Fine tuning flow for mixed reef

[jasonrusso]

I have a 32 gallon Red Sea C-130. I think I have finally stocked it with what I think I like. I mean, I can always add a zoa here or there. I have my SPS up high, LPS/softies in the middle and down low. The SPS (mostly acros) were the last I added.

So how much flow do I actually want? I have the standard Red Sea return pump with the IM spin stream. I have 2 current E-Flux 660 wave makers in the corners. At first I didn't have them set up properly but a local reefer explained it to me. I set them both on "pulse" and linked them. With the return pump off and the 660s on 10/10 I get about 1/2 and inch of surface rocking. I think this is pretty good.

With everything running, the LPS get gently blown around, I can see the polyps moving on my birdsnest and digi and other SPS.

Now, my main question is with the acros. I have a pink lemonade, a red planet, green slimer, and some other "that looks neat" frags. When I had the powerhead directly on the pink lemonade, only the tentacles on the back would open. This is when the function of the wave makers was explained.

Now, the pink lemonade and red planet seem to be fully open (lots of little tentacles) and I can see them move every couple of seconds. Is this enough or do they need to be moving constantly? I have another powerhead I can hook up to the Current wave system but it would be in stream mode only. I don't want to overwhelm the system either.

 

[GoVols]

Used to have the ole Red Sea 130.

JMO:
But you have plenty of flow

Let your corals show ;Wideyed you if their happy

 

[1979fishgeek]

I’ve had issues in a mixed reef getting flow right.

I have been running a mixed reef for a few years now, early on I found it relatively easy until the tank really started to mature. Getting lighting, nutrients and parameters was never the issue, it’s just the flow that caused me problems. Lots of flow and sps were happy but LPS got blasted. Not enough flow and the LPS were happy, but detritus accumulated and elivated the nitrates browning out my Acro.

I would just caution, get substrate levels right in your low flow areas, or make sure you can vacuum it regularly and can reach into dead spots.
My Acro are like fuzzy teddy bears in strong pulsing random flow and their polyp never stop moving.

 

[jasonrusso]

I’ve had issues in a mixed reef getting flow right. [emoji852]️

I have been running a mixed reef for a few years now, early on I found it relatively easy until the tank really started to mature. Getting lighting, nutrients and parameters was never the issue, it’s just the flow that caused me problems. Lots of flow and sps were happy but LPS got blasted. Not enough flow and the LPS were happy, but detritus accumulated and elivated the nitrates browning out my Acro.

I would just caution, get substrate levels right in your low flow areas, or make sure you can vacuum it regularly and can reach into dead spots.
My Acro are like fuzzy teddy bears in strong pulsing random flow and their polyp never stop moving.

I have another powerhead on order. It should be here Saturday. I'll monitor things and see infinity if I need it. What's weird is that I can see the algae on the rock all around the acro moving, but the tentacles on the acro aren't moving the same.

I was going to put the powerhead up high on stream mode just to make some turbulence. This shouldn't affect the lower corals too much.

 

[1979fishgeek]

I have another powerhead on order. It should be here Saturday. I'll monitor things and see infinity if I need it. What's weird is that I can see the algae on the rock all around the acro moving, but the tentacles on the acro aren't moving the same.

I was going to put the powerhead up high on stream mode just to make some turbulence. This shouldn't affect the lower corals too much.

Your on the right track, for sure, I’ve got one powerhead near the surface on a increasing - decreasing stream and the other half way down on the opposite side pulsing strong waves across the middle. The two combine to create a erratic flow. I’d try and get the polyps moving if you can, mine are out day and night with this combination.

 

[jasonrusso]

What's weird is that at night (with a flashlight) I can see a lot more tentacles flowing around. I think I will keep the third powerhead on tap and see how everything is doing.

 

[jasonrusso]

Your on the right track, for sure, I’ve got one powerhead near the surface on a increasing - decreasing stream and the other half way down on the opposite side pulsing strong waves across the middle. The two combine to create a erratic flow. I’d try and get the polyps moving if you can, mine are out day and night with this combination.

JMO:
But you have plenty of flow

What do you think? I can see the tentacles moving, but is it enough?

 

[1979fishgeek]

What's weird is that at night (with a flashlight) I can see a lot more tentacles flowing around. I think I will keep the third powerhead on tap and see how everything is doing.

That’s pretty normal for Acro, most appear nocturnal extending polyps fully after lights out, I believe it’s less common but not uncommon for them to show PE during the day. I use natural seawater so maybe the planktonic life and microfauna is what makes mine active 24/7 but that’s just a guess. I got some new frags about 2 weeks ago and they been completely nocturnal till last few days.


My wild Acro, it’s green base, with blue tips but the brown polyps obscure the colour. It’s in flow tha5 constantly moves the polyps.




These two took ages to settle but show good PE now in a flow that lottery batters them.


My new two, in slightly less flow only had two weeks but starting to show PE during the day, mostly at night though.

 

[1979fishgeek]

What do you think? I can see the tentacles moving, but is it enough?

I’d say more flow, mine are constantly swirling about and shook by the occasional random blast.

 

[1979fishgeek]

Trying to upload a video, but keeps telling me wrong file extension. I’ll try something else...

 

[1979fishgeek]

This might work:

 

[jasonrusso]

This might work:

Is that direct flow? My top one might be OK, but the red planet (bottom) might need more

 

[1979fishgeek]

Is that direct flow? My top one might be OK, but the red planet (bottom) might need more

No not direct, its in the centre of a 6ft tank with wavemakers 3ft away each end. It’s a turbulent area as it’s where the two wavemakers combine. They sort of bounce of each other making the flow completely random.