how to know if you have too much flow?

[codydemmel4]

how do yall tell if you have too much flow or if you have a coral too close to a powerhead.

I have a green slimer around 8 inches away from a PP15 and i am wondering if this is too close. I just moved it there from where it was before so I am going to wait and see how it does.

I am just wondering what you guys usually use as a rule of thumb for how close to have a coral by a powerhead. I am not sure I need to even run this PP15 so if I see it is negatively impacting the green slimer I will turn it off.


Right now in my tank I have 2 PP15 and 2 gyre 150s running, this is a 180 gallon.

 

[bif24701]

how do yall tell if you have too much flow or if you have a coral too close to a powerhead.



I have a green slimer around 8 inches away from a PP15 and i am wondering if this is too close. I just moved it there from where it was before so I am going to wait and see how it does.



I am just wondering what you guys usually use as a rule of thumb for how close to have a coral by a powerhead. I am not sure I need to even run this PP15 so if I see it is negatively impacting the green slimer I will turn it off.





Right now in my tank I have 2 PP15 and 2 gyre 150s running, this is a 180 gallon.

I would never point a power head directly at a coral. Can you not move or point it in another direction or offset it some so that it is not directly in the path?

It's just a bad idea.


Aaron

 

[Acromaniac]

No polyp extension, skin peeling

 

[Rakie]

If you have your Powerhead pointed directly on a coral it's a bad idea. 95% odds it will die from that man, move the coral or ph.

My tiny *** biocube has some serious water movement and I feel like it could use more.. I've got a Tunze 6015 I modded by cutting out an internal lip -- This makes the flow pattern MUCH wider, and seriously tuned up it's water movement.

I have a PP-4 on full which is supposed to be 1000gph, i'd guess it's more like 800. After modding my tunze it's much stronger than the pp4.

I'd guess I'm moving at least 1600gph and as much as 2000gph in my 29g tank. I should probably dump the Jebao and grab an mp10 but, meh.

 

[nmotz]

I did some traveling in the South Pacific recently and the flow even in the lagoons was incredible. As I snorkeled over coral gardens with acropora and pocillopora in 4-5 foot deep water, it was impossible to stand without being pushed side to side by the waves. That experience really changed how I think about flow in the home aquarium. Bottom line is that you will never have enough pumps to recreate the raw power of the ocean.

Like the others mentioned, I keep my corals about a foot away from powerheads, but I keep the flow raging, at least 100x tank volume per hour and my corals have full PE. Heck even the softies don't really mind the flow.

 

[ReefBum]

I did some traveling in the South Pacific recently and the flow even in the lagoons was incredible. As I snorkeled over coral gardens with acropora and pocillopora in 4-5 foot deep water, it was impossible to stand without being pushed side to side by the waves. That experience really changed how I think about flow in the home aquarium. Bottom line is that you will never have enough pumps to recreate the raw power of the ocean.

Like the others mentioned, I keep my corals about a foot away from powerheads, but I keep the flow raging, at least 100x tank volume per hour and my corals have full PE. Heck even the softies don't really mind the flow.

Agree....random flow is key. I have a couple of Gyres in my tank and I have them in the pulse mode.....creates a nice back and forth surge.

 

[Piper27]

I agree with the two above comments. I have a 3' cube and have three mp40sand an mp60 all on full reef crest. Well the ml60 is dialed back a little or it moves water out of the tank. Direct flow will cause skin to peel off though. Random you can create as much as you want.

 

[bif24701]

I did some traveling in the South Pacific recently and the flow even in the lagoons was incredible. As I snorkeled over coral gardens with acropora and pocillopora in 4-5 foot deep water, it was impossible to stand without being pushed side to side by the waves. That experience really changed how I think about flow in the home aquarium. Bottom line is that you will never have enough pumps to recreate the raw power of the ocean.

Like the others mentioned, I keep my corals about a foot away from powerheads, but I keep the flow raging, at least 100x tank volume per hour and my corals have full PE. Heck even the softies don't really mind the flow.

Full agree. Flow is good for all, even the fish. I know that tangs particularly love good high flow.

I have a single MP60 on my 180, this gives me about 40x flow. I can already see this isn't going to be enough and have plans to add two Tunze 6105s doubling my rated flow. Have to consider that max rated flow and actual flow are two different things. Also random changing flow patters help also. I've read that the impact of water against the flesh of corals help with nutrient transport through out the animal.

Still blasting a coral with a power head directly is not good practice. Also depends on the powerhead. Vortechs haves very broad flow so I'm sure you could put corals closer, others not so much.


Aaron