Need Help - Experts on Sand and Flow

[glostik]

Whats the best way to

A. Try to prevent sections of my sand from being blown away? My current is causing some areas of my sand to get completely blown away. Will putting river rocks on top of the sand in that area help?

B. Try to even out the flow a bit, I'm getting alot more swirling than I had wanted. This might be tricky to understand without actually seeing the setup in person.

[Rift2Reef]

Use rocks(river rocks/slate) in those areas. Maybe even driftwood also. Using the deco to break up those areas is going to be much easier than trying to divert water in your setup.

Rocks will definitely help.

[Flapjack]

I have read online somewhere that if you position your flow to hit the top of a big rock it will help diffuse the current.

[glostik]

The current is kind of backwashing into two spots and causing the sand to completely blow away

[Sigmar]

well you only have 2 choices,,divert or slow the flow

[glostik]

I think the real problem is that the water is swirling when it comes out of the outlet, i need a way to stream it

[greeneyed]

I wonder if a penductor/eductor would help? Maybe with some modification to the diffuser?

What size are you returns?

[glostik]

The returns are 1.5" ea = I have 4

Don't penductors also suck in water? Id be worried about fish being sucked into them

[greeneyed]

That is why I was thinking a mod to the diffuser.
Heck, maybe you need a nozzle?
What do you have on them now?

greeneyed added 7 Minutes and 36 Seconds later...

Maybe put a couple of inches of sand, then cover with a resin to form a hard bottom. Then come back with an inch of sand or so on top?

[glostik]

im also considering some nozzles - that might help the flow - the water is just coming straight out of the bulkhead right now and i think thats whats causing all the turbulence

[AndrewH]

Sand in the water is a problem to the filter's impeller (over time).

Plus, it "blowing against the bottom glass" is kinda of like sand blasting/sanding it. Can cause scratches.

If you need to reduce the affect of flow without reducing the flow you have to widen the discharge. Nozzle (http://www.airless.com.au/images/Narrow%20Nozzle%20Air%20Snake.jpg) = concentrated more, a wide mouth (http://petcarelive.com/img/Aquarium/rio-discharge-nozzle-single.jpg) exit will minimize the affect. Slowing the water's pace, but keeping the same overall flow.