Coral NewB - SPS and Flow

[Orcrone]

I started out in the saltwater area with a FOWLR tank. Recently I've added some polyps and LPS. I was looking at the Vortech powerheads and saw one for sale in which the seller was parting with it because he was moving away from SPS and didn't need the Vortech anymore.

This statement obviously means that SPS have different flow requirements than other corals. And I'm guessing it doesn't just mean greater flow. I'm trying to learn a bit more about SPS before starting down that path and wanted to fine out more about the flow requirements of SPS.

Thanks!!!!

 

[dlterry85]

i think the vortechs are overrated for the price imo. you could buy 5 hydors for the price of one vortech. just my 2 cents. i have one hydor in my 75 and along with the flow from the return, its plenty for the sps that i have. also, the vortechs don't have the adjustment that the hydors have as far as directional.

 

[fla_tony]

The vortechs imo are worth every penny. If you do a little research you will find that yes sps require high flow but random flow is more important. As far as you are not able to point them in any direction is irrelavent because of how wide spread the flow is. You can go back and forth all day but you get what you pay for. Vortechs can be synced with each other maximizing your nutrient exporting and providing tons of random high flow.

Again vortech isn't the only way of achieving random flow, there are tons of controlable powerheads. Or ocean motions for closed loop set ups. I just feel vortech has hit the nail on the head when it comes to producing a powerhead. Yes pricey, but this hobby is expensive and you will learn quickly you get what you pay for.

 

[Orcrone]

Thanks everyone. I knew that SPS needed high flow rates but didn't realize they also needed random flow. Currently I have two 1250 gph powerheads and two 1400 gph powerheads in my 125 gallon tank. Maybe because I come from a FOWLR background it seemed like too much flow so I only keep two on at any one time.

 

[Logzor]

You are correct, more flow is definitely not always better. It's all about the flow distribution and randomness. I currently run a single MP60 on my 150g reef...at 50%. This is actually less flow than I was running on my 90g tank (tunze pumps).

I can pull this off because I have shallow rockwork and the Mp60 produces broad random flow.

 

[Pallobi]

i think the vortechs are overrated for the price imo. you could buy 5 hydors for the price of one vortech. just my 2 cents. i have one hydor in my 75 and along with the flow from the return, its plenty for the sps that i have. also, the vortechs don't have the adjustment that the hydors have as far as directional.

imo...5 hydors, sure, perhaps they may work, but none will do the job a large vortech will do... also, they dont need to be directional... the way they work creates incredible, wide range flow and undertow, which is in fact something no other pumps do...

as to the OP, imo, too much DIRECT flow is not so great, but sps can handle alot and will infact love it... jus not constant direct and strong flow... but overall, if DONE RIGHT, there is no such thing as too much flow in a sps tank... again, jmo and nothing more...

 

[batt600]

vortechs are over rated had a mp40 on my 75 and it was good . Traded it for a wave box and my sps here way happier and more polpy ext as well

 

[sanchoy]

:thumbsup: for vortech pumps

They were one of the best investments for me so far. Nothing beats them in my opinion in nice, even flow. They don't blast corals.. but create a nice wave like the ocean does.