Let's talk flow

puter

puter

Active member
I suspect that most people agree that variability of flow in a reef tank is important.

A common aim seems to be to create "chaotic flow" which I interpret to mean that water approaches the corals from varying directions. I'd like to hear impressions from people of the devices they are employing to achieve that (i.e. squids, oceans motion, sea swirls, wave timers, etc.). If you were starting from scratch, would you buy them again?

Secondly, I'd be interested in thoughts on whether folks consider it important, in addition to varying the direction of flow in the tank, to also vary the magnitude or rate of flow so that corals are periodically exposed to stonger or lesser flows. This could be achieved in a number of ways... I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has employed devices with that aim in mind.

Mark
 
I don't use a "device" to achieve turbulence in my tank, but I do use two forked returns and three Koralia 4's. I have the outer left and outer right of the returns pointed at the front pane of the tank. The inner right and inner left returns point toward one another going alongh the back glass of the tank. The left Koralia is on the back glass and points diagonaly front/center. The middle Koralia is on the back glass and points front/right. The right Koralia is on the right side glass and flows from right to left through the middle of the tank. This seems to do a great job with Chaotic flow.
 
I use to vortech mp40ws in my tank and i put them on reef crest random in anti sync mode this has it so that one pump will be going full blast and the other one less sometimes there both going full blast so it creates completly random flow in my tank but the intervals and the flow rates is completly random
 
Re: Let's talk flow

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14135489#post14135489 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by puter
I suspect that most people agree that variability of flow in a reef tank is important.

I'd like to hear impressions from people of the devices they are employing to achieve that (i.e. squids, oceans motion, sea swirls, wave timers, etc.).
Mark
Click to expand...


I've used them all. The SCWD's the best bang for your buck. The Ocean Motions are difficult to plumb, expensive, and seize up. I currently have 3 of them, and all three are seized. Sea Swirls are great for small/medium sized tanks. I've got close to a dozen of these in operation, and the fail rate is very low.

Right now, my go to Wave Maker is the Vortec MP40's. Pricey. Actually, about the same price as an Ocean Motion. But the MP 40 slaps on the tank and is ready to go in less than a minute. It's not a permanent fixture on the tank. The flow is incredible and controller gives you plenty of options for random flow. Biggest drawback besides cost is that they are not directional. You can't aim them.
 
I don't use any type of wave maker or wave box. What I have in my setup is two Korilla #3's aimed at each other in the front and two nozzles in each back corner aimed at the front in a criss-cross pattern. I have seen steady growth over the past few months after adding the korillas and with the way my rock stack is now there isn't a dead spot in the tank.If I were to start over again I would have gone with a bigger tank and a wavebox.
 
Currently (no pun intended), I've got a Barracuda for my return, a Dart on a closed loop, and two Vortec MP40W's. Lots of flow, and I have the two Vortec's running on random reefcrest mode independently from one another, so the flow is random.

If I were to do it again, instead of the closed loop, I would have used some large stream pumps on either end of the aquarium to create a gyre effect. I'd also put them on an Aquasurf so I'd be able to change the direction of the gyre. IMO, this is the most "bang for your buck" if you want to move a large volume of water within the tank.
 
I employ a SCWD on the return in my tank and it works pretty well for creating random flow. Were I to do it all over again, I'd use the SCWD on a closed loop with a more powerful pump. The second version SCWD works better with more flow than the piddly bit my return kicks out. If I had more funds, I'd definitely go with the Vortech for my tank size (65g) or if I had a nice long tank (6'+) I'd go with a Tunze wavebox. IMO that creates the most natural motion that I see on wild reefs
 
I use a varietry on my tanks.

The smaller SCWDs I have work ok but only with low pressure. Otherwise, they jam up and go in one direction only.

Most consistent performer for me is a Seio controller with 4 korilias 4s( old style). This provides alternating flow to two tanks, a120 and a 90.

I also use several hydor rotating deflectors on maxi jet 1200s. . They are a pain and stop spinning after 6 months or so but can be rejuvenated with a vinegar soak. Two per tank crisscrossed really move the sps polyps back and forth though.
 
Tunzes here on intermittent pulse with seios aimed at the flow to break it up and give it some randomness.

If I were just starting, I'd likely have gone with the Vortecs. I've helped set them up and the wave crest mode on antisync really is impressive to see. Installation and set up was a snap as RandyO mentioned. Also lower profile in the tank, but you can't really "aim" them.

As for the price tag, they are more than my Tunze set up, and I've had NO complaints with the Streams, so make your own judgements.
 
Variable Tunze pumps (nano streams) on a controller to randomize the flow.

Easy and can upgrade(or downgrade) as desired.
 
I use the Oceans Motions 4-way with a Sequence Dart pump...its been running non-stop for over 18months. However I have taken it apart twice to clean and regrease about 6months apart(general maintenance)....Nice unit, yes it is tricky to plumb, but great flow. I would use the same again if I were to do another tank......

Geo
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14138059#post14138059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pimpinitup6969
has anyone tried the seio polario? i was thinking of getting one but i haven't really heard any feedback
Click to expand...
I was wondering too. We saw them at the '07 MACNA but haven't seen them in use yet. In the display it was set pretty high and man, it was rockin'.....
 
I use...

4 Tunze's on a 7095 WaveController (2x 6101's, one 6100, and one 6000), and return from from my sump on some Loc-Line. Keeps my 120 flowing really well.

I've tried Tunze Waveboxes and VorTechs, came back to the Streams for various reasons. All worked well, though, just personal preference.

Never tried Closed Loop, of any kind. Always worried about power draw.
 
seio 2600's on seio controller here with 6 mj 1200's and a quiteone 6000 return pump split through 4 outlets. would have a closed loop on my next tank with a bunch of tunze streams on their controller. I'm not real happy with the seio controller mainly because you can't run each pump individually.
 
I would not say the OM 4-way is tricky to plumb, heck I got it done...and I am horrible at plumbing. I had to clean it once with vinegar after my parameters (Alk/Ca) were off giving precipitation all over everything but that was it about 2 months after setup.

I would keep the OM 4 way on with the dart if it were not so ugly how I went about placing the drain/returns...with it and (3) vortechs going the amount of water movement is supurb. The OM 4way and dart was good by itself, as is the 3 vortechs (Even though I have not sync'd them yet)
 
Kurt- I'm not sure I would even sync the Vortecs unless you were going for a resonant wave. I like the fact that both of my Vortecs are independently random. Sometimes they're both going full bore, sometimes they're both on the lowest setting. Most times, both are somewhere in between. They change speed so rapidly and randomly, it truly makes for chaotic flow. Granted, I don't have mine mounted on the ends of the tank, rather, they are mounted on the back of the tank about four feet apart, blowing towards the front pane.
 
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