Flow patterns in agitated vessels are influenced by geometry, particularly impeller diameter and impeller off-bottom clearance. Large impellers and/or high off-bottom clearances lead to reversed flow in which the flow at the base of the vessel is radially-inward as opposed to radially-outward as expected with axial-flow impellers. Reversed flow is detrimental in solids suspension agitation because inordinately high torque and power are required to achieve suspension. This work experimentally characterizes the effect of flow reversal on solids suspension performance, including guidelines for avoiding flow reversal with straight-blade turbines, pitched-blade turbines, and high-efficiency impellers.