tank turnover rate...

[Terry64]

What is a good figure for tank turnover for a reef + fish, my LFS said that 17 times was too much for my 55G but i don't want to go to the expense of a new pump so i am using the one i used to have set up on my 90G.

Terry.

[Spyder]

Generally between 30-40x turnover is fine. a little more or a little less will be fine too, the key is to make sure that there are no dead spots where crap can settle.

[Terry64]

ok Spyder, thanks for that, i will use the pump i already have then, makes sense to illiminate dead spots too, might have to add another power head.

so the idea is to keep all dead matter suspended in the water for the skimmer/filter to take care of?

Terry.

[Spyder]

Originally Posted by Terry64

so the idea is to keep all dead matter suspended in the water for the skimmer/filter to take care of?

Exactly

[Terry64]

how often can i do water changes? i notice every time i do a water change the corals look so much more plump and open as they take in the added nutrients and stuff that is in the fresh salt, is there a limit to how much water i should change in a week? at the moment i change about 20% once a week.

Terry.

[Fiji Live Rock]

Originally Posted by Spyder

Generally between 30-40x turnover is fine. a little more or a little less will be fine too, the key is to make sure that there are no dead spots where crap can settle.

30-40? Sheesh! That is too strong for a 55 gallon. At 35x per hr, that is 1,925 gallons per hour. That would be SUPER flow!

I have a bout 900-1000 GPH running in a closed loop system for my 55 gal frag tank that I just set up in haste tonight (because of the issue with my daughter and her tank) and there is a PLENTY of circulation in the tank.

I just think that 30-40 is too harsh.

Personally I would say 15-25x per hr would be more than enough.

[Spyder]

Almost everything I have read has said that 30-40x is what you should shoot for. So that is what I have understood to be true.

Edit: I do understand that as long as you can keep everything suspended that less is fine also.

[Terry64]

Thing is Spyder, it depends who you talk to as to what is correct, i have read the same as you in places i.e 30-40X i have also read 6-10X is good, you don't want it so strong that you have an underwater sandstorm, at the same time you need a nice curent to keep crap suspended in the water and to take food/nutrients to and from the corals.

Terry.

[Fiji Live Rock]

Well put Terry.

[GSELLERS1245]

IMO, dont go by numbers. Go by the happiness of your corals. You will know if they have too much or not enough flow. I have ludacris flow in my 125 and my corals love it. Mag 18 return and 4 tunze 6100's