flow question

[helipilot]

I have a 1 1/2 to 2 in. N. Wennerae in a 5 gal. eclipse, with 5 lbs lr and 5 lbs of ls. The eclipse comes with a small filter, I have removed the bio-wheel. I added a micro jet power head. (70gph) Is this too much flow? Not enough ? He stays in his cave about two days, comes out to eat, then back to his cave. Is the flow affecting him? I am in the process of setting up a 12 gal. eclipse for another Mantis, what are your recommendations on flow? Thanks in advance.

 

[DanInSD]

If you've ever been on a coral reef in real life, you'll realize that there is absolutely huge, mind-blowing flow. I was just diving in Cozumel and saw a mantis -- quite possibly N. wennerae -- poking its head out of a hole in a three-knot current. They don't mind a little flow, or even a lot of flow. The one thing I wouldn't do is point the powerhead right at the mantis hole.

I'd aim for 10x-20x total flow in the aquarium, hopefully with chaotic flow and no dead spots. This is pretty easily accomplished -- drop in some cyclops or the like to help visualize the flow. If you think the powerhead is too powerful, you can aim it at a well-placed piece of live rock to deflect/diffuse the flow a bit.

When I had an N. wennerae, it stayed in his hole quite a bit. He eventually started wandering about. Give it time.

 

[justinl]

really? weird, I thought they could deal fine with high flow but preferred low.