Best flow patterns?

[GroktheCube]

For me, a gyre motion that switches directions every so often is what has worked best. Most overall full tank water movement with the fewest dead spots.

You can use pretty much any type of PHs to set it up, doesn't need to be the Maxpsect Gyres

 

[Bent]

For me, a gyre motion that switches directions every so often is what has worked best. Most overall full tank water movement with the fewest dead spots.

You can use pretty much any type of PHs to set it up, doesn't need to be the Maxpsect Gyres

Details on your method?

 

[GroktheCube]

Details on your method?

In my 120 I use two Gyre XF-150s positioned on either 24" wall parallel to and about 5" below the water line. They alternate on-off on a 5 minute schedule, running at 50% power. This creates a swirling motion with water flowing lengthwise in one direction across the top of the water column, and lengthwise in the other direction across the bottom. For me, this has produced better flow than any combination of propeller pumps, even 4x6105s.

In the new tank I'm setting up (custom peninsula from Miracles, 48"x30"x15"), I'm going to position the Gyres perpendicular to the water line on either side of the weir for my external overflow box, about 4" down. This should create a Gyre going the opposite direction from my current tank, parallel to the viewing panes instead of the water surface. We'll have to see how that works out.

 

[Grkgod36]

In my 90 I run 2 rw8's . On the one side I have it normal to the front kinda pointing up a bit,the other on the opposite side back wall slanted a bit bouncing off the front glass.

I run them full blast on w1 on the longest burst setting

 

[mitchb]

Mentioned above was putting a Lock-Line spray bar behind your rock work. I thought that was a great idea too on a tank years ago. BUT those holes are pretty small and they become clogged and flow reduced, so unless you have a way to remove and maintain the spray bar it may become useless for adding flow.

I think Turbulence in important for SPS corals. The most successful tank I ever set up ( 240 SPS Tank of the month May 1998 Aquarium Frontiers) was a success in part I think because of the turbulence created by the use of two Sea Swirls ( remember those? ) on my sump return flowing against powerheads on each end as they pivoted back and forth. The tissue growth in that tank would extend in places you wouldn't think it would grow. Just a theory though

I use a circular flow in my current tank interrupted by a wave along the back wall pumped from the opposite direction every 15 seconds. Definitely adds turbulence.

 

[saf1]

Mentioned above was putting a Lock-Line spray bar behind your rock work. I thought that was a great idea too on a tank years ago. BUT those holes are pretty small and they become clogged and flow reduced, so unless you have a way to remove and maintain the spray bar it may become useless for adding flow.

I think Turbulence in important for SPS corals. The most successful tank I ever set up ( 240 SPS Tank of the month May 1998 Aquarium Frontiers) was a success in part I think because of the turbulence created by the use of two Sea Swirls ( remember those? ) on my sump return flowing against powerheads on each end as they pivoted back and forth. The tissue growth in that tank would extend in places you wouldn't think it would grow. Just a theory though

I use a circular flow in my current tank interrupted by a wave along the back wall pumped from the opposite direction every 15 seconds. Definitely adds turbulence.

Sea swirls are golden. I still have stashed away that I will be using on my next upgrade. I think they will mix in great with my RWs.

 

[golferbud101691]

I've been experimenting with locations and throwing some food in the tank (it's cycling anyway) just to see what kind of flow and placent gives the best random flow. Here's my observations.

A standing wave is GREAT for keeping the particles in suspension in one spot. Most particles just swat back and forth in the same spot.

The best flow so far has been with both units on the back glass, pointed towards the front center of the glass and slightly up a bit to prevent the sand from getting kicked around.

Settings are:
Pattern: full random (speed and cycle)
Min:30%
Max:100%
Cycle: 6 seconds
Ramp: 3 seconds

This has stuff blowing all over the place.

not trying to sound to obvious here but look what you said, "A standing wave is GREAT for keeping the particles in suspension in one spot. Most particles just swat back and forth in the same spot." The particles stay in the same spot..thats not good. That's the opposite of what you want. Completely random flow is the name of the game. Go on youtube and look at all the big names reef tanks. None of them have standing waves...and if they do..they turn them off once the video is over. Its not necessarily power of the current, but the multiple directions the current moves in. When you find the sweet spot of directional changes and power, youll notice a big jump in growth and color.

 

[jonwright]

In a 190 display I have a hammerhead on an OM 4way with outlets in the front on the bottom, in the back aimed slightly up toward the front, and a spray bar under a rubble area. This creates a rolling current much like the gyre and is on 24/7.

So how do you keep this spray bar from syphoning out the whole tank?

 

[karimwassef]

I guess when you say 'best' - best at what?

Removing dead spots everywhere?
Removing detritus?
Growing coral?
Exercising fish?
Oxygenating the water?
Suspending food?
Growing plankton?

My priority is coral growth and detritus removal. For that, I think a strong uniform flow in one direction for the complete tank cross-section is needed, followed a few seconds later with the same in the opposite direction. The period is similar to what you'd experience on the beach (12 sec ?). This is like a full tank gyre or rotating current. All the water moves together.

That should be interrupted every once in a while with other elements like surges, surface waves, standing waves, alternating flow returns, etc...

In my next tank, I'm going to create new rockwork (again) with PVC cores (again). But this time, I'll hook up the PVC cores to a flow system so the holes in the rocks deliver a pulsed flow of water out of the rockwork.

 

[benestrogano]

The gyre is amazing. When i first switched to it for fun i would drop a small ball of chaeto in the tank and watch it swirl. I run the one gye on my 150 and i have no dead spots at only half speed too!