Too Much Water Flow?

[Grymatta]

I have a 12 gal nano cube deluxe and was thinking of removing the stock pump and adding the

Maxi Jet 900.

It seems to be the recommended pump after browsing through the forums. However, I did the calculations and for a 12 gal tank, the proper water flow should be around 120-180 GPH

The Maxi Jet 900 is rated at 230 GPH.

Is this too much for soft corals like zoos?

The other powerhead that people seem to recommend is the MiniJet 606 but it only rates 150 GPH...which might not be enough?

So my question is...which one to get for the 12 gal...the MJ 606 or the MJ 900?

thanks!

 

[lordroad]

I'd go for the 606, but use two, one on each opposing side of the tank. I use a couple cheap powerheads and a hang on the back filter... each powerhead is rated at 150 gph. I can adjust the aquaclear powerhead, and I usually tune that to only half speed.

I've had to point the powerheads at each other because if they aim anywhere else, my zoos and shrooms really don't like it, though my gsp seems to thrive from moderate to strong indirect current.

 

[Grymatta]

wait..if i use 2 MJ 606...wouldnt that be 300 gph. Isnt that way too much for a 12 gal?

are the Mini Jet 606 pumps quiet? I heard that the MaxiJet 900 is pretty quiet and doenst run too hot.

 

[lordroad]

Let me amend here...

I looked up the aquaclear powerhead I use and it's actually rated at 126 gph, and my cheapo wal mart one is most likely rated around 120-150, though I'm no longer sure.

To give you a better idea of how turbulent my system is...
The crappy wal mart regent powerhead is placed in the upper lefthand corner, blowing into the front. This creates a clear spot on the bottom as it blows sand away, and my new SPS coral gets the bulk of the movement.

The aquaclear is placed five inches away, precisely in the middle of the tank, where it shoots straight at the center of the glass, blasting the more powerful powerhead and mixing up the current. This also mixes with my weak penguin mini hang on the back filter, which all my mushrooms are under as it offers the least water movement in the tank.

I've never calculated how much gph I have, but it's probably a fair amount. I had a cyano outbreak and I added the aquaclear and it was ended in three or four days. However, it's very annoying cleaning these powerheads and positioning exactly back where they were, cause if I move them by just a fraction a lot of my soft corals suffer.

However the increased water movement keeps my tank very healthy.

I have a 1 gallon reef vase with flourishing green star polyps I've set up for about eight months. I use a microjet powerhead, and I keep it around 70 pgh an hour to the water pretty violent.

 

[Grymatta]

Thanks Lord...

wow. you have alot of powerheads in there! I was hoping to have just one, maybe 2 at most. Maybe I'll get both the MJ 606 and the MJ 900...

I'm aiming to get some zoos, leathers, easy stuff so maybe I should provide some good flow..

 

[lordroad]

Yeah, try it with one first, see how strong that is in your tank, test it with some lettuce or something to see how much current corals would get, then go from there.

I started with my hang on the back and a bubble wand (saltwater is too buoyant and the wand always floated up). Then added a powerhead, then a couple months later the aquaclear after a cyano outbreak.

 

[Grymatta]

well i ordered the MJ 900 so I will do as you suggested. If I need another, I will order the smaller MJ 606.

BTW, I also ordered the Hydro Flow attachment. Have you used it before? People on the forums say its a cheap, good way to induce waves in your tank...