Strong water pump or wave maker to create ideal current for ATF

[ekkhoo]

Dear all,

From chix post, ideally the water current should be 50 * volume of water in the tank. Example for a 100gallon tank, we should have 5000gph (100*50).

Im getting a 1500 gallon tank and this will in need of (75,000 GPH). The strongest wave maker I can find produce 3300gph which I will need around 22 unit of them (75,000/3300).

So im wondering anyone here know some other option to create the ideal current for my ATF or know any good strong pump.

Any feedback is highly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Red Aimara]

Try power heads bro. Some built for koi ponds create massive flow.

 

[DB junkie]

Some of us don't believe in the whole current "theory".....

I tried it and it made my fish crazy flighty.

Maxspect Gyre 150 is what you're looking for as far as a rediculous sized wave maker.

 

[sunnysjourney]

What I've done with my ATFs is that I have a 50x turnover when they're young and gradually reduce the flow rate. Mainly because having a 50x turnover in a truly monster aquarium is something that I can't really achieve in a frugal way. So what I've done (currently doing as well) is that when I get small ones that are about 3-4" I keep them in a 20 gallon long with over 50x flow rate and then gradually increase the tank size based on their size and decrease the flow rate at the same time as well. The idea is that by the time they're big enough to go into a monster tank, they would be used to slower flow rates... It has worked pretty well for me so far although I currently don't have a tank bigger than a standard 240. (My biggest ATF is only around 12" ATM)

 

[ekkhoo]

Try power heads bro. Some built for koi ponds create massive flow.

I think I'll give up the idea of getting 75,000 GPH for my tank... it's just too ridiculously expensive to do that. I will follow probably follow sunny advice. Thank you for the contribution bro!

 

[ekkhoo]

What I've done with my ATFs is that I have a 50x turnover when they're young and gradually reduce the flow rate. Mainly because having a 50x turnover in a truly monster aquarium is something that I can't really achieve in a frugal way. So what I've done (currently doing as well) is that when I get small ones that are about 3-4" I keep them in a 20 gallon long with over 50x flow rate and then gradually increase the tank size based on their size and decrease the flow rate at the same time as well. The idea is that by the time they're big enough to go into a monster tank, they would be used to slower flow rates... It has worked pretty well for me so far although I currently don't have a tank bigger than a standard 240. (My biggest ATF is only around 12" ATM)

This really sounded like a good idea. Yea 50x turnover for big tank is just cost too much for me to do it. Thank you Sunny!

 

[ekkhoo]

Some of us don't believe in the whole current "theory".....

I tried it and it made my fish crazy flighty.

Maxspect Gyre 150 is what you're looking for as far as a rediculous sized wave maker.

Yea have a search and it does provide good amount of current (5000GPH). However based on that I will still need 15 of them... After converted to my country currency.. it will cost me RM17,350 in total which is just too impractical. Thank you so much for your feedback!

 

[DB junkie]

Most people with 1500 gallon tanks can afford $3500 in wave makers....... lol. Don't need it all in wave makers, just geet some MASSIVE return pumps........

Maybe focus on what I said in regards to some of us ignoring the high current....... Want to know why? Cause when you take it away the fish freak out and try to kill themselves. Power cut, they jam, turn off for maintenance whatever the reason when the current stops they don't and they ram themselves right into the side or top of the tank.

I'm NOT trying to discredit Chix but he didn't keep bigger ATF. I have a 18" Tanzy in a 6x2x2 180 gallon and all I have for current is the return pump and he's just fine. 2 other slightly smaller in a different tank are also just fine, as is the smaller Vatf in another tank (still 12"+)

Maybe it's time to ask around - I'm pretty sure there's plenty of people out there with big ATF that aren't even close to this 50X turnover that was merely a crazy shot in the dark meant to represent "a lot" of flow......

 

[nzafi]

Nothing definitive, but when I have seen videos of larger setups with ATF they tend not to have that huge flow. I think the objective was to add flow to help with skittishness at smaller sizes that goes away once they get bigger. Not an ATF keep, but sharing what I have read. Don't shoot me if I am wrong

 

[ekkhoo]

Nothing definitive, but when I have seen videos of larger setups with ATF they tend not to have that huge flow. I think the objective was to add flow to help with skittishness at smaller sizes that goes away once they get bigger. Not an ATF keep, but sharing what I have read. Don't shoot me if I am wrong

What u have said totally make sense! Alright I will forgo the 50x current, and focus on just few enough to keep the water well oxygenated. Thank you so much!