Flow - Is It Enough?

[ihavecrabs]

Flow is one of those things that is so hard to explain. So I took a video and I am hoping to get some feedback from some of the SPS Gurus on whether I have the right amount and enough flow.

As far as my SPS go, they are doing very well, but I'm looking long term here

Return Flow: Insignificant other than it is enough to fully heat and return the water. I am using RFG heads that do randomize flow.

Two Vortech MP40's programmed via Apex:

​

PP16 and PP8 programmed via Apex:

Set Wave1
If Time 11:00 to 14:59 Then DuskDawn
If Time 15:00 to 21:59 Then Lt_Flush
If Time 22:00 to 23:59 Then DuskDawn
If Time 00:00 to 10:59 Then Night
If Output Timer_1 = ON Then DblFlush
If Output Timer_2 = ON Then Pulse
If Output Timer_3 = ON Then Wave2

Profiles:

• Wave1
• Wave 2
• Double Flush
• Left Flush
• Right Flush
• Night
• Pulse

 

[bubbaque]

Your tank seems to have high flow. I would maybe change the settings a little to where the current just doesn't meet in the middle all the time.

 

[ihavecrabs]

I would agree fully with that.. It doesn't all the time, but when they are full bore, it does meet in the middle.

I have it controlled through Apex. Sometimes both of the additional pumps are on (shown in video) while at other points, the left is on and right is off and vice versa.

I wonder how I might go about programming it to meet at a different point. Maybe add additional profiles with lower output on one of the pumps?

@FarmerTy this program was stolen shamelessly from you. What are your thoughts?

I'll update the main post with my basic program

@120reefkeeper @reefwiser @TUSI @Anirban for some additional input

 

[FarmerTy]

I love it! Great flow! If you're predominantly SPS, I'd keep it.

To offset where they crash if desired, just adjust power on pumps on one side. For instance, if both are crashing at 60% power in the middle, then make the left one 30% and it'll crash more to the left at that point. Hope that makes sense and works out in your system like mine if I make those adjustments.

The video looks like my pulse setting. One of my favorites. [emoji4]

 

[ihavecrabs]

I love it! Great flow! If you're predominantly SPS, I'd keep it.

To offset where they crash if desired, just adjust power on pumps on one side. For instance, if both are crashing at 60% power in the middle, then make the left one 30% and it'll crash more to the left at that point. Hope that makes sense and works out in your system like mine if I make those adjustments.

The video looks like my pulse setting. One of my favorites. [emoji4]

Yeah, it was on pulse for the vortechs and double flush for the PP's. That is probably about as crazy as it gets unless the Vortechs are at peak on Reefcrest.

 

[spartanman22]

I always blast my sps tanks with flow. On my 80 gallon deep blue I had 3 x MP40’s, and on my current 35 gallon I have 3 x MP10’s and am considering a fourth.

I run one MP10 100% in reef crest, and the other two are programmed. Eventually I’ll take the time to program in the third.

 

[ihavecrabs]

I always blast my sps tanks with flow. On my 80 gallon deep blue I had 3 x MP40’s, and on my current 35 gallon I have 3 x MP10’s and am considering a fourth.

I run one MP10 100% in reef crest, and the other two are programmed. Eventually I’ll take the time to program in the third.

I feel like reef crest is slow at times when it goes through the lull. Do you find this in your tank and does that bother you?

 

[spartanman22]

I feel like reef crest is slow at times when it goes through the lull. Do you find this in your tank and does that bother you?

I completely agree with that. The one in reef crest will eventually be tied into the correct program schedule but I’ve just been too lazy. I notice some dead spots on the sand, but as far as coral health is concerned everything seems to be happy with the flow as is.

 

[cracker]

looks like good flow to me. Blowing the sand just a little . that's how I like it !

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I run my Vortechs on Reef Crest Anti-Synch which seems to do a good job randomizing the flow.

 

[adtravels]

seems fine you may want to seek a counsellor for your tangs though.

 

[ihavecrabs]

seems fine you may want to seek a counsellor for your tangs though.

Haha, yes.

So these two get along so well.. The microbubbles had them freaked out and they both wanted the protection of the "cool cave". This is definitely not the normal behavior otherwise I would be separating the two of them.

 

[ourcoralreef]

Flow is one of those things that is so hard to explain. So I took a video and I am hoping to get some feedback from some of the SPS Gurus on whether I have the right amount and enough flow.

As far as my SPS go, they are doing very well, but I'm looking long term here

Return Flow: Insignificant other than it is enough to fully heat and return the water. I am using RFG heads that do randomize flow.

Two Vortech MP40's programmed via Apex:

​

PP16 and PP8 programmed via Apex:

Set Wave1
If Time 11:00 to 14:59 Then DuskDawn
If Time 15:00 to 21:59 Then Lt_Flush
If Time 22:00 to 23:59 Then DuskDawn
If Time 00:00 to 10:59 Then Night
If Output Timer_1 = ON Then DblFlush
If Output Timer_2 = ON Then Pulse
If Output Timer_3 = ON Then Wave2

Profiles:

• Wave1
• Wave 2
• Double Flush
• Left Flush
• Right Flush
• Night
• Pulse

Not sure if you do this but i set up a timer that every 2 hours (during the day) it makes a surge wave for 30 seconds helps move settling

I was going to tell you to lower your flow and only have it high at times but i saw you wrote that this is at the highest flow point of the day

 

[ihavecrabs]

Not sure if you do this but i set up a timer that every 2 hours (during the day) it makes a surge wave for 30 seconds helps move settling

I was going to tell you to lower your flow and only have it high at times but i saw you wrote that this is at the highest flow point of the day

Yeah, this is the highest flow point of the day, but it also happens a few times.. I just noticed my pictures didn't load. Essentially, every time my random program goes to dual flush mode and I'm on one of the high points in the high modes within the vortech program, I'll get that sort of flow. It is completely random though.

 

[adtravels]

I actually have lots of flow on my tank, I recently added a 4th mp40qd on my 36x24x24 90 gallon SPS tank.

Nothing is unhappy. I run my primary pump at 60 to 65 percent with a mix of nutrient/ tidal swell/ reef crest/ lagoon. The other side is in anti sync and the two on the back are in ecoback. The return pushes about 8-10 times the tank vol per hour. Thanks flow looks realistic.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

You can never have too much flow when it comes to sps. Me personally I crank up the flow until I get a little sand movement but not blowing it around. I would have my PP-8 both at 100% on Else/Random mode but my sand is my kimiting factor. Even though I thought I got a large enough grain sand its smaller than in my last tank and varies in size and does get blown around very easy. I dont like the look of BB tanks though. The goal is to have as much random crazy flow as possible.

 

[adtravels]

No sand for me, it would not work.