Flow pattern

[Travis Stewart]

Hello everyone. I probably would have gone a little bit stronger with my return pump, but I am supplementing with two powerheads as well. What is everyone running as far as a mode on their wave makers? When I do both on alternating pulse, I don’t see polyp extension blowing around like I think I should.

Comments or remarks?

 

[Travis Stewart]

Bump

 

[Yates273]

I’m actually running 3 powerheads in my 32 biocube. One on the left side glass that points down and blows behind rock work one on the right side rear underneath the return that flows forward hits the front glass and gives my corals a nice indirect flow and one on the right glass that blows against the one in the left. They are on a wavemaker. I must say I like the flow and how my soft corals move around. They are 2 Hydor 240 and 1 Hydor 425. None of them are blowing directly on any of my corals.i must say all of my corals look happy and fully extended.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

I have a 75g tank, 4ft long standard size. For flow I have 2 Jebao PP-8 wave makers, really liking them. I messed around with the power, wave speed and modes for several weeks until I was happy. I had then W1 sync'd together and not sync'd, C modes which switched from 1 pump to the other back and forth. Set them up to have a visable wave in the tank. Just about every combo possible. Moved the locations around, trying to find a good spot. Finally I am happy with the flow, not blowing sand all over and eliminated the dead spots.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Travis, a bit more info might be helpful to those who want to offer advice.
How big is your tank?
How much flow do you have now?
That is, how many gph is your return pump and your wavemakers?

Flow is the total gph of your return + all wavemakers / gallon size of the DT (only the DT). I have a 50g cube and my return from the sump isn't all that strong. But I have a big Reef Breeders RP-M extra thin wavemaker running as low a reate as I can along with 2 small Current wavemakers. IMHO, the more random and varied you can make the flow pattern the better. The few soft corals that I have that extend up off the rocks do move around quite a bit. But I thing just like corals need to acclimate to water quality and light, they can acclimate to flow over time as well. Don't rush to judgement if polyps aren't extending. Give them time.

 

[Katrina71]

You might try a random flow generator too

 

[Gareth elliott]

Like @Ron Reefman said need more information for specific recommendations.

But a general recommendation from my own experience with powerheads and return pumps.

If not sure how much you want flow wise. DC pumps offer a lot more in terms of options. You can buy bigger and tune down. If not enough can turn up slowly.
Second @Katrina71 i use a RFG on my return and coupled with a pulsing DC pumps creates a very random flow in my tank.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Travis, a bit more info might be helpful to those who want to offer advice.
How big is your tank?
How much flow do you have now?
That is, how many gph is your return pump and your wavemakers?

Flow is the total gph of your return + all wavemakers / gallon size of the DT (only the DT). I have a 50g cube and my return from the sump isn't all that strong. But I have a big Reef Breeders RP-M extra thin wavemaker running as low a reate as I can along with 2 small Current wavemakers. IMHO, the more random and varied you can make the flow pattern the better. The few soft corals that I have that extend up off the rocks do move around quite a bit. But I thing just like corals need to acclimate to water quality and light, they can acclimate to flow over time as well. Don't rush to judgement if polyps aren't extending. Give them time.

Hey Ron,

Thanks for the reply. I have a 75g-4’ tank and am currently using 1320gph on my return pump. I am running 2 coral box qp-9 that range in their output. It’s not so much polyp extension more want to give the coral the best and happiest flow possible. When I look at other tanks I don’t see the flow like in my tank.

 

[Yates273]

As far as the RFG do they need a strong return pump to really work. I have one and it doesn’t seem to really make a big difference in flow right now but I think it’s due to a weak return pump. The one issue I have with it is if it sits too close to surface it creates a vortex then blows air bubbles in tank.

 

[Jason mack]

Flow is one of the hardest things to get right in a tank imo.... ive heard people say .. if your sandbed isn’t moving then it’s not enough ...it’s only through experimenting and experience to get it right .. every tank is different.. different scape .. corals .. .. yes the more random flow you have is beter .. .but nobody can say .. put one here and one there and your good .. it’s not only polyp extension..but sps will grow flat over rocks if too much or branch when less .. trying too get all the dead spots on the sand bed so that detritus doesn’t build up .. it’s all trial and error .. IME !!

 

[Travis Stewart]

Flow is one of the hardest things to get right in a tank imo.... ive heard people say .. if your sandbed isn’t moving then it’s not enough ...it’s only through experimenting and experience to get it right .. every tank is different.. different scape .. corals .. .. yes the more random flow you have is beter .. .but nobody can say .. put one here and one there and your good .. it’s not only polyp extension..but sps will grow flat over rocks if too much or branch when less .. trying too get all the dead spots on the sand bed so that detritus doesn’t build up .. it’s all trial and error .. IME !!

I’m glad I hear you say this. I feel the same way. My tank is 5 months young and though I hate changing things, I have been trying to move flow around to make sure I’ve looked at all possibilities.