Question for people with powerheads in picos

[sanchez]

So I started a new 8gallon pico and I was wondering what other people do do keep the sand from blowing around.

 

I have one koralia nano 240 in there as well as the return pump (95-225gph) and I can't seem to point it the right way to keep the sand from getting disturbed.

 

Any advice?

 

The sand is the carib-sea superfine type I think..

[Mr. Microscope]

You can play with rock placement etc., but the sand will eventually settle flat and not move.

[Trogdor447]

the sand will eventually settle flat and not move.

 

+1

 

Also you can buy a smidge heavier dirt... I had good luck buying the bigger rocks for the fluval edge.. i had to do something.. it was too much and took out the ac impeller. I have the 240 in the edge as well

 

My biggest trick i found was pointing the powerhead up towards the surface a little bit and letting the filter push down (which also moves sand)

[sanchez]

Well there's one spot where it's almost down to the glass, and I only have one rock in the tank (huge centerpiece) so it's kinda hard haha.

 

I turned the powerhead off for now and straightened the sand out, maybe I'll point it the other way, who knows!

[.Newman.]

i checked out your live feed (nice concept, i got to see your goby lol) and your FTS.

It looks like you can just move the rock up a little to the front, to make it sit somewhere in the middle of the tank as a central pillar. this will allow you to get the powerhead behind the rock (hopefully) and then point it at the rock to break up the flow. it doesnt have to be perpendicular to the rock, just tilt it so that the rock breaks the flow. that will also allow you to hide it behind the rock.

 

That's how i manage to keep my picotope with an AC70 and that 240 K-nano. also if you try pointing it at the other flow thing you have there, the two current swill collide and sand should move around...try both methods.

[sanchez]

i checked out your live feed (nice concept, i got to see your goby lol) and your FTS.

It looks like you can just move the rock up a little to the front, to make it sit somewhere in the middle of the tank as a central pillar. this will allow you to get the powerhead behind the rock (hopefully) and then point it at the rock to break up the flow. That's how i manage to keep my picotope with an AC70 and that 240 K-nano. also if you try pointing it at the other flow thing you have there, the two current swill collide and sand should move around...try both methods.

 

I was thinking that as well, but I kinda want to leave room in the front for corals and such on the sandbed. I'll probably take the nano off the back wall and move it to the left side pointing at the rock to kinda get the same effect.

 

Did you see the goby with sand all over him? A couple minutes ago his head was covered, he was pretending to be a tuxedo urchin

[Cintax]

I've caught myself watching the goby a few times as well.

 

Has he been using the PVC pipe? I've only seen him puttering around and perching on the big rock. Have you considered covering the PVC with rubble and then putting coral on it?

 

With regard to your flow issue, I would try to aim it at the rock and/or the surface as Newman and Trogdor have already said.