Too much flow???

[N8ster]

I have read many posts which state that it is not really possible to have too much flow, particularly for SPS tanks.

My 90 has been up about 6 months. I am working up to the SPS corals.

I have 2 Tunze streams on a multi-controller. They are in the back corners pointing towards the front center of the tank. I have some inverts, and I am just starting to add fish. The flow seems to just blow the poor fish around. It this somewhat normal? Do I have the Tunze's cranked up too high?

 

[Scuba_Steve]

It sometimes takes some time for fish to adapt to the high flow, and they get blown around a bit. You should shoot for around 30x flow, maybe a lil more.

 

[Avi]

I agree...IMO, that's an appropriate amount of flow that scuba's recommomending. Some areas of the tank will likely blow the fish around when they get close, but that shouldn't pose any problem.

 

[Pistonkev]

If you have ever been in a real reef that's what it's like you can't set still.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

agreed w/everyone. Go out in the ocean and its even more Your fish will adapt sooner or later. They'll find the dead spots right away, and maybe stick to them for a few days, but once they get used to the flow, they'll start coming out a bit more. Then once they know where everything is, they'll start to ride the currents. My bicolor blenny would perch up on top of my seio as a sort of "look-out" post lol. Then he'd see a piece of food way across the tank and jump down into the full blow of the seio and ride the current all the way across the tank to get the one little piece of food :lol: They get used to it

 

[mg426]

30x tank volume is a very good number to shhot for.

 

[drummereef]

Especially for an SPS tank you are going to want at least 30x if not 40x. Don't worry about the fishies to much, they'll get used to it. And remember, the flow in your tank is no where near the flow in the ocean. Ever been snorkeling? The current will move you around like a little clown fish. No worries.

 

[crumbletop]

Re: Too much flow???

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9545939#post9545939 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by N8ster
I have read many posts which state that it is not really possible to have too much flow, particularly for SPS tanks.

My 90 has been up about 6 months. I am working up to the SPS corals.

I have 2 Tunze streams on a multi-controller. They are in the back corners pointing towards the front center of the tank. I have some inverts, and I am just starting to add fish. The flow seems to just blow the poor fish around. It this somewhat normal? Do I have the Tunze's cranked up too high?

Which streams do you have? 6100s could be putting out too much directed flow. Also, overall flow guidelines can be deceiving -- flow also depends on the flow patterns -- i.e. where all the flow is. If you have tons of rockwork that essentially confine all that flow to a more concentrated area, then the fish may only have a super turbulent area to swim in. The settings on the multicontroller can also contribute. A short interval coupled with a confined "open" area that can be a problem for the fish as well. There is no problem with backing off on the flow, as long as the corals look good. Since you don't have much, if any, SPS right now, I'd drop it back quite a bit and experiment to get something that makes the corals look good, and the fish happy.

So basically, it all depends on how your tank is set up, including sand, rockwork, stream positioning, and multicontroller settings. Don't blindly follow the xyz turnover rule and force your inhabitants into submission -- do what makes them thrive -- and they will thrive with those pumps...

 

[serpentman]

I agree with crumpletop. 30-40x flow is ideal to shoot for. However, recommended higher flow levels are usually taking into consideration that you have full/dense colonies of SPS. With really mature colonies, even more flow may be necessary as dense SPS colonies need high flow to penetrate through their branches to reach inner areas of the colony. If you are just starting with smaller colonies and frags, you don't need as much flow for them. Its always good to have additional flow in reserve should you need it. As things develop, your flow patterns will change.

 

[Avi]

How much flow and what kind of flow are two different issues. I'd throw in that the AMOUNT off flow that we're speaking of, here , IMO, is just what you should be attempting to reach and I think that no matter how much rockwork you have, and 120-pounds in a 90-gallon tank is a good amount of it, current reaching 30 and even more is very beneficial to most coral, not to mention cleansing the rockwork to discourage micro-algae growth. I find most coral of any kind will benefit from it, with the exception of some, like Hammer. The KIND of flow is just as important. A broad and somewhat irregular movement is what you will find most preferable and will most foster the health of your reef. You'd be able to see that by having some coral like Anthelia (even in a tank with SPS) which moves with the current. If they are constantly pushed in one direction, then something needs to be done to correct that so that they have an irregular "dance" cause by the water's movement in the tank.

 

[Alexxn]

So when everyone says 30-40x flow are we talking about the total gph of multiple powerheads or individually ? For example in my 30gal tank 30-40x would be 900-1200gph. I have 2 Koralia "1's" which are rated at 400gph. So is it considered that I have 800gph flow ? I ask because I want to replace / add more powerheads to increase flow.

Thanks !

 

[sir_dudeguy]

So when everyone says 30-40x flow are we talking about the total gph of multiple powerheads or individually

add up all the gph that your powerheads/pumps in the main display put out. Not skimmers tho (they just trickle and arent enough to really do anything).

Then divide that number by total tank volume and you get what you're currently at. To find out what you SHOULD be at, take your tank volume and multiply by 20 (20 times turnover) 30 (30 times...) or 40 or whatever you're trying to achieve. That will tell you how many gph you should be shooting for with all powerheads combined.

 

[Alexxn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9549411#post9549411 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
add up all the gph that your powerheads/pumps in the main display put out. Not skimmers tho (they just trickle and arent enough to really do anything).

Then divide that number by total tank volume and you get what you're currently at. To find out what you SHOULD be at, take your tank volume and multiply by 20 (20 times turnover) 30 (30 times...) or 40 or whatever you're trying to achieve. That will tell you how many gph you should be shooting for with all powerheads combined.

awesome thatnks for the info !

 

[N8ster]

Thanks for the help, all.

I have my 6100's running at 60% when they are on the max cycle, which should put my total turnover 35X right now.

I will just leave it alone for now, and see how it progresses--knowing that I have more power later, if I need it.