wide flow but move a lot of water.

My solution was to aim them up at a 30° angle. You can adjust the on off cycle to account for not being able to lower the power anymore. Too much flow? Just turn down the interval. I'm finally happy with my flow.

If you are comfortable with Jebao I got the MCP120 and they have been excellent pumps in my system. About 120 each on Amazon. I've had them for a year and a half no issues.

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

I had this same issue and went with Gyres at each end. I found them to be over powering at first and they don't go below 30%. Gyres don't have a very wide flow but move a lot of water.

My solution was to aim them up at a 30° angle. You can adjust the on off cycle to account for not being able to lower the power anymore. Too much flow? Just turn down the interval. I'm finally happy with my flow.

If you are comfortable with Jebao I got the MCP120 and they have been excellent pumps in my system. About 120 each on Amazon. I've had them for a year and a half no issues.

I love the cross flows. The 120 clean at full power might throw water out of a 5ft tank though, so I would definitely follow the 30° suggestion, it was the only way I could crank the flow on my 120s crossflows

Edit: I have 2 mcp120s on my 4ft tank, the angle make a big difference. I can run them high and keep my LPS from getting ticked

 

[|FATHOM|]

I think that's the ticket.

What didn't you like about the MP40s?

 

[SaltwaterScoop]

I had this same issue and went with Gyres at each end. I found them to be over powering at first and they don't go below 30%. Gyres don't have a very wide flow but move a lot of water.

My solution was to aim them up at a 30° angle. You can adjust the on off cycle to account for not being able to lower the power anymore. Too much flow? Just turn down the interval. I'm finally happy with my flow.

If you are comfortable with Jebao I got the MCP120 and they have been excellent pumps in my system. About 120 each on Amazon. I've had them for a year and a half no issues.

Do you think the 70s would be too small? I basically wanted to try the smallest ones that would fit on 15mm glass lol

I think that's the ticket.

What didn't you like about the MP40s?

I was hoping for wider less directional flow. I tried different heads. The one I have now works the best but it was a journey

 

[FUNGI]

my tank is 59L....I have maxspect gyres XF350's (?)...too much flow..bought two Hygger's, on each end and they are perfect. Easy set-up (master and slave) took less then 5 seconds, and SUPER quite and efficient.

$80 per.........

 

[Dburr1014]

I had this same issue and went with Gyres at each end. I found them to be over powering at first and they don't go below 30%. Gyres don't have a very wide flow but move a lot of water.

My solution was to aim them up at a 30° angle. You can adjust the on off cycle to account for not being able to lower the power anymore. Too much flow? Just turn down the interval. I'm finally happy with my flow.

If you are comfortable with Jebao I got the MCP120 and they have been excellent pumps in my system. About 120 each on Amazon. I've had them for a year and a half no issues.

I have the same ones, can you post a pic of them on your tank?

 

[|FATHOM|]

Do you think the 70s would be too small? I basically wanted to try the smallest ones that would fit on 15mm glass lol


I was hoping for wider less directional flow. I tried different heads. The one I have now works the best but it was a journey

I think the 70s might work. Worst case you can run them at 100.

The street is narrow but moves a lot of water so you will get less directional flow coming back to the pump and when both of the currents clash

 

[|FATHOM|]

I have the same ones, can you post a pic of them on your tank?

Sure. It's going to look exactly the same as any other 120. The impellers have a sleeve on them that you rotate to aim the flow. I rotated these to aim the flow towards the water.

 

[|FATHOM|]

Sure. It's going to look exactly the same as any other 120. The impellers have a sleeve on them that you rotate to aim the flow. I rotated these to aim the flow towards the water.

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics]

If you have a pretty good size pump supplying your return lines, you might consider adding a few Random Flow Generator Nozzles - we have pre-configured kits that will fit your Waterbox 180.5 and add a 1/2in RFG to each side.






You would want to supply each side abornf 400-450 GPH or more, for a strong randomize flow that could easily supplement what you have.

You'll find these at all major online retailer, possibly at your local fish store and of course on our onw web site

 

[SaltwaterScoop]

If you have a pretty good size pump supplying your return lines, you might consider adding a few Random Flow Generator Nozzles - we have pre-configured kits that will fit your Waterbox 180.5 and add a 1/2in RFG to each side.






You would want to supply each side abornf 400-450 GPH or more, for a strong randomize flow that could easily supplement what you have.

You'll find these at all major online retailer, possibly at your local fish store and of course on our onw web site

I actually have these installed but I don't think I'm pushing enough water through the return for them to work their magic. I was always told low flow through the sump is ideal so the filtration has more time with the water. That might be bad advice now though. I've been in the hobby too long to keep up with the latest best practices lol the increased flow would allow more detritus to get to the sump that otherwise would be trapped in the display so that argument makes me think I should try the returns at full blast

Anyone know if the MCP-70 magnets would hold on 15mm glass?

 

[Dburr1014]

Sure. It's going to look exactly the same as any other 120. The impellers have a sleeve on them that you rotate to aim the flow. I rotated these to aim the flow towards the water.

I thought of that after I posted that you would think it would be just like all the others. LOL. I was going after more of how far under the water you placed in with the 30° upward. Those things move a lot of water and I'm getting bare spots in the sand because of it. I'm just trying out different flow patterns to get it right.
I need the sand for my wrasse that's going in.

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics]

I actually have these installed but I don't think I'm pushing enough water through the return for them to work their magic. I was always told low flow through the sump is ideal so the filtration has more time with the water. That might be bad advice now though. I've been in the hobby too long to keep up with the latest best practices lol the increased flow would allow more detritus to get to the sump that otherwise would be trapped in the display so that argument makes me think I should try the returns at full blast

Anyone know if the MCP-70 magnets would hold on 15mm glass?

I personally am in the the higher flow through camp for sump filtration - but I think they both are valid approaches

For me, i do agree that higher flow does drive more detrise to the sump where is its much easier to remove from the system (we even make a tool for that)
.

But even at say 1,200 to 1,500 GPH flow through the skimmer area won't look much different that at half that rate. it will make a different in your filter sock area and the return chamber though.

Just as an experiment - try turning up the pump and see how they do. have some extra water on hand though, as you'll likely need to add a little to the system to prevent the return chamber from running dry and starving the pump.