How is this flow? Too much? To little? Pattern? Placement?

Bent · 02/23/2018, 04:03 PM

Here’s a vid of my reef. I have to admit I’ve always struggled with flow. When I get the flow down to amounts that make my LPS happy, it seems like it isn’t enough to me...idk. Review vid and post your thoughts, it will help.

https://youtu.be/IqxvSIHxpvc

Indymann99 · 02/23/2018, 04:13 PM

looks fine to me.

billdogg · 02/23/2018, 04:14 PM

What are you using as powerheads and return? How much total flow?

It looks like plenty to me

Bent · 02/23/2018, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

What are you using as powerheads and return? How much total flow?

It looks like plenty to me

Return is a old blue line velocity t3 pumping from the basement I measured the flow with a gallon jug Year’s ago but I can’t remember how much.

One pump is a RW-15 and the other is an RW-8. Both running off a JBwave.

Random alternating flow
Min speed 0%
Max speed 80%
Max cycle speed 0.5 sec

Don’t think it’s too much? I can turn them both down to 50% and the LPS all extend a little more and seem more pleased but detritus tends to collect more.

Should I turn it down? Turn it up? Move the power heads? Change the pattern?

Or just leave it the hell alone? Lol

Imaexpat2 · 02/23/2018, 10:45 PM

Looking at the tank it looks like to me in my humble opinion you have plenty of flow. In fact looking at that Hammer Coral (?) It looks like your pushing the upper limits a bit. I dont get hung up on how many gallons of flow as I view it like the old rule of thumb regarding lights as in Watts per a Gallon.

Id look at the quality of flow more than the total gallons of flow. Think about it in Nature corals occur where the environment is optimal and choose areas of adequate flow, light etc... In our glass boxes corals dont always have that luxury as we usually put them where we think its best for them to be. I would focus more on random flow, irradic currents, preventing dead zones, than I would total gallons of flow in the tank over all. Play around with the flow and watch your corals, they will tell you when you got it right!!!

02/23/2018, 04:03 PM	#1
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	How is this flow? Too much? To little? Pattern? Placement? Here’s a vid of my reef. I have to admit I’ve always struggled with flow. When I get the flow down to amounts that make my LPS happy, it seems like it isn’t enough to me...idk. Review vid and post your thoughts, it will help. https://youtu.be/IqxvSIHxpvc __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

02/23/2018, 04:13 PM	#2
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	looks fine to me. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

02/23/2018, 04:14 PM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	What are you using as powerheads and return? How much total flow? It looks like plenty to me __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

02/23/2018, 10:45 PM	#5
Imaexpat2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chagos Arch. Posts: 474	Looking at the tank it looks like to me in my humble opinion you have plenty of flow. In fact looking at that Hammer Coral (?) It looks like your pushing the upper limits a bit. I dont get hung up on how many gallons of flow as I view it like the old rule of thumb regarding lights as in Watts per a Gallon. Id look at the quality of flow more than the total gallons of flow. Think about it in Nature corals occur where the environment is optimal and choose areas of adequate flow, light etc... In our glass boxes corals dont always have that luxury as we usually put them where we think its best for them to be. I would focus more on random flow, irradic currents, preventing dead zones, than I would total gallons of flow in the tank over all. Play around with the flow and watch your corals, they will tell you when you got it right!!!