SPS and watermovement

W

WhiteTang

New member
Hi to all you SPS keepers :)

I have been checking out SPS corals on liveaquaria and there is this indication about watermovement "STRONG", "MEDIUM" & "LOW"

I would guess that these can translate to an actual gph number which derives from the total water volume of the tank.

So if I have a 100g tank how much would that be?
 
Denadai said:
A 100G tank you can add 2 x MP 40 for example.
Click to expand...

That's just what I would suggest. Or comparable Tunzes with a controller.

But a 100 gal tank can be achieved with a range of proportions. Is this a standard 100 gal and is it glass or acrylic ?

If it's any older glass 100 you have to be careful with MP40s.
 
Keep in mind, depending on the mode you run, a vortech at 100% does not mean it is always at 100%.. that is just where it peaks in the cycle. I run 2 MP40s on my 75 gallon at about 75% power on reef crest, so it ramps up and down. Until I reaquascaped, I was going to have to add more pumps to aid in the flow. I realized as my corals filled in, even 2 MP40s were not able to keep up. Just something to keep in mind.
 
a.browning said:
Keep in mind, depending on the mode you run, a vortech at 100% does not mean it is always at 100%.. that is just where it peaks in the cycle. I run 2 MP40s on my 75 gallon at about 75% power on reef crest, so it ramps up and down. Until I reaquascaped, I was going to have to add more pumps to aid in the flow. I realized as my corals filled in, even 2 MP40s were not able to keep up. Just something to keep in mind.
Click to expand...

I get what you are saying. I currently have a 16g with an MP10 set at 40% reef crest and sometimes short pulse. I test my water every other day with Red Sea test kits and I get very good results:
temp: 26°C
salinity: 1.0257
PH: 8,2
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 6
Ca: 445
Mg: 1300
Alkalinity KH: 8
Everything is in the optimal zone to keep SPS. I havent bought any SPS yet because Im waiting for my kessil LED to arrive and I was just wondering if I could cut it with the MP10 I have.
I also checked the optimal flow at EcoTech's site and according to their "calculator" i could have my pump at 30-40% and have enough waterflow for SPS. My aquascaping is very "minimal". Nothing touches the back/sides and the pump hits the glass across creating a circular motion in the tank.
Thats why I was wondering what the numbers are when I read "HIGH", "MEDIUM" or "LOW" flow.
 
TBH and maybe I am an exception. 2 MP40's in a 100gallon is overkill. I mean 3 MP10's would be the route I would go considering you have a sump with a sufficient return pump with 5-10x turn of tank volume.

I have 2 MP40's in a 240g with a 2000GPH return pump(head calculated) and I have them set to go in different modes throughout the day with my apex and the highest I have them set is for 80%. I have all SPS and everything has shown great health, color, and PE. I mean these things have MAJOR power.
 
I'm running 2 MP40s and 1 MP10 in my 120. The 2 MP40s are staggered on opposite ends running at 2 dots from the high on the green (constant) setting. The MP10 is about 6 inches off the bottom blowing across the back of the tank and is set on the 5th dot in green mode. My rockwork is set up so there is nothing in the direct path of the MP's. This set up makes it like a whirlpool effect which my tangs love. Everything has good polyp extension. All tanks are different because of rock placement. I don't believe in high flow through sump for sake of the skimmer so i use my MP's for the most flow.
 
There's a scientific article floating around on the internet. For the most part if you watch a particle float by your acros it should be moving 3-4 inches per second for most acros to be happiest. Random changing flow with occasional surges are always good. It gets further complicated with full colonies vs. frags. Packed acro tank , open tanks ect. will all be factors. You may need more with full colonies to get inner branches.
 
I had 2 Mp40's at 100 percent reefcrest, two wp40' s in wave mode and a wp20 in wave mode, all on my 50 gallon rubbermaid! Do whatever you want with flow as long as the corals flesh is not being ripped off. I do not see how two mp40s is overkill for a 100 gallon :sad2:
 
2-mp40's is perfect for a 100 g sps tank according to ecotechs flow calculator. on constant mode at 100% is might be too much for your sand bed. other then that it would be perfect.
 
in a full sps tank no way 2 40's in a 100g is overkill I say the more the better especially when it comes to vortech pumps. Since they are not directional your aquascaping and grown in corals can really diminish those numbers and cause dead spots. Fwiw in my 4' 105g I have 2x mp40 and 2x mp10 a wp25 and a sicce syncra 5 return. I feel I will need more once I'm packed with growth for sure. I run all the ecotech pumps 100% anti sync on various modes throughout the day. The wp is too powerful to run full strength where I have it placed on the back wall.

What I guess I'm trying to say is 2 pumps could be a starting point but keep in mind you will need to either move them around your coral or add more down the road imo.

I also have another mp40 and a few wp25 ready to go on when needed =)
 
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