E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
i'm using p.h.'s for display flow(no C.L.) and i want to know what sps keepers think....is just having enough flow, or does the 30%-100% grade of a controllable stream make much difference??
How important is alternating flow?
- Thread starter E-A-G-L-E-S
- Start date
reefnetworth
Premium Member
sps need alot of flow but not so much direct. alternate is the best for many reasons. simulation is the more important along with intake of nutrients as well as expelled. REEF-ON!!!
cediss
New member
Water movement is the key. Each species has an ideal water flow and alternating currents best match the variety of needs that these different corals have. Also, alternating currents tend to stir up detritis better than fixed flow. So while alternating currents will best reproduce natural reef flow, the key is to keep the flow high, indirect (not blasting the coral), and observe how each coral is responding. Try to learn about where your particular species grows in the wild ( for example: reef flat, outer margin, or lagoon) or where the previous fragger grew his/her colony and try to match that environment.
The biggest problem reefers experience once a reef is established regardless of current styles ( fixed, alternating and surge) is keeping the flow up as the reef grows and matures. The increasing growth of corals slows the water flow down. You might say it's not a problem I would mind having, but for those experiencing the problem will tell you it presents quite a problem. The only quick fix is to frag out the corals.
The biggest problem I have run into with alternating current devices is that they either don't look good in the tank (power heads), cost too much and or are not reliable. Unforunately these mechanical devices don't always stand the test of time and elements. If you can afford them, don't mind their appearance in the tank and do any required maintenance, then alternating is the best way to go!
The biggest problem reefers experience once a reef is established regardless of current styles ( fixed, alternating and surge) is keeping the flow up as the reef grows and matures. The increasing growth of corals slows the water flow down. You might say it's not a problem I would mind having, but for those experiencing the problem will tell you it presents quite a problem. The only quick fix is to frag out the corals.
The biggest problem I have run into with alternating current devices is that they either don't look good in the tank (power heads), cost too much and or are not reliable. Unforunately these mechanical devices don't always stand the test of time and elements. If you can afford them, don't mind their appearance in the tank and do any required maintenance, then alternating is the best way to go!
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
ty....i am always learning, there's just alot to learn 
the tank is lightly stocked with only a few monti and acro frags and a few clams.....so i am trying to get it right kinda before hand if i can
due to current living arrangement, my sump and equipment all have to be in the stand on this tank. so the noise a large pump makes and its needed plumbing and space are too much for this setup at this time(plus tunze's almost fade away against a black back wall)
the tank is lightly stocked with only a few monti and acro frags and a few clams.....so i am trying to get it right kinda before hand if i can
due to current living arrangement, my sump and equipment all have to be in the stand on this tank. so the noise a large pump makes and its needed plumbing and space are too much for this setup at this time(plus tunze's almost fade away against a black back wall)
cediss
New member
I think you can be very creative to hide Tunze's with the rocks and such. You have a lot of potential with those Tunzes. I use a Sequence Barracuda giving me around 3,000 GPH in a 180 and yes I have it plumbed outside the house for noise reduction. I experimented with the 4 output nozzles until I was happy with the current, but it would still be ideal to have a seaswirl or something on atleast two of my returns. I am just reluctant because I have had those SS fail. One of the times I was on vacation and as a result nearly lost an entire colony of SPS. It was my favorite purple Samoensis that I hade grown from a tennis ball size to a Football size.
You are starting off right. Just remember to watch your corals response to their environment. That above all else will determine your long term success with reefing.
You are starting off right. Just remember to watch your corals response to their environment. That above all else will determine your long term success with reefing.
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
i kept lps for a year in a 120g(just tsarted switching over towards the end of that tank to sps/clam only)
i have a 1" SS on my GRI520 return also. which is nice, *as long as it doesn't fail
How did yours fail?
i have a 1" SS on my GRI520 return also. which is nice, *as long as it doesn't fail
How did yours fail?
cediss
New member
The first time I don't know, because I sent it back to the company and it was repaired. The second time it was not under warranty so I took it apart and it was a gear that was stripped. The thing about that is that I never put any resistance against the nozzle, so the stripping of the gear was from normal wear. I have heard of others having this problem as well. Hopefully it doesn't happen to you. Despite that I still think about getting another one, but I'm hoping a better product comes along. I had bought a sea squirt, but due to concerns about flow restriction and plumbing issues I sold it before even usung it. I now think I should have kept it!
