Can SPS have *too much* flow?

[cshouston]

I was looking at EcoTech’s flow calculator, and for my tank (4’ long) it seems to recommend two MP10s for SPS, but I have two MP40s running at 40%. I still have fairly low flow at the bottom of the tank and was considering turning it up, but I don’t want to overdo it. One of my frags in particular is well in the path of flow and the polyps appear to get blasted at times.

(you can see the polyps really go around the top, and also on the right side’s new growth)

Obviously, I don’t want to put corals right in front of the VorTechs, but is there a point where there’s just too much flow? Is there something I should look for as a sign of when to back off?

 

[dank reefer]

If the skin ain't coming off from the amount of flow you have going on in your tank, then no! lol

 

[ShepherdReefer]

I was going to say the same as above

 

[Shufflepig]

I think you can have too much flow. On several occasions I moved sps that weren’t thriving to areas of lower flow but same lighting and they responded very positively. I can think of a Hawkins Enchinata, a bubblegum digitata and a stylo that all benefited from reduced flow.

 

[ShepherdReefer]

I actually think this has happened to my SPS. I moved to less flow but the skin is just hanging on.

 

[cshouston]

I think you can have too much flow. On several occasions I moved sps that weren’t thriving to areas of lower flow but same lighting and they responded very positively. I can think of a Hawkins Enchinata, a bubblegum digitata and a stylo that all benefited from reduced flow.

Thanks for the insight! I have a digitata in a lower flow area to the side of the tank. The only ones in the much higher flow, closer to the top, are acros. I just want to increase the flow lower in the tank as I’m still having some dead spots down there.

I turned up the MP40s by another 10% and will keep a close eye on the frags that are getting the most flow.

 

[chrishet]

I just removed 2 gyre pumps, that were cranked up, with 2 MP40s only and my PE is crazy! Much better, so I vote yes, you can have too much flow...IMHO

 

[Nick Steele]

I think it depends on a few factors. Nutrients and light will play a factor I’m sure as well. I once seen an acro about 6” in front of a gyre 350 on full blast and it was the fluffiest mini colony I have ever seen!

 

[45ZoaGarden]

I think it depends on a few factors. Nutrients and light will play a factor I’m sure as well. I once seen an acro about 6” in front of a gyre 350 on full blast and it was the fluffiest mini colony I have ever seen!

+1 it absolutely depends on water parameters and lighting. Pretty sure you can pound them with light and flow with higher nutrients.

 

[cshouston]

Thanks for the input. I was worried about those polyps banging around, but it seems they can take a pounding.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Thanks for the input. I was worried about those polyps banging around, but it seems they can take a pounding.

You could also move the vortechs around if you want.

 

[cshouston]

You could also move the vortechs around if you want.

I thought about that, but I don’t have any better positioning that I can find. Part of the problem is the corner overflow limiting the space on one side. Worst case, I can raise them up a bit more, but eventually the coral will grow up into the same amount of flow.

 

[cshouston]

 

[Flux Capacitor]

Have you tried putting the Vortech on the right on the back wall of the tank? I have a 5 foot tank and I put them both on the back wall, my overflow is centered, you might be able to get more controllability. I’m not for sure on that though, but might be worth a try.

 

[cshouston]

Have you tried putting the Vortech on the right on the back wall of the tank? I have a 5 foot tank and I put them both on the back wall, my overflow is centered, you might be able to get more controllability. I’m not for sure on that though, but might be worth a try.

I was just thinking about that possibility. I was considering putting the right pump on the big empty spot on the right back wall, then lowering the left pump to be more centered. Long term, I think I may just want to add an MP10 to the back.

 

[cshouston]

I just wish the cables weren’t clamped to those sticky cable routers. It makes moving them around such a pain.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

You could definitely move them up some. I have my 10’s high up so they agitate the surface

 

[Gernader]

I have a 4 foot long tank and have 2 MP40s at 65%. They are mounted on the back wall and my acros are growing quickly and happy.

 

[rossco]

This was a section of my gigantic Red Robin colony that grew into the path of a MP40. Some of the tissue blew off after it grew larger, then encrusted back over and look in the upper right there are branches that have formed flat plates from the flow.

 

[Mical]

What mode(s) are you running your MP40s? I run mine in "Reef Crest" about 80% of the time at just shy of 80% flow and have no issues w/too much flow.