Polyp Extension better without Tunzes...what gives?

[Doubledown]

I have 2 6100s in my 180. I took both out last night for a full vinegar soak/cleaning. I came home this evening and every coral in my tank had better PE than they ever do with the streams running. I use a Dart for a return through 2 SeaSwirls and 2 static lines, so I probably only had about 2200 GPH running all day. I know that the extra current is important for gas exchange as well as food trasport/waste removal of these corals, but it was nice to see some fuzzy corals finally (it's been a long, tough 9 months).

What gives? Why would I get better PE without the extra flow? I have lowered the stream out put to 60% when "on" just to see if this gets the same response from the corals.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Teremei]

Sad thing is, many soft corals fully extend with low flow. But with such low flow that we cannot afford in our tanks.

But that doesn't sound like an aweful lot of flow for your 180. What GPH do you think you get from each tunze?

 

[mhurley]

Personally, I think that's a ton of flow for that tank. Maybe too much. You're talking about 8,000+ GPH in a 180 tank.

I have two 6100's, a Wavebox and a dialed back Ampmaster 3000 for return, but my tank is 330 gallons.

I'd leave one 6100 off for a bit and see how they respond.

 

[Racenrich]

Chris,

My 120g has about 2700gph going through it now, 1200 on the closed loop and around 1500 on my return..........8000gph is crazy....you just may have to much flow......see what happens in a weeks time.

RK

Still interested in sudays tank swap?

 

[eclecticvibe]

Maybe the polyps extend more because they're not exchanging gas as easily. They could extend more to expose more surface area for gas exchange? Since polyps naturally extend to feed at night, and are more contracted during the day, I guess it's possible you're seeing normal polyp extension with all the flow, and now you're seeing overextension? Just a thought.

 

[ostrow]

I doubt the issue is too much flow. I have yet to hear of a tank that has too much flow. I'm considering one of those Polarios when they come out.

Now, too close, concentrated, maybe. If those 6100s are constantly pounding on the same point in the tank, that may not be good.

 

[Doubledown]

Thanks all (Jay is that really you??)

It appears there are 2 schools of thought on this. The first is that there is too much flow and the corals are retracting their polyps due to stress from the turbulance, the other is that the higher flow better fascilitates gas exchange and that extra polyp extension is a sign that the corals need more surface area to get this done.

What is better for the corals? Do they adjust themselves in a tank? I was under the assumption that more flow is better, but based on my experiences over the last 9 months, maybe I've been doing more harm than good with the 45x turn over that the Tunzes/Dart ar providing.

I guess that if the corals extend their polyps as much as they need to feed and exchange gasses, then they will self-regulate to the amount of flow provided. However, too much flow may cause a reverse and force the retraction of th epolyps, thus eliminating this feeding and gas exchange resulting in dying corals (maybe?)

That leads to the question - Is polyp extension a sign of good health? I have always thought that healthy corals should show good PE. Whenever I see pictures of healthy tanks with beautiful fields of SPS, all of the corals have this. Is my thinking wrong?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Doubledown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7785818#post7785818 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Racenrich

Still interested in sudays tank swap?

Yes, it is still a go. Call me with what time you're coming to get me.

 

[mm949]

constant flow on the corals could determine length of PE....if your corals look good and are growing ur OK....
old industry secret is less flow the bigger the corals get....not good fro long term....u can try using tunze pumps only at night if u like the furry look....

 

[sellout007]

I was up at Rods reef, and without sticking words in his mouth I got the impression from him that constant mass waterflow is not as beneficial/good for corals as we all think.

If you think about the ocean, waves come by and move water, then there is a lull in between allowing the corals some calm time. Corals are not constasntly blasted day and night.

I personally tend to agree with him, it just seems logical.

 

[eclecticvibe]

I agree that constant waterflow isn't a great idea. I think the Tunzes work much better on a controller to regulate the flow. It just seems that there are so many problems like dead spots and thin branched corals when you have low flow. Detritus accumulation is a problem. Probably the more varied your flow, the more natural and healthy it would be. And seeing the diversity amonst corals, I'd think different corals would react differently to different flow patterns. I don't know the answer for sure. I just think it's an interesting conversation.

 

[ostrow]

Or on Sea-Swirls like my MJ Stream mods
www.ostrows.us

 

[yznhmr]

come on guys..
i have 2 6200 and 2 6100 and the wavebox, and i have great PE

come on DD you saw it today.. the massive current in my tank.. its cool to watch the top of the water, the surgeing i get ..

everything is on the controller and it pulses and calms at night..
i believe your PE is because they are looking for more, not... being more happy....