Surface agitation

[oldhead]

How importan is surface agitation in a reef tank? I have 2 Koralia #2's in my 65g now. I'm trying to figure the best way to place them so that water is moved efficiently throughout the tank. Thanks!

[Kuli_Loach]

I would arrange them to move the water in the water and get like a maxijet 1200 (best wave making powerhead) and use that as a wave maker. The making of waves aids in the transition of O2 into the water.

[gm72]

...maxijet 1200 (best wave making powerhead)...

Curious as to why you believe it to be the best? Just wondering, nothing more. I don't know much about powerheads.

[Kuli_Loach]

I should have put IMO LOL! They are powerful and shoot one strong stream.

[oldhead]

Hmm I was thinking someone might say something like that. I have water movement now but not so much a wave or rippling motion. And I was hoping that I wouldn't have to crowd my tank with yet another item on the back wall. Is it a definite must to have that much movement at the top or is some movement ok? No one in the tank appears to be suffering with the arrangement that I have now. So I'm not sure if I should be concerned with more agitation or not. Let me know what you think. If I should add more then I'll see about the power head that you mentioned. Thanks.

[gm72]

Good to know, thanks for the clarification. Just wondering what your experience was with them.

So, ladies and gentlemen, after my brief interjection, back to the topic at hand!

How important is surface agitation in a reef tank?

[jaymz]

important.. the more surface agitation the more oxygen that is introduced to the water. which is more important in saltwater reef since you water to avoid bubbles in the water as much as possible.

[cocoa_pleco]

ive got no agitation in my 55g, however sometimes a large chunk of debris clogs my skimmer (main aertion device) so i run a airhose in the tank along with my 2 koralia 2's

[kaybee]

Surface agitation is beneficial but I'd stop short of calling it a 'definate must have'.

Water flow is probably more important than surface agitation in a reef tank. But the two aren't mutually exclusive, so you can have both.

How are your powerheads positioned?

[Kuli_Loach]

^^ Very correct. Do you have a skimmer? If not it will help avoid as much film on the top of the tank.

[oldhead]

This is how I have them now. They were on the sides of the tank but I was reading that chaotic flow was better than a linear flow so I moved them. You can kinda see about what the water movement on the top looks like. I have a Fluval 305 and a Ocotpus 300 running in there also. The return for the Octo is reversed to face the glass to help eliminate bubbles in tank.

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[oldhead]

Oh and the tank is open on the top, no lids or anything.

[Kuli_Loach]

I would point one almost straight down and the other mid level. How much rock is in there?

[kaybee]

Have you tried aiming the two at each other. That would create random flow, including surface agitation.

[oldhead]

I would point one almost straight down and the other mid level. How much rock is in there?


Right now there is about 58lbs, I'm adding another 30lbs from an established tank on Friday. Straight down as in the same location it's in now or move it to the side pane and then straight down?

[oldhead]

Have you tried aiming the two at each other. That would create random flow, including surface agitation.

I was thinking about doing this. I guess I would have to move them back to the side pane. If I did how high up the glass would be best? More towards the middle of the height or nearer the surface of the water in your opinion.

[kaybee]

How high up the glass is hard to say, you'll have to play with the positioning and basically customize it toward your preferences.

The outflows of my powerheads are currently about 4" below the water surface, but I've tried them higher and lower.

When situating my powerheads two factors came into play: a) the elimination of 'dead spots', and b) the way water flow effects the corals, particularly the soft and long-tentacled corals.

Here's how my powerheads/outflows are situated:
(tank view from top, powerhead positions indicated by the red arrows)
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If I may, here's a representation of my attempt at establishing a random 'chaotic' flow, illustrated by the movement of the xenia and torch corals: (sorry for the poor resolution and background noise). The location of the video scene is represented by the black X in the above:
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[oldhead]

Thanks for the post and vid kaybee. So I should be more concerned with the elimination of any possible dead spots more so than large amounts of surface agitation I'm taking it. I'm going to experiment with the heads a little more tonight to create a more dramatic and chaotic flow. This makes more sense than the way I had them originally where they were on the side panes. One nearer the front blowing straight across the tank and the other side nearer the rear blowing the other half ot the tank lenght wise. With them colliding and in the right heigth I should experience better surface agitation as an end result also.