Power Heads

[knoxy]

Hi,

my tank doesn't have any drilled outlets in it. So im planning on using an overhang siphon. Im going to use the following setup,

Tank >>> siphon overflow >>> Sump >>> return pump >>> back into main tank

Whats the rules regarding powerheads? Will me return pump create enough flow or will i still need powerheads at each side of the tank? Also if I really need powerheads is in more worthwhile to get one of the Tunze Waveboxes instead of the powerheads?

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Pheonix]

you want to aim for at least 20x flow in your main tank, ususally the return from the pump wont create enough by itself and you need to suppliment this with a power head or 3! wave makers are good but they normally use power heads to operate them anywayso they can be added later anyways!

 

[andywg]

Don't confuse wavemakers with a Tunze Wavebox.

A wavemaker is a system for altering the power and on/off function to pumps in a way that drastically shortens their lifespan (with the exception of Tunze Streams which run on DC rather than AC and are designed to be controlled).

A Tunze Wavebox has a chamber and pump and works by pumping water out and then letting it fill in. With the use of a dial you "tune" the box to the tank and you create a wave motion surging across the tank causing all the polyps to move one way, and then back the other.

A Tunze wavebox provides the best sort of movement you can get, simulating the movement of the oceeans.

If you can afford the wavebox (I paid £300 for mine from First Stop Aquatics) then go for it. Tunze are the best manufacturer of aquarium products bar none.

It is possible to have all of your turnover from the sump, but sump pumps are less efficient than in tank powerheads (such as the Tunze Streams and Nano Streams) as they have to fight gravity in pumping back up to the tank.

I prefer to have around 5 to 10 times turnover through my sump and the rest created in tank to bring it up between 30 and 40.

My advice is to get the tank drilled (no syphon to lose and thus a safer method of getting the water to the sump), buy a tunze wavebox and supplement this with a nano-stream or two (the wavebox is on a photosensitive controller so will turn off come night time to give a period of relative rest so you will want some movement at night). While the equipment from Tunze is far from cheap, but it will last for years and has a very low running cost (I have a powerhead that pulls 8W and moves 4,500 LPH).

 

[knoxy]

your right i was talking about a Wavebox. So the wave box would be on top of the powerheads and return pump?

I thought about drilling the outlets but im not sure where to put them I understand about hte siphon cutting out but dont Tunze do one that will restart automatically.

Mike

 

[andywg]

your right i was talking about a Wavebox. So the wave box would be on top of the powerheads and return pump?

I thought about drilling the outlets but im not sure where to put them I understand about hte siphon cutting out but dont Tunze do one that will restart automatically.

Mike

The wavebox would provide almost all of your main movement, I just prefer to still have movement at night and as such include a nano stream. Without a sump you can, in theory, run a tank on just the wavebox. You will need a sump pump, and it is possible to run the entire circulation from one, but it becomes costly and unwieldy (needing a large expensive to run pump).

I prefer to drill the bottom of larger tanks and the isdes of smaller ones with weirs to control tank water levels. I advise checking out meleve's reef site for ideas on how to arrange it all, or ask here and I can show some step by step instructions of mine.

While the Tunze one should keep syphon fine and may even restart, there can be problems. I try and plan for the worst and as such drill.

 

[knoxy]

So if I do drill then i put one hole at the top for an outlet going down to the sump... (im comming round to the idea.) then i have another one presumably in the opposite corner again near the top where the return will enter? Does that sound about right? What size bulkheads will i need on a tank of my size? 1/2" or 3/4"?

 

[SkiFletch]

At least 3/4" bulkheads for most overflows, if not 1". Must admit I forgot how big your tank was . Also, the height of the top of the tank from the sump is important to know to choose an appropriate return pump. Are you going to do a bottom drilled standard Durso Standpipe overflow, or a back drilled Calfo overflow?

 

[knoxy]

I dont think ill be drilling the bottom of the tank as id need to modify the stand as well in this case so im guessing Calfo overflow (im just off to look that up ).

From the top of the tank to the bottom of the sump its 1.25m, my sump will have a water level of about 30cm when its running according to my plans. And the tank is 240litres with an extra 40l in the sump (does this count in my tank volume?)

So many questions... thanks to everyone for all your help.. (SkiFletch especially)

Cheers,
Mike

 

[SkiFletch]

Ok so consider a 1.5m head pressure for the pump after tubing valves etc are added in and minor sump gains are subtracted. What you then need to do is decide how much flow you want through the sump, and look at pump curves at 1.5m of head pressure. Select and appropriate sump, and an overflow just a little bit higher in capacity then what you expect out of the pump at that operating pressure, and you're good to go. If you can't find anything on Calfo overflows, just look at my mantis nano thread, I use a mini calfo there

Calfo overflows are popular here in the states cause most of our bottoms are tempered and un-drillable, while Dursos are popular in Europe where they have non-tempered glass thats easily drilled