How much flow at night?

[nightOwl]

I recently upgraded to a 180 controlled by an Apex and now I have 2 x 6105's and 2 x 6055's in the tank along with 9 Glass Cardinalfish - Zoramia leptacanthus. I am wondering if it is too much flow in the tank since I have not moved all my corals over from my 90. Tonight I was turning off pumps while moving a few corals over and noticed they actually became more active so I left two off for a while and they came out to swim. I am thinking about adding a new night profile where I turn off two or three pumps. I was wondering for those running big tanks and Tunze's on controllers do you turn your pumps off at night? If so for how long?

Thanks

 

[nightOwl]

Anyone?

 

[billdogg]

the circluation in your tank should remain on at all times. Does not really matter what size tank.

 

[dahenley]

i have heard that at night time, ocean tides and circulation is less then during the day.
many controllers have a night time mode which has less flow or less randomness/chaos. so i would say turning the tunze down at night or cutting off some flow might aid.
but its a personal opinion on everything and its going to be hard for lots of people to agree

 

[Allmost]

in wild, air blows from water to beach during the day, so we see the waves, and other way around at night, hence why it looks calmer to us.

but at depths fish and corals live, the flow is there all day and night.

O2 can get used up at night time Prety fast. and since lights are out no algae makes O2, so all the needed O2 needs to come from surface aggitation or water movement.

so I personally think flow rate should stay the same all day long.

 

[LOTUS50GOD]

I change the flow at night, but its not reduced..
With MP40's and the Apex, I set it to nutrient removal mode for 6 hours.
Its creates strong currents and brings them down slowly.

 

[psusocr]

i set my mp40's to "night mode" when my actinics come on, but my tunzes are stil rippin away

 

[biecacka]

i have one of my tunze's turn down to 30% at night while the other stays full blast in my 220
corey

 

[nightOwl]

Thanks to all to who have posted...this has been very helpful. I will tinker around with a few profiles and more than likely turn one or two down to 30% and leave the other two on a random pattern. Hopefully as I transfer more corals over it will break up the flow and make it even more random.

 

[rushact]

some corals feed during the night and they need the flow..

 

[Surf&turf]

^^^^^^+1^^^^^^^^^

 

[blowntangs]

I have two mp40's and two coralia 4, the mp40's go on night mode when the lights go out but the coralia's stay full blast. My tank is a 180 reef with a little of eveything.

 

[Yaryman]

I have extra flow that comes on with the lights.

Just an extra pump to move more water around that only comes on with the lights.

 

[TheFishTeen]

Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO6XoRYUkhY&feature=player_embedded

 

[nightOwl]

Thanks again everyone for the input. It's great to hear how others are handling the flow at night.

TheFishTeen - Thanks for the video link. That guy seems to have a few informative vids.

 

[OceanDweller]

I am a surfer and grew up snorkling in Miami. There is a reason surfers get up so early and snorklers do as well. The ocean is much calmer at night, even below the surface of the water. I think 50% of the average reefs flow could be reduced at night if possible. Flow is still good, but I figure it would simulate more natural conditions "granted some times storms come in at night".

 

[nightOwl]

I am a surfer and grew up snorkling in Miami. There is a reason surfers get up so early and snorklers do as well. The ocean is much calmer at night, even below the surface of the water. I think 50% of the average reefs flow could be reduced at night if possible. Flow is still good, but I figure it would simulate more natural conditions "granted some times storms come in at night".

OceanDweller - This is good information as well. I currently have them dialed down to 30% at night. I may increase it a bit. Two of the four are off and the corals still seem happy. The fish also seem to appreciate the reduced flow. I added two maxi-jet 1200's along the back wall for dead spots I saw. They are constantly on. I may try to simulate a few "storms" based on the moon cycle.

 

[Mike31154]

My tank is neither large nor do I have any Tunze power heads, but I use the night mode on my two MP40WES pumps. I do this more to save electricity than for any benefit a flow change of this nature may provide to my tank inhabitants. There's still plenty of flow even with both running at around 50%. As far as I can tell there have been no ill effects due to this scenario. Both fish & corals appear to deal well with the reduced flow at night and it's also easier on the ears with the VorTechs at a slower, steady speed.

Don't have that many corals, most of them softies & LPS with just a couple of SPS frags. My hammer coral tends to retract & get more compact during the evening, as does my Kenya Tree, so the statement 'corals feed at night' doesn't seem to apply to these species. All of my corals have been growing very well & I've been able to frag and sell quite a number of pieces over the past several years. Careful of 'blanket' statements like this, they tend to make me skeptical. Better to research your livestock and seek out some practical experience before heeding advice of this nature.

 

[nightOwl]

My tank is neither large nor do I have any Tunze power heads, but I use the night mode on my two MP40WES pumps. I do this more to save electricity than for any benefit a flow change of this nature may provide to my tank inhabitants. There's still plenty of flow even with both running at around 50%. As far as I can tell there have been no ill effects due to this scenario. Both fish & corals appear to deal well with the reduced flow at night and it's also easier on the ears with the VorTechs at a slower, steady speed.

Don't have that many corals, most of them softies & LPS with just a couple of SPS frags. My hammer coral tends to retract & get more compact during the evening, as does my Kenya Tree, so the statement 'corals feed at night' doesn't seem to apply to these species. All of my corals have been growing very well & I've been able to frag and sell quite a number of pieces over the past several years. Careful of 'blanket' statements like this, they tend to make me skeptical. Better to research your livestock and seek out some practical experience before heeding advice of this nature.

Mike31154 - Thanks for the input and advice.

 

[snorvich]

I go down to 10% at night.