Flow: Too Much, Too Little, Just Right?

Bbunkie01
  • #1
I have a month old hI tech 75 gallon I’m currently still tweaking. Tank dimensions are the usual 75 long: 48x20x18

Filtration: Fluval 406 with a custom PVC spray bar on the right side wall of the tank.

The spray bar is pointed DOWN into the water column, moving water from right to left across the tank.

Intake strainer positioned in back left corner. I also have an in-line atomizer on the outflow. Obviously, I have reduced current on the outflow due to back pressure, and flow diffusion from the spray bar.

I was still worried about dead spots and surface agitation, so I added two power heads:

660gph powerhead positioned underneath the spray bar also on the right side wall. This powerhead is near substrate level, and pointed at an angle toward the front of the tank. Creates a very strong current from right to left across the front of the tank. Too much?

Lastly, I have a small 240gph powerhead on the far left of the tank pointed at the surface for some mild surface agitation.

I’m not quite sure if this is overkill. Technically, I have around 1100 gph between the canister filter and both powerheads. For the 660gph powerhead in particular, I don’t have much in its way to diffuse the flow, so it creates a very strong current across the front of the tank. I’m just torn as to whether or not I need this. Obviously, it gets rid of any dead spots, but I don’t want it to stress my fish.

Current stock:

2 panda corydoras
4 julI corydoras
6 marigold swordtail
2 flame dwarf gourami
14 neon tetra
8 white skirt tetra
Handful of snails and cherry shrimp
 
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StarGirl
  • #2
I would like to know the answer to this too. This almost EXACTLY how I have mine set up. Except I only have 2 425 pumps. 55 gallon tank. I would also like to know if this is sufficient.
 
StarGirl
  • #3
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Bbunkie01
  • Thread Starter
  • #4
I would like to know the answer to this too. This almost EXACTLY how I have mine set up. Except I only have 2 425 pumps. 55 gallon tank. I would also like to know if this is sufficient.

I really think the answer is what kind of livestock/plants are in our tanks, but I was hoping for a more experienced answer here.

I know marine tanks need at the very least 10x turnover, but that’s a totally different world. I’m curious as to what people would recommend for our tanks. How heavily planted is yours?
 
Skavatar
  • #5
you do want to have good water circulation in your tank, but not too strong that your fish are constantly swimming against the current, tiring and stressing them out.
 
StarGirl
  • #6
I really think the answer is what kind of livestock/plants are in our tanks, but I was hoping for a more experienced answer here.

I know marine tanks need at the very least 10x turnover, but that’s a totally different world. I’m curious as to what people would recommend for our tanks. How heavily planted is yours?
I have a Merimo moss ball the size of a tennis ball..... That's it for now.....
 

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