Which pumps should I use for my 600 litre (158 US gal.) tank ?

Which pumps should I use for my 600 litre (158 US gal.) tank ?

Question asked by Mr Paul / Germany

I am in the process of planning a marine aquarium with the dimensions of 160 x 60 x 60 cm (62.9 x 23.6 x 23.6 in.), worrying about the current. As a tank volume of about 600 litres (158 US gal.) requires a current of 6,000 l/h (1,585 US gal./h), I would like to have your opinion on the following questions:

(1) Is there any sense in using a Turbelle stream 8500 l/h (2,245 US gal./h) along with a Turbelle electronic kit 2400 l/h (634 US gal./h) ? On the one hand my dealer has praised the Turbelle stream very much, but on the other hand I would like to have alternating currents.
(2) How would you position the pumps ?
(3) Isn’t a current of over 10,000 litres (2,641 US gal.) too much for the size of this tank? Or, would you recommend another solution ?

Reply

Add.(1): No, not at all. The 6080 cannot be controlled and the 2400 l/h (634 US gal./h) kit is too weak in your case.
You should rather use a TS24 Kit consisting of two Turbelle stream 6100 and a multi-controller. At any one time only one pump is in operation producing alternating currents. If you already have Multicontroller 7094, you only need to buy a Turbelle stream 6100.

Add.(2): Place the pumps in one corner each with the pump outlets in direction of the front pane. The inhabitants will be subjected to an indirect flow as all flow lines in the tank are parallel. You will produce an alternating current at a six-hour interval (high tide and low tide) and waves whereby the pump capacity varies from 30 to 100 per cent.

Add.(3): You cannot compare the Turbelle stream with other pumps as no pressure is produced. The flow is softer, without a hard water jet, and with a lower speed (1.7 m/s / 5.5 ft./s). Please also refer to our web page at www.tunze.com, pumps / Turbelle stream section.

You will definitely be very satisfied with such a flow kit for 600 litres (158.5 US gal.).