A question about flow for an SPS tank

from what i understand of water turnover usually depends on the amount of water running through the sump and back into the display for the correct filtration and contact with the skimmer. i'm not sure it directly relates to just the flow of power heads. with power heads you just want to make sure there isn't any dead spots and the water is always moving with sps. but direct flow from the power head is not a great thing. thats my understanding though. i may be wrong

 

I wouldn't put a number on the amount of flow you have but look at the quality of flow. Corals prefer a random flow as opposed to a more linear flow that you get from a powerhead. In my 125 gallon tank I use 2 Koralia #5 on a Wavemaster pro and they do a great job at provide that random flow throughout my tank without any of the corals be subject to a direct pounding from either pump. Best thing is to position your powerheads so that you get flow on the corals that like it and less on the ones that don't.

There is also a big difference between circulation in your tank and circulation through your sump. If you have a protein skimmer in your sump then your flow through your sump should be a lot less. I have always hear 5-10 times your tank volume per hour,when using a skimmer in your sump you should try and go lower something like 2-3 times per hour to ensure your skimmer has time to do its job.

just my two cents anyway

 

The skimmer manufacturer generally has a recommendation of the amount of water a skimmer can process - I run an ETSS that spec'd @ 450 gph processing so my return in about 420 gph.
-Eric