How important is "random" flow to sps
- Thread starter tedmonds
- Start date
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
this is clearly a case where I'd recommend researching gyre before researching expensive powerheads. Good luck 
sfsuphysics
Active member
*A* Vortech on a 6 foot long tank, probably not going to be useful if its the only flow, unless of course its one long frag tank with everything emptying at the other end 
Flow is important to be sure yes, however don't go by polyp extensions to dictate if your coral is healthy. Take a photo a month apart, if it got bigger.. I'd say you're doing alright.
Flow is important to be sure yes, however don't go by polyp extensions to dictate if your coral is healthy. Take a photo a month apart, if it got bigger.. I'd say you're doing alright.
jd474
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14847535#post14847535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
polyp extension on green A. millepora (grown from small frag) in gyre created with eductors.
tedmonds needs to give us more info on the flow in his aquarium before we jump to powerhead infomercials.
all of our propagation tanks are gyre systems and do fantastic, so i couldn't agree more. nice pic, btw
superedge88
New member
What eductors are you using? Most eductors are not going to be ran well by a Mag18, and was probably the reason for your Mag18 burning up, too much back pressure.
notenoughtanks
Member
Unless it is severely inadequete (which it doesn't appear to be as you have 2 good sized returns) I would be looking at other issues.
You want better flow for cheap? I am a strong proponent of switching laminar flow. I run 4 modded tunze 6025's, one in each corner. 1 in front left and rear right are ran 12 hours with the other 2 on opposite shifts. This creates a big circular flow and gives very even growth being that all areas of the coral get hit for half of the day. Oh, I guess this would be a gyre
That being said I don't recommend running non-controllable pumps on any shorter shifts than 12 hours.
You want better flow for cheap? I am a strong proponent of switching laminar flow. I run 4 modded tunze 6025's, one in each corner. 1 in front left and rear right are ran 12 hours with the other 2 on opposite shifts. This creates a big circular flow and gives very even growth being that all areas of the coral get hit for half of the day. Oh, I guess this would be a gyre
That being said I don't recommend running non-controllable pumps on any shorter shifts than 12 hours.
Greefreefer
In Memoriam
what about using seaswirls on the returns?
pete1982
New member
Hi Todd£¬
IMV£¬random water flow is not worth to pay, although I have two Tunze.
If we can provide large-scale water flow, they are enough for PE. Random water flow is not necessary I think.
So if I were you, I¡®d like to pay more money on skimmer or high quality salt. Just use Seio or other quantitative pumps to make water flow.
Pete
IMV£¬random water flow is not worth to pay, although I have two Tunze.
If we can provide large-scale water flow, they are enough for PE. Random water flow is not necessary I think.
So if I were you, I¡®d like to pay more money on skimmer or high quality salt. Just use Seio or other quantitative pumps to make water flow.
Pete
ChuckG
New member
Experience may be shining thru on this thread and has certainly got me thinking. I will admit to having bit into and held onto the SPS random flow theory. But the more I think about the places where I have dived, snorkeled, or fished there are very few places where there is turbulent water crashing in multiple directions.
Typically in areas like in this reef wall, flow is more overwhelmingly unidirectional and based on either currents or tides. Surging sometime yes, but it does not crash back and forth causing small vorticies in the sand except for where it get very shallow and waves crash into the reef, sand bar, or beach.
In a closed system it sounds as though the Gyre is important to carrying materials to the filtration system.. this type of flow might be more important to the grand scheme of things in a closed system than randomness of flow . Interesting... I think I will give it a try.
Typically in areas like in this reef wall, flow is more overwhelmingly unidirectional and based on either currents or tides. Surging sometime yes, but it does not crash back and forth causing small vorticies in the sand except for where it get very shallow and waves crash into the reef, sand bar, or beach.
In a closed system it sounds as though the Gyre is important to carrying materials to the filtration system.. this type of flow might be more important to the grand scheme of things in a closed system than randomness of flow . Interesting... I think I will give it a try.
rtparty
Raise The Reef!
I agree with Chuck!
I don't understand the whole "random" flow nonsense. A reef doesn't have 6 tides/currents all crashing together at the same time, in the same place. At least not to my knowledge. It usually goes in one direction for a few hours then changes directions. All sides of the corals get hit with some flow to keep waste off of them.
I was at the Mountain West Reef Fest this year and Jake Adams was there from Reef Builders. He gave us a 45 minute presentation on just flow. I wish I had the power point or a video of his presentation. It changed my entire outlook on flow.
I think the whole GPH rule is old and overrated. A Vortech puts out such a different flow then say a Maxi Jet that they aren't comparable in GPH. My MP10 running at 300GPH puts out very little direct flow but the undertow is incredible. Now the MJ would push the water further but there is no undertow and the corals don't seem to love direct stream flow.
Just my thoughts on the subject of flow.
I don't understand the whole "random" flow nonsense. A reef doesn't have 6 tides/currents all crashing together at the same time, in the same place. At least not to my knowledge. It usually goes in one direction for a few hours then changes directions. All sides of the corals get hit with some flow to keep waste off of them.
I was at the Mountain West Reef Fest this year and Jake Adams was there from Reef Builders. He gave us a 45 minute presentation on just flow. I wish I had the power point or a video of his presentation. It changed my entire outlook on flow.
I think the whole GPH rule is old and overrated. A Vortech puts out such a different flow then say a Maxi Jet that they aren't comparable in GPH. My MP10 running at 300GPH puts out very little direct flow but the undertow is incredible. Now the MJ would push the water further but there is no undertow and the corals don't seem to love direct stream flow.
Just my thoughts on the subject of flow.
ChuckG
New member
I can't take credit if any is due.. I am just reading between the lines of those with the pretty pictures..
I have seen pulsing (not necessarily turbulent) flows stimulate SPS to extend their polyps further than they might normally.. but what is more valuable in a closed system.. a couple xtra mm of polyp extension or a toilet bowl effect that flushes out the garbage?
