Changing flow for new fish

[Kalinina]

I’m rethinking my flow and wondering if anyone has better ideas than what I have set up. The flow seems fine for the fish I have now, which are on the larger side, however I’m purchasing a group of anthias and chromis and want to get the tank ready for them.

Flow pumps I have to work with:
2 maxspect 4k gyres
2 tunze 6255 wide
2 tunze stream 3’s with flow cap
1 8.1 aqua medic ecodrift

The tank is 84” long, 24” wide and 31” tall. One left corner overflow with one return on right corner.

Ive attached a pic of how I have the pumps now and marked their flow patterns.

 

[Timfish]

I wouldn't change your flow any.

 

[jabberwock]

I wouldn't change your flow any.

Agree, let the fish figure it out. They have to figure out the ocean...

 

[o2manyfish]

Are you flow pumps always on? The only thing I would consider is putting all the pumps on different on/off timers so the flow patterns are always changing. Maybe all the pumps are on at once or maybe only 1. But with random flow patterns you can definitely keep things churning.

You're aquascape is pretty minimal and there doesn't appear to be any dark caves. Anthias like to hang out in caves so they have a 'safe zone'. The more comfortable they feel the better they do in captivity. Once they have established their home base then they spend more and more time out in the open water. But they have to have a place to run and hide to... And you're aquascape doesn't appear to have a lot of hiding spots.

Dave B

 

[nuxx Verified Sponsor]

Looks fine to me.

Like Dave said, maybe change things up.

I had six large powerheads and two oversized return pumps. The powerheads were on a pretty complex program (each had their own) running off of my Apex Neptune that changed throughout the day.

Really like it randomized since I had an Achilles Tang and Achilles Tang Hybrid. The few times I've swam with them in the wild, the surge was pretty nuts.

 

[Kalinina]

Thank you the suggestions everyone!

I’m thinking of leaving the pumps as-is in their current locations, but experimenting with their settings. I do like the flowing motion of “waves”; it’s not currently happening now. More like constant blasting. I wasn’t sure if I should turn the gyre’s sideways and set them side by side on the return side. So many options and I put zero thought into flow when setting up the tank.

The flow is always on. I have the gyre’s and the streams pulsing and haven’t changed the settings since setting up the tank. The 6255’s (ac pumps/no controls) were on smart outlets and turned off at night/turned on in the morning, but are now on constantly because if turned off, the blenny will enter the right side 6255 and use it as a lookout.

Thank you for the anthias tips! I have an avast plank feeder coming to meet their nutrition needs, and I am planning on putting more rock in for them. I have 2 arches coming today (one will replace the missing one, and I’ll find a spot for the other arch).

 

[Rmckoy]

I think of the surge of waves crashing on any reef and think it would be hard for us to replicate that much flow without pushing all the sand out of our tanks .