darinfox

I have just started my first saltwater tank. It is a 55g with live rock. I want to make it a reef tank with inverts. I have read that many corals, etc. need good water movement. My question is this - should the powerhead(s) be placed at the surface of the tank? or should it be placed down in the middle of the tank where the flow can be directed over the rock? or one of each? My powerhead is an AquaClear 50 (~270 gph, I think). Also, using a Penguin 200 Biowheel Filter. I know that different corals want different amounts of flow.

Second question is about lighting. I have flourescents, which are normal output, I think. I currently have a 40w actinic, a 40w 6700k daylight, and a 15w 18,000k and another 15w daylight. I'm wondering if this is going to be enough. I know it probably depends on what I'm trying to grow.

Thanks.

atmmachine816

i dont know much about sw bout for fw you should have 10x the amount of water you have in your tank for you filters gph and the bio-wheel only has 200 since i have one so you should probbly invest in the bio-wheel 330 to make your tank cleaner and anything you keep in there will love it but thats only if the rule for fw and sw is the same i am not sure i think Mike is the sw person here

chris02_84

you should have both...powerhead purpose is so that the current can bring new oxygenated water to the live rock and wash away the waste products.