sps and flow

[Maxxingout]

I noticed yesterday that 1 of my sps corals polyp extension on one side, toward the top was lacking. This spot is where a decent amount of flow hits the sps. I'm running rw-40's and the mode I'm using is one head pulses while the other is constant. I changed modes so both heads are pulsing and after about 1 hr I noticed so polyps starting to come out.

I thought sps wants/needs high flow? I'm guess high flow that's intermittent is better then a constant pounding. Anyone else notice flow with polyp extension correlation?

here's a pic I took with my phone. You can see at the top, the polyps seem to not be able to come out.

zoomed in

with flash

The base was getting hit pretty good also but I guess not as bad at the tips

 

[markalot]

MP40? RW40? RW-4 or RW-15? is a decent pump but has very direct flow and when aimed at a coral can strip it of flesh. Aim up toward the surface to spread it out or back at a tank wall. I use RW-15's to supplement the flow of my MP40's. MP40's have a much wider flow but can also strip corals if they are too close to the pump. SPS like a lot of flow, but not that much flow.

 

[ReefWreak]

Even my MP10 at 70% or so ripped the flesh off of an acro at about 6" away. Direct flow is a bad thing. I'm having trouble with positioning anything near my MP10, but I need the flow for the rest of the tank, so it's tough in a tiny cube. But you should try to avoid direct flow for 12"+ IMO, particularly with any remotely strong pump.

 

[Maxxingout]

MP40? RW40? RW-4 or RW-15?

Sorry about that, brain fart during typing and to much surfing in the for sale section. I use dual Jebao RW-4s. Funny part is the one aiming towards this sps is across the other side of a 75g. I also only have the flow strength on the second light. I will have to check and see how polyp extension looks today when I get home.

 

[Bill Nye]

Even my MP10 at 70% or so ripped the flesh off of an acro at about 6" away. Direct flow is a bad thing. I'm having trouble with positioning anything near my MP10, but I need the flow for the rest of the tank, so it's tough in a tiny cube. But you should try to avoid direct flow for 12"+ IMO, particularly with any remotely strong pump.

Disagree. I would say your Acro had other problems than the MP10. MP10s while cool are actually wimpy little pumps compared to something like an mp40. I have both an MP40 and Mp10 in my tank and the MP10 is positioned about 5 inches away and 1-2 inches above a bunch of acros on top of my rockwork. These acros get blasted at 100% in NTM and could take more.

 

[toothybugs]

Sorry about that, brain fart during typing and to much surfing in the for sale section. I use dual Jebao RW-4s. Funny part is the one aiming towards this sps is across the other side of a 75g. I also only have the flow strength on the second light. I will have to check and see how polyp extension looks today when I get home.

Wait, you have only 2 RW4s running a 75? I had 2 of them running my 40B and even with a MaxiJet to supplement them it was barely enough for softies...

 

[Icefire]

I run 2x mp40 + 1x mp10 in a 60 cube

 

[Maxxingout]

Wait, you have only 2 RW4s running a 75? I had 2 of them running my 40B and even with a MaxiJet to supplement them it was barely enough for softies...

Yes, that and my return line running a 9.5 mag. Thing is my tank is set up as a penisuala. That combined with the way I have the rock work leave for very little flow restrictions. I already have issues with sand getting pushed up against rocks and leaving bare spots.

THis is a pic front when I 1st set up the tank. I've only added a few more rocks since then but still same setup.


Front shot, this sps pc is the one at the top left and the power head is seen at the right.


Whenever I crank up the power to level 3 all my lps corals get flattened out. I'm having a hard time finding a happy medium.

 

[nemodan]

Yes, that and my return line running a 9.5 mag. Thing is my tank is set up as a penisuala. That combined with the way I have the rock work leave for very little flow restrictions. I already have issues with sand getting pushed up against rocks and leaving bare spots.

THis is a pic front when I 1st set up the tank. I've only added a few more rocks since then but still same setup.


Front shot, this sps pc is the one at the top left and the power head is seen at the right.


Whenever I crank up the power to level 3 all my lps corals get flattened out. I'm having a hard time finding a happy medium.

Why are you worried now. Your tank is empty. With one pump or both a low-medium level will be more than enought.

Yes, LPS will not be very happy with the same flow you will need for SPS ...... when you fill your tank .

Take a look to my last video on my thread. Is in the first page now of RC. And see how the flow affects the LPS. Its,all about positioning the pumps. But there,will be a point of decision to whom you want to keep happy.

Cheers
Daniel

 

[Ratpack]

I don't think flow is the issue. I also have a 75 gal and I am running 2 RW 15's in else mode. My SPS love the flow and the polyps are out all around them.

 

[Maxxingout]

I don't think flow is the issue. I also have a 75 gal and I am running 2 RW 15's in else mode. My SPS love the flow and the polyps are out all around them.

Do you by chance have a picture of your setup? Always nice to see different pump locations on the same size tank for ideas.

I do know at some point I'll have to move the lps's. I just got 11 sps frags yesterday. They're going to have a tough enough time just transitioning to a new tank. I'd hate to make flow a issue also.

 

[Ratpack]

If you look at your FTS, the pump you have on the right hand side is in the same approximate spot as my right hand side pump. Left hand side, my pump is same level as righ side and near the back glass as well, where your left hand is near what would be my front glass. Both of my pumps are as high as I can get them without pulling in air. They point towards the opposite corner, so they intersect in the center of the tank and they are angled up towards the surface so that they are not blowing directly on the corals.