Too much flow?

[moneymm]

I have a 46 gallon bow front ...

Plan on it being a mixed reef down the road.

Just added my first 2 occ clowns.. They seem to be struggling a bit with the power heads.

I have a 850 ph and 750 ph running along with a canister filter ( until my Berlin sump/skimmer arrives from lifereef).

Is that too much flow? Should I turn one off for now until I get corals?

Or maybe switch out the 850 for the space 650 I have?

Also should these be pointed at the glass or live rock?

 

[ViktorVaughn]

I have a 40 breeder that gets between 1000-1800 gph of flow from my 2 mp10's depending on where they are at in the cycle plus whatever I am getting from my return which is around 300 gph. My clowns weren't too impressed when I switched out all my Koralias for 1 mp10 and when I added the second it definitely took them some time getting used to. They aren't the most active or best swimmers so in time I am sure they will find areas they like more than others and get used to it. To your question though, no I don't think it is too much.

 

[mluntz]

I don't think it is too much. I am running a wp-25 and a Koralia 1050 in my 46 bow.

 

[moneymm]

I don't think it is too much. I am running a wp-25 and a Koralia 1050 in my 46 bow.

thanks, on a side note how is your coral beauty in your tank. ive seen it rated sometimes for like 70 Gallon tank.

im trying to come up with a stock list

 

[mluntz]

thanks, on a side note how is your coral beauty in your tank. ive seen it rated sometimes for like 70 Gallon tank.

im trying to come up with a stock list

No problems whatsoever. He is a model citizen.

 

[novadan67]

I've been wondering the same thing. I have 2 WP-10s in my 29 gallon (plus return flow) and my 2 clowns don't seem to like the flow. If I have the WP-10s on "else" mode, they just stay in the corner all day long where the flow seems lowest. If I turn the WP-10s way down, they go and explore the tank. I've read that small clowns don't like a lot of flow but they are ok once more mature (mine are about 1.5").

I don't like seeing them stay in the corner, but I also have LPS/SPS, so the high flow is a benefit... not sure what to do about it... The other fish in the tank seem fine with the flow.

 

[coralsnaked]

Just remember that the stronger the current the fish swim in the shorter the lifespan. Generally!

 

[moneymm]

Just remember that the stronger the current the fish swim in the shorter the lifespan. Generally!

never heard that one...

well ill turn one off for now, when i get my corals ill cross that bridge then.

 

[Ratpack]

Just remember that the stronger the current the fish swim in the shorter the lifespan. Generally!

Do you have any facts to back this up? I am curious as to what the reason would be. Maybe for some of the species that don't typically swim a lot, it may be, but for species like tangs that constantly swim, the current may actually help them since they can swim against the current to keep moving. Just like those small exercise pools.

 

[goncharkina]

I don't think its too much, I think anything over 10 times turnaround rate will remove all the beneficial stuff, and just very disruptive.

 

[shesacharmer]

I don't think it's too much. Clowns choose a territory and that's primarily where they like to live.

 

[coralsnaked]

Do you have any facts to back this up? I am curious as to what the reason would be. Maybe for some of the species that don't typically swim a lot, it may be, but for species like tangs that constantly swim, the current may actually help them since they can swim against the current to keep moving. Just like those small exercise pools.

Let me clarify this a little. First I would say two things specifically about flow in the display and fish. A good moderate flow will help the fish to burn off excess fat and help keep them healthy. But on the other hand excessive flow will cause fish to become stressed.

Lots of factors play into the amount of desired flow in the display. Since we are talking about reef tanks we are of course talking about flow that reaches 30X the display size depending on the needs of corals in the tank or filter feeders in general. Do not confuse flow with turnover. Turnover refers to the number of times the display water volume is turned over by the return pump in only one hour. IE 100 US gal display with a 1000 gph pump would = 10 x turn over which is the usually suggested amount of turnover for proper filtration thru the sump. However the display total flow would include the return pump and all power heads in the display. IE 100 gal display w/ 1000 gph return pump and two power heads rated at 1000 gph each would total 1000 + 1000 + 1000 = 3000 gph total display water volume. 3000 total gph / 100 gal display = 30 x flow in the display. This would be the proper amount of flow for a SPS garden. LPS require 20 X and soft coral 10 X.

When setting up our flow for a reef tank these different flow amounts are paramount for a successful tank and take a precedence over fish. But that does not mean these higher flow rates are better for fish "generally" Also one must consider the type of display flow as there are three main types of flow: current, wave and turbulence. Current is movement in one direction and probably the harshest for the fish. Generally in this type of current you will see fish piled up in a single area, the area with the lowest flow. Therefore by the action of the fish themselves we can verify that lower is more desirable by them and less stressful. Less stress means longer life. Although we do not want them to be couch potatoes either. Wave flow is where there is a surge of flow in one direction followed by a surge in the opposite direction. In nature this is common and you will see fish move with the surge in flow. And this is the biggest difference between nature and the reef tank. In the reef tank the fish cannot move with the flow but must swim against it. The last type of flow turbulence, is IMHO the best flow for both fish and the coral. This is normally achieved when powerheads are facing each other or a single power head is placed in direct contrast to the return nozzle. The turbulent flow forms many eddies and indirect currents which feeds the filter feeders while providing many areas for fish to swin in current and rest in eddies.

There is abundant information available on this subject and I would strongly suggest researching this area of information to assist you in a better reef tank.