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
if i had a sump room or basement i would run a big pump on a 4-way or 8-way, that would be real nice!....maybe try some revolutions too!
...how long till the first breakdown? this is the first i've heard of a ss not lasting at least a year or two ... what size was it? were you over pushing it maybe?
....i have a bad feeling about the wavey seas not lasting long
...how long till the first breakdown? this is the first i've heard of a ss not lasting at least a year or two ... what size was it? were you over pushing it maybe?
....i have a bad feeling about the wavey seas not lasting long
cediss
New member
The first time was less than a year. The second breakdown occurred approx 2-3 years after purchase. Too soon for something that costs 150-200. They are fairly fragile if you see how they are built inside. A lot of parts that can fail. I never pushed on it. I just set it and let it run. Hopefully you won't have this problem. But I suspect it occurs fairly frequently! Just a lot of people who purchased recently and with time you will likely hear more about this. Unless they have changed the weak parts. We'll see!
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
awesome
another question...with multiple p.h.'s, do i want to go with a laminar type flow or should i nagle them all differently?
another question...with multiple p.h.'s, do i want to go with a laminar type flow or should i nagle them all differently?
cediss
New member
Either option works well. Peronally I like to experiment until I get currents that collide and change moment by moment as opposed to laminar flow. But if you have the Tunze's on the variable speed settings with a controller then you can create a similiar effect without having angled or colliding currents. You wont go wrong either way. Just try it out and see what your corals respond best to. If they are corals which grow in high currents then they may do better with colliding/angled currents, if they are species that live in lower reef zones they may prefer laminar flow. Either way should work. Just watch em.
E-A-G-L-E-S
New member
could you possibly give me a link to some good reading on sps...all i seem to find is "they like alot of light and alot of flow", so its pretty hollow info.
thanks alot - matt
thanks alot - matt
schanz
New member
I have two tunze 180's in a 120 (4X2X2). I cut the nozzles down about 1/2" to spread out the current more. They are pretty high up and point toward each other. The spread-out flow colides and disperses all over the tank. Up high and between them it no-man's land, but over the reef the flow is soft and turbulent. It's not alternating but it works. If I go with anything new, it'd be a couple of vorteks.
cediss
New member
Schanz, that is exactly what I was describing to Matt about colliding currents and I use that method myself. What I find works the best is to have the currents collide at glancing angles so that at times either current overrides the other which in effect causes an alternating current. You have to play with the angles until you get the desired effect.
Matt, sorry I couldn't get back to you last night. I'm not aware of much on-line SPS husbandry sites or links. For that matter there isn't a lot of published material when it comes to individual care of SPS species. ReefCentral is one of your best sources including it's on-line magazine. Also try these:
http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/coralsearch.php
http://www.frags.org/resources.php
These should help out if you search through them. There are lots of good books that give good info on general care of corals. But I do not have any recent published books. I like "The Reef Aquarium" series by Delbeck and Sprung. For specific species taxonomy, ID, and region/ habitat info I like J.E.N. Veron's "Corals of Australia and the IndoPacific." Hope this helps!
What kind of info are you looking for specifically?
Matt, sorry I couldn't get back to you last night. I'm not aware of much on-line SPS husbandry sites or links. For that matter there isn't a lot of published material when it comes to individual care of SPS species. ReefCentral is one of your best sources including it's on-line magazine. Also try these:
http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/coralsearch.php
http://www.frags.org/resources.php
These should help out if you search through them. There are lots of good books that give good info on general care of corals. But I do not have any recent published books. I like "The Reef Aquarium" series by Delbeck and Sprung. For specific species taxonomy, ID, and region/ habitat info I like J.E.N. Veron's "Corals of Australia and the IndoPacific." Hope this helps!
What kind of info are you looking for specifically?
