Flow for SPS - what's just enough?

OriginalUserName · Jul 12, 2018

wdavid said:
Alright so I guess I'm gonna just do what everyone on here basically says and just add a ton of flow.

Has anyone used the WAV? I have an apex so I figured I might as well do the research at least

I just ordered one. Fingers crossed.

Potatohead · Jul 12, 2018

wdavid said:
I'm debating between the MP40 or gyre fx230/250. Maybe 2 each at lower speeds to make it more evenly spread out and be quieter.

The MP40 would be able to sync/desync with my existing pumps but the gyre is cheaper because one won't need a controller and covers more deadspots from what I read.

I'm guessing both will do a fine job and it's mostly up to personal preference?

Pretty much yes.

The gyres move a ton of water. For a longer/rectangular tank they are tough to beat. The only thing really is they suck to clean compared to vortechs, and they’re a bit louder.

wdavid · Jul 12, 2018

Potatohead said:
Pretty much yes.

The gyres move a ton of water. For a longer/rectangular tank they are tough to beat. The only thing really is they suck to clean compared to vortechs, and they’re a bit louder.

Are they loud? I really love my tank to be silent and even bought the nyos quantum to make my skimmer silent. That really throws a wrench into my plans if they are

Or are they just slightly louder than vortechs?

Potatohead · Jul 12, 2018

If you have QD’s the gyres are louder. If you get the big one and run it slower speed though it won’t be a problem, they get louder at high speed.

Bmasculine · Jul 12, 2018

I have two gyres in my tank and if I run them above 80% I can definitely hear when they kick on. But also One of my best purchases, the maxspect gyres come with extra cages and propellers so when it’s time to clean them I slide them off put new ones on, throw old ones in vinegar and clean them when I have time. My xf-230’s run a random pulse up to 80% anti sync with my cor-15 at 100% in my 60 cube.

Bmasculine · Jul 12, 2018

I have never figured it up but I just did since this thread got me thinking, when gyres hit 80% I’m somewhere around 85x turnover in my tank.

wdavid · Jul 13, 2018

Looks like with an FX250 + my 2 MP10s will be 110X flow at max or about 80X with the FX250 at 60% Seems pretty good right?

Bmasculine · Jul 13, 2018

It will work, I don’t think it’s so much a numbers thing as it is placing them in the right spots to give you strong random flow. Also not sure if you know but you can turn the cages to angle your flow where you want it. It doesn’t have to just flow straight.

rage1199 · Jul 13, 2018

I have 4 MP40's running at 90% and a Vectra M1 running at 90% on my 180 gallons.

Mattrg02 · Jul 13, 2018

Hmm, should corals be acclimated to high flow, just like high light?

Mr. Roboto · Jul 13, 2018

Mattrg02 said:
Hmm, should corals be acclimated to high flow, just like high light?

Sticks, no.... Any softy will have to get used to it yes.

At full throttle I push around 20,000gph around in a 250 and I still think I need more.

Hammer100 · Jul 13, 2018

I have 2 xf250 one on either end of tank, 2 WAV pumps on the back glass and a hydor in the center back of my 180.
I did have one WAV go bad after little over a year but they replaced it. other one now is still doing well.

pdiehm · Jul 13, 2018

Hammer100 said:
I have 2 xf250 one on either end of tank, 2 WAV pumps on the back glass and a hydor in the center back of my 180.
I did have one WAV go bad after little over a year but they replaced it. other one now is still doing well.

FWIW, I called Ecotech yesterday to get an understanding of their recommended flow chart. For my tank, they recommended 4200 gal/hour for SPS. The guy was like, 2 MP40's you can get away with reef crest, anti-sync at 50% and hit that number easily. He recommended 70% reefcrest, anti-sync, though they have a flow diagram on their website where 1 mp40 was in reefcrest at 50%, and the other was in constant at 50%, and they alternated.

I may try that

wdavid · Jul 13, 2018

The noise complaint seems all over the place, some people saying it's dead silent and some people saying it's really loud for them even at low %s. It's so much cheaper to get a 2nd unit for the future when I upgrade but I don't want to listen to a loud hum 24/7. Hard to decide here

Potatohead · Jul 13, 2018

wdavid said:
The noise complaint seems all over the place, some people saying it's dead silent and some people saying it's really loud for them even at low %s. It's so much cheaper to get a 2nd unit for the future when I upgrade but I don't want to listen to a loud hum 24/7. Hard to decide here

Buy from Amazon and return it if you aren't happy.

wdavid · Jul 13, 2018

Potatohead said:
Buy from Amazon and return it if you aren't happy.

Smart. I did not think of that

KrisReef · Jul 13, 2018

Flow in the natural reef tends to change direction 4 times per day, and velocity is variable following seasons, storms, waves, all of these generally keep the flow "pattern" and "gph-rate" unsettled. Some days a reef flat can be easy to snorkel, and 4 hours later you need a jetski tow-in to stay on station, pers ob. Coral thrive somehow on these reefs, so flow should be variable and sometimes violent.

Gallons per hour are a measure of steady pump output. Flow in the tank is related to pump output but (especially with wave makers) these are not the same thing. Rule of thumb: My wife said I had too much flow when the fish got swam to death. I think she's right there. Hope this helps a bit.

Beth Villmow · Jul 15, 2018

Great advice! Glad i spotted this to read ! Been trying to figure out my flow issues and now i know! Thanks everyone for the questions and the answers!

Nimitz87 · Jul 16, 2018

wdavid said:
I see a ton of people saying they have like 4 mp10s or like 2 mp40s and gyres in their 90g tanks and I'm sitting here with 2 mp10s on my 75g. Also my vectra m1 is set to 75%. So I figured I'll upgrade flow as well if necessary since I'm upgrading lights as well to keep sps better. Just as a background I couldn't keep many SPS before and I attributed it to lighting but I kinda figured I'll upgrade everything that might need to be upgraded.

What do you guys think? 1 more mp10? 2 more? Gyre? WAV? A ton of cheap power heads on an on-off cycle? Im trying to find a good balance of enough flow vs money spent.

Or is what I have "good enough"? I feel like most people will say no to this one because I see people have like 100x turnover and still add more pumps but why not ask.

And as a note I do have a bunch of euphyllia and softies still, not sure if suddenly increasing flow a bunch will impact then negatively?

what does your rock work look like? that will be a huge factor in your flow.

flow is more important than light IMO. esp for SPS. a gyre on 100% in a 75 is a good place to start for sure, I'd want 2 of them to offset eventually. I have a icecap 3k in my 90 gallon set to 80%. and then a cheapy sun 3100gph power head on the other side. the few SPS frags I have are doing great and encrusting and growing quickly.

wdavid · Jul 16, 2018

Nimitz87 said:
what does your rock work look like? that will be a huge factor in your flow.

flow is more important than light IMO. esp for SPS. a gyre on 100% in a 75 is a good place to start for sure, I'd want 2 of them to offset eventually. I have a icecap 3k in my 90 gallon set to 80%. and then a cheapy sun 3100gph power head on the other side. the few SPS frags I have are doing great and encrusting and growing quickly.

A few caves towards the back of the tank basically. I'll try to find a good photo. I'm debating between 2 mp40s, 2 maxpects, or 2 apex compatible jebaos. I did spend a ton of money upgrading so I may just get the jebaos for now but we'll see.