LPM for 48" moving bed w/ 2 cubic feet of k1

the lion who ate the sun

Plecostomus

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Mar 11, 2014

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georgia

Mar 6, 2015

• #1

What is the recommended LPM for a moving bed sectioned off in a sump that is 48"Lx 16"H and holding 2 cubic feet of k1? Can I get away with 15 lpm and power heads, or is the high LPM responsible for the effectiveness of this sump style?

I want to do this very badly, but high LPM pumps are too fragile to justify their cost IMO.

 

henria86

Plecostomus

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Jul 20, 2009

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Big City...

Mar 6, 2015

• #2

just use a wave maker on pluse cycle one of the Jebao brands

 

the lion who ate the sun

Plecostomus

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Mar 11, 2014

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georgia

Mar 6, 2015

• #3

I will potentially be using two koralina powerheads, but I want to get the primary boil from an air pump. The constant influx of oxygen is said to make a difference.

 

millerkid519

Aimara

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Feb 16, 2015

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stratford ontario canada

Mar 10, 2015

• #4

Yes it will work using a wavemaker but it is designed to be used with air only i would go with a 65-100 lpm air pump and keep the wavemaker for your tank

 

rodger

Polypterus

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Apr 29, 2008

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Kansas City

Mar 11, 2015

• #5

What do you mean by the high volume pumps being fragile? They are as tough or tougher than smaller pumps.

 

millerkid519

Aimara

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Feb 16, 2015

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stratford ontario canada

Mar 11, 2015

• #6

Agreed. if you maintain the air pump you have less issues then you would with a smaller one in my opinion.

 

L

LukeOscar

Polypterus

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Mar 23, 2013

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ontario

Mar 12, 2015

• #7

I have always had the larger model air pumps fail prior to the smaller ones. A lot of them the same brand too. But I only found this when it comes to aquarium marketed air pumps. I dipped my toe into some commercial aquaponics pumps recently and they seem to be built a lot better.

Sent from my SM-N900W8 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

Charney

The Fish Doctor

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Somerville NJ

Mar 12, 2015

• #8

millerkid519 said:

Yes it will work using a wavemaker but it is designed to be used with air only i would go with a 65-100 lpm air pump and keep the wavemaker for your tank

Click to expand...

I agree. From what i have read K1 sucks a lot of oxygen and if you use powerhead instead of air the bacteria bioload on the k1 maybe able to consume most of the O2 in the water leaving your fish gasping

 

the lion who ate the sun

Plecostomus

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Mar 11, 2014

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georgia

Mar 17, 2015

• #9

I'm presently thinking I will be using a 15lpm pump in conjunction with two power heads. Anyone have advice for a higher LPM pump? Brandwise, I mean. I'm looking for something that will hold up for years.