Do I Have Enough Flow?

[happyclam]

It's a 135 gal tank from Glasscages, which I plan on being a SPS tank, with a SSB & minimal LR (5 pieces dried). I plan on using (2) Tunze 6130 Stream Pumps (3440 gph), positionded on the back wall, angled down & towards the middle. Do you think this would provde enough of the right kind of flow (ie: stong enough & random)?

 

[Amphiprion]

To start with, yes. You will likely find that you will need more as time goes on and as corals fill in any available space.

 

[drock59]

agreed. It should be good to start.

 

[happyclam]

Cool- I'll order the pumps. When I do end up needing more pumps, I have extra plug spaces, as well as 1 unused outlet. So the planned orientation of the pumps should provide random enough flow for SPS? Also, I'm just curious, a reef started from small 1" frags, how long would it be untill I needed more pumps (ie: frags formed large colonies)?

 

[sfsuphysics]

strong yes, random? probably not. Your sand bed should show you how random it ain't when you have higher spots than other.

 

[Amphiprion]

If positioned properly and the frequency is relatively high, the water movement should be pretty random. Without random inconsistencies in overall flow, it is hard to make flow truly random--something you really don't see very often in tanks. None of the wavemakers on the market are truly random that I've seen, though they often make decent approximations.

 

[drock59]

Do you have a controller?

 

[Rouselb]

I started my 180 with (2) seios, then switched to (2) streams 6100 and a multi-controller. As I added more to the tank i needed more flow, i now have (3) 6200, (1) 6100, (1) 6212 wavebox. Things look great. The more flow you have, the more random you can make it, the more things will grow

 

[happyclam]

Thanks for the replys everyone.

sfsuphysics: Will the SPS still be happy if it is not random, or do I need to some how alter the placement of the pumps to create random currents?

Amphiprion: So SPS really don't actually need random flow- since no one else really creates it, yet they have sucess with SPS?

drock59: I was not planning on having a controller, as according to Calfo, it only reduces the amount of flow the display recieves at any one point.

 

[Mykel Obvious]

I'd have to say no... I have 3 Tunze Nanostream 6025s (two flow modded to produce 1100ish gph) and a Koralia 1 for a total of around 2660ish gph in a 65 (36x18x24) or about 40x turnover and I'm looking seriously at one or two VorTech MP40w with battery backup to replace them with... yep, that's a crap load of $$$ for pumps, but the VorTechs will take the hot side out of the tank, create amazing flow and be minimally invasive...

Yes, a controller "reduces" the amount of flow... if only one pump is on, then that is all the flow you get... but a constant flow is not truly random... I've got dead spots even with 40x turnover with the phs all pointed to crash together in the middle of the tank (I've moved them around and even tried to create a "gyre" flow) and there is no "wave" motion in several parts of the tank... very frustrating considering I've spent enough to at least buy a VorTech MP20 already

Sure, you can do what Rouselb and I did (and at least Rouselb was smart enough to buy powerheads with controllers ) and keep adding pumps, but if you haven't already spent the money, I'd seriously look at either the VorTechs or the controllable Tunze for random/pulsed flow

Just My Opinion and Hope that Helps

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13268936#post13268936 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by happyclam
Thanks for the replys everyone.

Amphiprion: So SPS really don't actually need random flow- since no one else really creates it, yet they have sucess with SPS?

B]

Random in the sense of what one would find on a reef? No. In fact, I maintained a dense, healthy assemblage before with static water flow (no controllers, etc.). Is it more helpful? I'd say so, since you get the occasional flush in lower flow areas. Again, your setup is fine for what you are attempting to do for the time being (check out last month's TOTM and you'll see why--though he needs more now). As far as making things truly random like what can occur on reefs, I wouldn't be too concerned about it. Corals are far more adaptable than many people give them credit for .

 

[happyclam]

Alright, thanks for the replys again. Now a new question: since I haven't ordered any pumps yet, should I just get the Vortechs? It seems like they produce a gentler & wider flow, plus you can position them at any height in the tank (a plus for me since my rock & coral are at the bottom of my tank)? The battle between Vortech & Tunze.

 

[Amphiprion]

Heh, just visit a few other threads to see the pros and cons of each. That is an entirely different ball game and much of it simply boils down to opinion and preference. Simply put, both work just fine.

 

[am3gross]

i think what it will come down to is the wallet size! i have a little wallet so i am stuck with maxijets and seios!LOL!

 

[happyclam]

OK sorry for another question. I was thinking about getting (2) Koralia Magnum 8's (3250 gph ea.) instead. There about half the cost of a Tunze. Would you still consider this enough flow? Are these good quality pumps? Also, I know they don't put out as nice a flow as Tunze, but would they corals be OK with it?