Choosing a stream

[RichK]

Hello Roger, I am contemplating switching out my 2 Gemini pumps for a couple streams. I am not sure which ones to get however. The tank is mostly SPS with a 12 year old Goniopora and 8 of its offspring. The coral doesn't mind some flow, but it doesn't like to be blasted. The Geminis are rated at 960gph but they have a small diameter output similar to a pwerhead. So far this has not been a problem. However, the stream have a much higher flow rate. Can you please give me a recomendation on which stream(s) to get and also give me a brief overview of output flow characteristics/patterns. The tank is a standard 125G measuring 72x18x24. Currently a Gemini is on each end. Thank you.

RichK

 

[Brewboy74]

I can't speak to the flow patterns but I can tell you what I have done at Rogers recomendations. I will be keeping primarly SPS and clams. I will be placing 1 6000 at each end of the tank with a multi controler to run them. My tank is 110 and is 60"x18"x24". Its alot of flow and should be perfect for SPS. Roger can fill you better................HTH

 

[wwanthony]

I have a 180g - 72 x 24 x 24. My plan is to place a 6000 at each end and use a MC to simulate low tide / high tide. I have a few SPS corals. I am primarily stocked with LPS and Anemones so I wanted a gentle stream.

If I had SPS corals only I would have gotten 6100s. The 6000s project the stream about 4ft. The 6100s project the stream about 7ft. For SPS it would be nice to have the streams cross in the center and hit the far wall of the tank.

My streams arrive today so I will be setting them up this weekend. I will let you know how things go. I will be replacing a WaveMakerPro and four PowerHeads.

 

[rvitko]

RichK, in all honesty I would be hesitant to change drastically the flow pattern of what has obviously provided success. Goniopora are difficult and to have such a degree of success is more than just dumb luck. If I were to use Streams I would do as wwanthony is doing. These pumps create a flow pattern measuring 4ft by 2ft. I would lean toward 4002's though as they have roughly the same charecterstics of what you are using but they will last forever with some rebuilding and periodic maintenance or expendable parts like bearings and you can electronically control the flow because they use asynchronous motors. The outputs are 1" which is probably a little larger than the gemini and with our controllers they can pulse and have the same wave features of the Streams and electronic pumps. If I were to change it would be a subtle change like this.