Flow question and Coral Recommendations

[Thornbreaker]

So I've had a hard time figuring out how to create low flow in areas of my DT (for coral like hammers/torch), while still having a high turn over rate for the DT.

What do y'all do to achieve this?

Currently I have one PP-15 Jaebo powerhead on one end of my tank, set to random. It's set on the back side of one end of the tank, and points at an angle at the opposite corner on the other end. (Had 2, but it's motor is on the fritz, probably ordering a gyre or equivalent in the coming weeks).

So I get good overall flow just with it at the moment, but even in indirect areas, I can tell it's too much flow for a hammer or torch.

I'm probably picking up another blasto, torch, or hammer in the near future.

Also, what are some good LPS/Softie recommendations for higher parts of a tank, where flow is higher and lighting is greater?

Lastly, a fish question. Are yellow/canary wrasses, reef safe?

 

[mcgyvr]

What size tank do you have with that PP15?
Typically multiple smaller powerheads/wavemakes are better than one big one with regards to adjustability/reduction of dead spots,etc...

Typically its recommended that..
20-30x tank size in GPH is "low/general flow"
30-50x tank size in GPH is "medium flow"
75-100x tank size in GPH is "HIGH flow"..

Torch/Hammers should do fine provided they aren't being pushed into their own sharp skeleton causing tissue damage.. Usually just place them in an area out of the direct flow of a powerhead and you should be just fine..

A yellow/canary wrasse is typically "reef safe but watch them/use caution"

 

[Thornbreaker]

Well that was the problem. The hammer I had always looked to be yanked around rather than gentle swaying.

The PH gets 3500gph, add another 600 from return. I think I'm in the 20 to 30x with just the one. Will be readding a 2nd soon.

Tank is 150 gal, 35 gal sump.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Thornbreaker]

2nd powerhead on left is not in tank at the moment.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk

 

[rjjr1963]

I use x100. You have to play with flow to get the right flow to the right coral. My hammer does well in a upper medium flow.

 

[billdogg]

I'm at somewhere around 100x in my 120. I place LPS in the back corners sort of behind/to the side of most of the rockwork. I also have a couple of strategically placed pieces of rock to create "wind breaks" for a couple other LPS.

 

[Thornbreaker]

Ah "wind breaks"... Maybe I'll order a couple more pieces of dry rock.

I had thought about moving the larger rocks, stacked on top at each end, but I'd rather not redo the aqua scape much.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk

 

[homer1475]

I'm probably closer to the 100X range and 99% LPS. The trick is to create area in your rockwork where you can place the lower flow corals. As billdogg mentioned "wind breaks" or in our case "wave breaks".



With that said, my torch likes to get whipped around and extend it's tentacles as far as it can(nearly direct flow), but both my hammers, and frogspawn prefer to be in gentle flow.



Get a second or third PH and slow them down. A couple on lower speeds is better then one on high. For instance I have 2 PP8's, 2 MP10's and a gyre 130 in my 80G cube, but they are all turned down to around 40-60%. Some run constant, while others pulse so I can create chaotic flow rather then laminar. I also get longer life out of the motors not running them on high, and I can crank them up for nutrient export mode.

 

[Thornbreaker]

I'm probably closer to the 100X range and 99% LPS. The trick is to create area in your rockwork where you can place the lower flow corals. As billdogg mentioned "wind breaks" or in our case "wave breaks".



With that said, my torch likes to get whipped around and extend it's tentacles as far as it can(nearly direct flow), but both my hammers, and frogspawn prefer to be in gentle flow.



Get a second or third PH and slow them down. A couple on lower speeds is better then one on high. For instance I have 2 PP8's, 2 MP10's and a gyre 130 in my 80G cube, but they are all turned down to around 40-60%. Some run constant, while others pulse so I can create chaotic flow rather then laminar. I also get longer life out of the motors not running them on high, and I can crank them up for nutrient export mode.

Thanks homer. I had 2 pp15s, just lost one a couple of weeks ago...well it sort of works but not consistently as I think the motor is about burned up.

Maybe the better question I should be asking is how to know when it's too much on a hammer or torch that it can damage their tentacles on their skeleton?
Do they recede if it's too strong?

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk

 

[homer1475]

The best advice I got when starting out with corals(mainly LPS euphyllia), provide enough flow so the tentacles just wiggle.


If they are not fluffed up like usual, and are receding into their skeletons, then they are receiving to much flow.

 

[Thornbreaker]

So I got a 150cp crossflow by jaebo in yesterday. I'm not sure of my overall flow rate yet, but on 30% with wave function my new torch looks happier. Probably close to 2 inches on some of the polyps last night.

He's waving, swaying more so now than before. Before, with the random pp15 flow, he looked okay but far more violently tossed about.

Does it matter how far from the surface a gyre/crossflow should be? There wasn't anything in the instructions. I have it about 4 to 5 inches below the water level, right side of tank (relative to pic above).

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk