Few questions regarding small setup.

[big tanner]

I am working in setting up a 29 gallon. I have been told to keep my light around 16'' off the water's surface (250 watt 14k metal halide) so to not heat the water. I've also been told that wet/dry filters were originally designed to circulate only 4 times the aquarium size and that by trying to overload an aquarium with 8-9 times water circulation from the pump will only deter the effects that the sump is designed to accomplish. Any truth in this guys? Help me out here. I'm still at a standstill on how many gph my pump should do. My run off box is the continuous siphon and is deisigned to allow almost 900gph to flow. My sump is the Oceanic wet dry and is almost the same size as the 29 gallon aquarium. Please help!

[big tanner]

My post is at 23 views right now and no responses. Can I not get any love in this place or what?

[plahka]

If it's a typical overflow box the return pump doesn't matter as long as its flow is less than the box is rated for. It will only drain as fast as it pumped back up. That being the case the flow rate through the sump is a matter of what turnover you want. Your skimmer won't care how fast the water goes by it.

[plahka]

BTW, I've noticed the lack of responses on here also. Quite few times I've posted questions and it is almost always RS staff who answer. I have a local club but I come here probably more often thinking That here there is the whole country to draw info from. Maybe not!

[Octoman]

If you are planning a reef setup with live rock, you don't want the biological filter. Bioballs create problems with nitrates and are not necessary in a reef setup, the live rock provides all the necessary bio-filtration. You can remove the bioballs from the sump and use that space for something else.

[BigJay]

Just add a power head or two inside the tank and you should be fine.

[big tanner]

Thanks guys. How about my light (250 watt mh, 14k Icecap Pendant), how many inches above water surface do you reccommend? And as for the pump, if I run a strong enough pump, with two returns (one in each corner) do you think there will still be need for powerheads? Thanks for everyone's responses! I appreciate and advice I can get. I've been around reefs for quite some time and I look at my knowledge of the hobby the same as my fighting....''I've always got room for improvement!'' So, let the input fly...I'm all ears!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BigJay]

I can't answer the light distance question(allthough I have seen 6 to 8" 's as a normal rec but your tank your tank might get way to hot). But two returns might work. Honestly you'll just have to try it and see how it works out. If your tank needs more flow you'll be able to see it. The nicest thing about multiple pumps is the ability to run a wavemaker or pulse timer. Your coral type will also dictate how much flow you need.

[chrome91]

i would run the light 8" above and have a fan blowing at the surface to get rid of excess heat. you want the light low enough to hit the tank, but high enough to let heat get away. 16" IMO is a bit too high, unless the pendent has a cover in the front youre risking eye damage