powerhead near sandbed?

[PicassoTrigger]

any benefit to adding a power head just above sand bed (on low) to promote water circulation at base of live rock?

i'm told it can help decrease amount of 'dead zones' where circulation around base of rock is weak if at all

 

[sandman3467]

If you already have and undergravel filter installed all you would need is to get a reverse flow powerhead.

 

[PicassoTrigger]

EW ufg in a marine tank! NooOOO!!! lol
UGF+salt water=sudden death

 

[Mouse]

He he he he he, he said undergravel filter.

 

[Jawbone]

PT anytime you can remove dead spots in your tank its a good thing. The only problem I see is the pump should be inverted so the intake is at the top so you dont suck sand.

 

[Tangy1]

Picasso,
I agree, providing circulation to remove dead spots is always good. I just rearranged my tank and made a pvc stand for my LR to maximize my DSB area. While I was doing research on how people have made PVC supports I came across a method in which holes were drilled on the top half of the PVC structure and a powerhead was attached to an open end. I did the same method. Basicly you are installing a spray bar to move water around the base of the rock.

In your case you could make a PVC spray bar by capping one end,drilling holes throughout the length of the PVC and attaching a powerhead at the other end. This can accomplish a few things.

1) you can design the spray bar to fit in any area and creat unique shapes including the many PVC fittings available.
2) you reduce the amount of flow of the powerhead and dissipate it over a larger area. This will keep the current from kicking up sand yet still move detritus.
3) your powerhead placement can be elevated to a higher level in your tank. This makes maintainance easier and reduces accidental invert suction.

Hope this makes sense. Feel free to ask me more questions about how I did mine.

 

[Anonymous]

I got some circulation low and behind my rock by using an old canister filter. I plumbed the return to where I wanted it, and matinence is real easy cause I don't have to get into the tank to service the thing.

Anyone know anything about the idea that some real slow circulation zones are a good thing?

RR