Help with powerheads/sand bed

[kimismurf]

I have 2 powerheads in my 55g that are moving the sand too much. I don't know how to position them so that the sand can stay, well in the sand and not on my rocks. Also there in almost no sand in the middle of my tank unless I reach in and push it back. This has been an on going problem that I'm tired of dealing with. Can anyone give me some advise as to how to correct the problem? Maybe I should only run the one powerhead furthest away from the skimmer. I'll add a picture so you can see my setup.
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[cantare00]

try moving them down a bit and then angle more up. they are pointing down in your pic that could be the problem.

 

[ralph atl]

just make sure they are tilted slightly up...also, have them aim at the opposite corners instead of center..just keep playin' with them...

 

[kimismurf]

thanks guys, I'll try this as soon as I get home! I'll have to post an updated pic of my tank as well this one is over a week old. Lots of changes taking place! :O)

 

[irahmatulla]

I have also read to point them directly at each other. This will cause them to sometimes roll over or under the other making a more unpredictable pattern. I forget what it is called but I read it at Wet Web Media. I would however give a +1 to the tilted up. This also helps with gas exchange from the surface.

 

[dakota9]

Looking at the pic, I like the way the sand looks, but personally, I'd;

lower the power heads
set one toward the back, one toward the front
tilt them up.


This will create a slight vortex effect, but it worked well in my 30 long for years.

 

[islandreef]

I will have 2 in my 135 so I am thinking of putting one on the back wall pointing out and one on the side pointing slightly up towards the other side. We shall see how that works. What type of sand did you use in there. I am looking for some sand now.

 

[slowjazz]

kimismurf;702144 wrote: I have 2 powerheads in my 55g that are moving the sand too much. I don't know how to position them so that the sand can stay, well in the sand and not on my rocks. Also there in almost no sand in the middle of my tank unless I reach in and push it back. This has been an on going problem that I'm tired of dealing with. Can anyone give me some advise as to how to correct the problem? Maybe I should only run the one powerhead furthest away from the skimmer. I'll add a picture so you can see my setup.

I have one in my 55g and it keeps the water moving just fine. As a matter of fact, I had to turn the deflector to a medium swirl to keep the sand/Xenia and other LR people from blowing all over the place. What size powerheads do you have?
A 55g really isn't very big and alot of people throw larger powerheads and wonder why they have a whirlpool If your sand is moving over time and your not pointing at it, then I think you have too much.

btw.. I have mine setup with the return on one side of the tank pointing slightly up to keep the surface moving and the powerhead on the other side of the tank near the top, slightly pointing down. (about the middle. ie: not in a corner)
I found that if I pointed to the top, then there was more junk in the sand. If I pointed to the glass, then I ended up with alot of junk on the glass.
Where it is has the flow going over the middle/front of the LR, hits the end of the tank and then comes back via the current from the return.

Are you going to add a bubble tip...ect... if so, then you may want to think about how fast you move the water.