Flow in tank before adding corals question

[azbigjohn]

Due to a move and long delay due to electrical issues in the intended fish room, I lost all my corals that were in "temporary storage" that ended up being almost 8 months. So, I am, in essence, restarting my 210 gallon tank from scratch.

It is now cycled, and my surviving fish are in the tank, and some new inhabitants will be entering QT soon.

I plan on letting the tank establish for 6-9 months before beginning to add corals into the tank. The tank is 6 feet long; I provided flow for my corals previously with 2 Gyre XF-200 pumps on opposite ends. Currently, I do not have the gyres in the tank, and the only flow in the tank is the return pump.

My question is, is it detrimental in any way to leave the flow that way until I begin adding corals? Or should I put the Gyres in now, perhaps a a much lower setting, to at least get the fish "comfortable" with excess flow?

Maybe I am putting too much thought into it, but I can't how much trouble I would have adapting if my home I had been living in for 6 months all of the sudden developed continuous, ever changing winds at 80-100 mph! ;Meh

 

[davocean]

I'm not sure what your return pump is putting out, but I'd have some decent flow for fish and to keep dietrus from settling in tank, at least 20-30x turnover would be my suggestion and more would not hurt.

I'm curious why you are waiting so long to add corals?

 

[azbigjohn]

I'm not sure what your return pump is putting out, but I'd have some decent flow for fish and to keep dietrus from settling in tank, at least 20-30x turnover would be my suggestion and more would not hurt.

I'm curious why you are waiting so long to add corals?

The main reason I am waiting is just for everything to stabilize. I haven't even hit the daitoms / uglies stage yet, as the tank currently only has 3 fish in it (a pair of Ocellaris clowns I have had for 7 years, and a huge pajama cardinal - I lost my Kole Tang and anthias group when my temporary hospital tank HOB filter died while I was at work; As it wasn't an electrical issue, but a pump issue, my backup battery bubbler didn't kick in. ) A secondary issue is where I want to put my money into. I want to build up my fish population, then I will worry about building up my coral collection again. Sadly, I have not yet hit the POwerball or MegaMillions, and the wife insists on paying the bills before I get buy "fish stuff"...

I have only about 6x turnover with my return pump as when I was running previously I wanted to slower flow through the refugium for nutrient export.

 

[davocean]

The main reason I am waiting is just for everything to stabilize. I haven't even hit the daitoms / uglies stage yet, as the tank currently only has 3 fish in it (a pair of Ocellaris clowns I have had for 7 years, and a huge pajama cardinal - I lost my Kole Tang and anthias group when my temporary hospital tank HOB filter died while I was at work; As it wasn't an electrical issue, but a pump issue, my backup battery bubbler didn't kick in. ) A secondary issue is where I want to put my money into. I want to build up my fish population, then I will worry about building up my coral collection again. Sadly, I have not yet hit the POwerball or MegaMillions, and the wife insists on paying the bills before I get buy "fish stuff"...

I have only about 6x turnover with my return pump as when I was running previously I wanted to slower flow through the refugium for nutrient export.

Well 6x is plenty for return, but you will most likely want to be running PH's in tank for more flow than that in the actual display.

 

[azbigjohn]

Well 6x is plenty for return, but you will most likely want to be running PH's in tank for more flow than that in the actual display.

Therein lies my original question. I have always heard (and used) high flow for reef tanks for coral health, but never for FOWLER tanks, which, in essence, my tank is for the time being...

I will probably add in my Gyres and start them up, although at a lower flow for the fish only period.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Pntbll687]

Therein lies my original question. I have always heard (and used) high flow for reef tanks for coral health, but never for FOWLER tanks, which, in essence, my tank is for the time being...

I will probably add in my Gyres and start them up, although at a lower flow for the fish only period.

Thanks for your input!

It would depend on what type of coral. I have maybe 10x turnover for my tank, and only use the return right now. I don't have any issues with lps and softy growing in my tank.

 

[azbigjohn]

It would depend on what type of coral. I have maybe 10x turnover for my tank, and only use the return right now. I don't have any issues with lps and softy growing in my tank.

Beautiful tank!

 

[davocean]

It would depend on what type of coral. I have maybe 10x turnover for my tank, and only use the return right now. I don't have any issues with lps and softy growing in my tank.

Is that a gigantea I see?
Do you always run at just 10x turnover in display?

 

[Pntbll687]

Is that a gigantea I see?
Do you always run at just 10x turnover in display?

No, it's a toadstool. It started as a baseball at my lfs, he couldn't sell it and I got it for $20 when it was the size of a softball. It's only been in my tank for maybe 8 months. It's about 12in across at the shortest point and 15-16 in across at the longest. The tank is 28in tall for reference.

I run two mag 12 return pumps, and that's it. I do get detritus that settles in some lower floor areas. I vacuum the first couple inches of sand once a month.

Beautiful tank!

Thanks! It's a pretty simple tank compared to some others on here. Ac powered return pumps and that's it. Some marineland "reef" lights, and a skimmer. I do run bio-pellets, that's as fancy as I get.