Water flow at night and at feeding

[Ron Reefman]

If we were even capable of duplicating the flow on the reef at night we would be golden, however we cannot so it makes no sense to slow the flow in our tanks at night.

Just because I can't duplicate it perfectly I shouldn't even try? That's a crazy excuse!

The absolute calmest places I have ever been diving had far more flow than my 70x sps tank. It isn't even in the same ballpark. Many times it isn't chaotic flow but general current.

I don't know where you dive, but most reefs I've be at, and there have been a number of them, are fairly calm. I can stop moving and almost stay in one place, or just drift fairly slowly. Sure, if you are at a reef that is surrounded by deeper water and it's peak tide change, there is a ton of flow. But then I look to avoid that when I dive or snorkel.

 

[RFLKPTR]

I don't know where you dive, but most reefs I've be at, and there have been a number of them, are fairly calm. I can stop moving and almost stay in one place, or just drift fairly slowly. Sure, if you are at a reef that is surrounded by deeper water and it's peak tide change, there is a ton of flow. But then I look to avoid that when I dive or snorkel.

It's arguable, Ron. I've been to a number of reefs during all sorts of tidal conditions, and I've seen calm to chaotic. Mostly chaotic, though. These were all african reefs, so maybe it's different in other parts of the world. :beer: I guess it varies. Either way I see it, though, is that in a system that has both high flow and low flow species of coral, I'd want to cater to the needs of -all- creatures.

That being said, to go back towards the OP's original question: I turn off all circulatory pumps save for the return pump. Then I target feed. Usually twice a week. :celeb1:

Night time I leave all pumps on as usual.

Ron, I saw back in the Jebao thread that you were a member of the SCCA back in the 80s. Have any love for NASA? I've done quite a few HPDE events over at VIR and SPR.

 

[ReeferBatman]

i turn down the flow for feeding fish - slow enough they can easily catch stuff but enough flow to keep it in the water column. Then I turn off the flow for 10 mins or so to target-feed my corals.

I leave the flow up at night to help with gas exchange as others have said.

 

[i Tuna]

Just because I can't duplicate it perfectly I shouldn't even try? That's a crazy excuse!



I don't know where you dive, but most reefs I've be at, and there have been a number of them, are fairly calm. I can stop moving and almost stay in one place, or just drift fairly slowly. Sure, if you are at a reef that is surrounded by deeper water and it's peak tide change, there is a ton of flow. But then I look to avoid that when I dive or snorkel.

In my experience with snorkling at a multitude of reefs around the world including and not only: Egypt, Red Sea; Mnemba Island, Zanzibar; Phuket, Thailand; Bali, Indonesia; GBR, Australia; Bneidar, Kuwait (my beach house); water movement has always been immense. If I just float and don't try to counteract the waves / current pushing me, I'd easily be moved a good 10 meters from my original location within a span of a minute. Take into account that in the ocean / sea, you are being pushed AND pulled, and those are the times when the water movement is "slow".

@ Original post: I've had my vortech mp40 automatically go down to 50% power during night time and currently have it as well as am added mp10 at full 24/7. In honesty I have noticed no difference what so ever.

When I spot feed my lps I switch off all pumps to stop the flow from blowing around the food. I prefer to visibly see my coral consume all food I spot feed them. Once I'm done feeding them 5 min later, I switch on all pumps again.