Airstones or wavemaker?
- Thread starter CPdude
- Start date
Flow rate is not equivalent from fresh water to salt. Even low flow corals will die if you are depending on air stones only for water movement. I would say a good target for you would be at least 10x tank volume in water flow. So if your tank is a 20 gal you would need at least 200gph for a low flow coral. Depending on rock and tank shape this may still be too little.
Also, if you just set up the tank today, I hope you don't plan to add corals next week. Wait a month or two at the very least and make sure the tank has cycled. Might do good to go to the "new to the hobby" section and read the stickies.
Also, if you just set up the tank today, I hope you don't plan to add corals next week. Wait a month or two at the very least and make sure the tank has cycled. Might do good to go to the "new to the hobby" section and read the stickies.
mcgyvr
New member
Yes
In general you want the total flow rate in a tank to be 20-30x display tank volume for "low-med" flow..
Take the airstones out.. and put in some appropriately sized powerheads..
They help create circulation to keep detritus,etc.. from settling too much/creating stagnant areas/oxygenate the water,etc..
And I certainly would not put corals into a tank for at least a few months after starting it.. You want to ensure your parameters are stable and that the typical "ugly" stages of a new tank are done/gone..
So maybe early July at the earliest to add corals.. August would be better..
In general you want the total flow rate in a tank to be 20-30x display tank volume for "low-med" flow..
Take the airstones out.. and put in some appropriately sized powerheads..
They help create circulation to keep detritus,etc.. from settling too much/creating stagnant areas/oxygenate the water,etc..
And I certainly would not put corals into a tank for at least a few months after starting it.. You want to ensure your parameters are stable and that the typical "ugly" stages of a new tank are done/gone..
So maybe early July at the earliest to add corals.. August would be better..
Ron Reefman
Active member
Listen well to the advise given above!
I'd recommend getting wavemakers that are a bit more powerful than you need AND that have speed control. I shut my wavemakers off when I feed. Fish always get enough but I like to give the corals a shot at easy food settling in the tank. Then after 15 minutes the wavemakers come on at higher speed than normal and it really kicks up food that has settled. They run for a minute and the off for 10 more minutes. Then back on at the higher speed for a minute and then back to normal. I don't do this every day. In fact I generally only feed every other day. And the program I listed above is done only once or sometimes twice a week.
But in any event, having wavemakers with speed control makes getting the tank flow right MUCH easier.
I'd recommend getting wavemakers that are a bit more powerful than you need AND that have speed control. I shut my wavemakers off when I feed. Fish always get enough but I like to give the corals a shot at easy food settling in the tank. Then after 15 minutes the wavemakers come on at higher speed than normal and it really kicks up food that has settled. They run for a minute and the off for 10 more minutes. Then back on at the higher speed for a minute and then back to normal. I don't do this every day. In fact I generally only feed every other day. And the program I listed above is done only once or sometimes twice a week.
But in any event, having wavemakers with speed control makes getting the tank flow right MUCH easier.
Similar threads
