Advice on circulation in my new tank.

[skjl47]

like I said I only have a very thin layer of gravel, and I mean thin, as in you can see the bottom glass through it. this factor coupled with the good flow means I don't get any debris building up anywhere. it's quite funny sometimes, my RTGG will do a big crap and it just bobbles along the bottom until it gets to the end of the tank where my outlet is, and up it goes, sucked down into the sump. but also, it really really helps that my outlet is at the bottom of my tank at substrate level. if I was surface skimming only I think i'd still have to vacuum the bottom once in a while.

Hello; I run my tanks with four and more inches of gravel substrate and with lots of live plants, so a very different set of issues to deal with. The plants do affect how stuff moves about.
Thanks

 

[narayanang76]

Im thinking i could do something simple like put a circulation pump/wave maker on the lower right side below the canister outlet. Hopefully it would create a current that flows along the bottom of the tank that keeps mess off the bottom and pushes it toward the canister inlet. Im just not sure my thinking will work out. Also not sure what size would be right if my thinking is correct.

In my earlier 120g, barebottom, with 2 canisters, I used to keep a wave maker (used to run manually for half hour) at one end and push particles to other end where the canisters inlet would get them sucked.

In my current 220G with sump, having sand bottom. I am having wave maker with a timer, runs for half hour automatically during every morning. I am surprised to see my white sand almost dirt free and I don't need to vacuum them at all. I also don't have any dead spots in water due to this wave maker.

I would strongly recommend going for a wave maker, even if your fish don't like strong current run them for a time period, it should be sufficient.

 

[Laiken]

I think ill just pick up a cheap one and give it a try. If it works out ill replace the cheap one with a nicer model when it goes out. Any advice on size, flow numbers or single or duel head. Thanks again everyone.

 

[twentyleagues]

I think ill just pick up a cheap one and give it a try. If it works out ill replace the cheap one with a nicer model when it goes out. Any advice on size, flow numbers or single or duel head. Thanks again everyone.

I'd get 2 medium sized ones and direct flow toward your inlet. Get something with a wide flow pattern. Helps with too much flow in a jet, fish dont like that. Get something that fish cant get into if you are using a timer on it. I used to have a wrasse that liked to pick stuff out of the mp40 while it was not on....like I said used to.