When is there too much flow for fish in an SPS tank?

[ChuckG]

Since we typically keep flow in our SPS tanks running fairly aggressive and random is there a point where all the flow is not healthy for the fish? Responsible fish selection probably plays a part here, but are the majority of fish we keep in the hobby OK to be washed left and right in the display tank 24/7?

I just put two ocellaris clowns in a 75 with two vortechs mp40s running independent long pulses every 10-15 seconds @ 100% and can't keep sand down in the middle of the tank. Im pretty sure these clowns in the wild live in tidal zones and are used to this.. not sure if this has been aqua cultured out of them or not ??

Anyway the SPS seem to love the random flow but the clowns look like they are in a washing machine at times... I'm wondering if they are happy. If they get tired they should find the low flow spots in the rock structure right?

 

[Amphiprion]

Since we typically keep flow in our SPS tanks running fairly aggressive and random is there a point where all the flow is not healthy for the fish? Responsible fish selection probably plays a part here, but are the majority of fish we keep in the hobby OK to be washed left and right in the display tank 24/7?

I just put two ocellaris clowns in a 75 with two vortechs mp40s running independent long pulses every 10-15 seconds @ 100% and can't keep sand down in the middle of the tank. Im pretty sure these clowns in the wild live in tidal zones and are used to this.. not sure if this has been aqua cultured out of them or not ??

Anyway the SPS seem to love the random flow but the clowns look like they are in a washing machine at times... I'm wondering if they are happy. If they get tired they should find the low flow spots in the rock structure right?

I hear this quite a bit and there's no need to worry. The fish get used to it very quickly and have no issues. I have a pair of clowns (had the female for ~10 years) that are exposed to a whole lot of flow. They are not worse for wear at all. The little guys get 10000 gph of flow in a 40g and shrug it off like it was nothing.

Of course, there are a few exceptions, but the vast majority have no problems.

 

[Roll221]

I SCUBA dove in Hawaii for three years, seen fish in a lot of turbulent water. Stuff we as diver would never venture near!

Ed

 

[ChuckG]

I SCUBA dove in Hawaii for three years, seen fish in a lot of turbulent water. Stuff we as diver would never venture near!

Ed

I did too.. MCBH Kanehoe Bay.. accumulated quite a lot of time sucking stale air. Anyways I have seen what you're talking about first hand as well but mostly in surge zones and this is highly tide dependent. Not only can some fish move on and do.. but others that make their permanent homes in these zones get periodic breaks due to tide changes... and they are generally specialized I'd think to live in these areas.

So we are clear guys.. I have so much turbulence in this tank that I can not keep sand in the center 50% of the aquarium. It winds up piling up in the outer quarters of the aquarium. I guess I probably should have better worded the question to address violent turbulence and not flow.

Anyways.. I thought the Hawaii thing was pretty coincidental even if you called home the other side of the island. :thumbsup:

 

[Amphiprion]

Still shouldn't be an issue. I have to use large rubble pieces in many spots in my tank to keep it from digging down into the glass. If I hadn't cut down the volutes on the pumps, it would have been impossible to keep sand in this tank at all.

 

[SeanT]

When is there too much flow for fish in an SPS tank?

When they fish are pressed flat against the glass.

 

[Merfin70]

When they fish are pressed flat against the glass.

I so needed that after the day I had. Thanks for a good laugh.

 

[gasman059]

When they fish are pressed flat against the glass.

100% agree LOL:thumbsup:

 

[ChuckG]

lol.. that was very funny.. thx!

 

[cham]

I hear this quite a bit and there's no need to worry. The fish get used to it very quickly and have no issues. I have a pair of clowns (had the female for ~10 years) that are exposed to a whole lot of flow. They are not worse for wear at all. The little guys get 10000 gph of flow in a 40g and shrug it off like it was nothing.

Of course, there are a few exceptions, but the vast majority have no problems.

I'd like to see pictures/video of a 40g tank with 10k gallons of flow :eek1:

 

[Amphiprion]

It's a lot different from what you'd expect, especially with it being extra-low velocity thanks to the mods. It just has frags right now, so I think a vid would give a better idea. I'll try to get one when I get my camera back.

 

[fijiblue]

When they fish are pressed flat against the glass.

That was awesome. I think we all laugh because of the mental picture we get.