Flow.. Too much, too little, just right...

[School of Fish]

I have a mixed reef Planet Aquarium 120g rimless. My question is about flow and circulation. I have a Vectra return and 2 MP 40s. The MP40s are on each side a few inches below the surface. A couple of my friends say I have too much water movement. Anybody have insight with a similar set up and settings that have been successful? I feel some LPS could open more. Recently added some SPS. Here re my settings... Any feed back would be very appreciated.

 

[hockeyhead019]

So I assume the concern is because of the LPS not opening? Or to make sure you have enough for the SPS? I've noticed that LPS seem to be kinda picky with the flow so I try and place them on rocks appropriately, maybe try setting up your aquascape so the flow is a little funneled creating some lagoons?

Out of curiosity, what are you using for you control app? Looks real sharp.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Out of curiosity, what are you using for you control app? Looks real sharp.

That's the EcoTech ReefLink app called EcoSmart Live

 

[hockeyhead019]

That's the EcoTech ReefLink app called EcoSmart Live

Nice, looks real sharp. Love the tank name too lol

 

[School of Fish]

Yeah that is the Ecosmart Live via reeflink. The reef name is because my wife is a red head LOL!
My main concern like you figured is the SPS having enough and allow my LPS on the floor to open. I am new to the SPS. Here is a quick shot to give you idea.

 

[School of Fish]

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

For the flow issues, you may want to test turning down all of pumps a little bit and see how the corals react, it's sort of a tweak and see type of thing. LPS corals generally like lower flow and the way you have your powerheads would have the most intense flow towards the top, so powerhead placement shouldn't be the issue. However, the LPS that I can see look pretty good, especially that bubble coral!

Another potential thing that may be happening is the return flow being reflected off the glass and hitting the LPS at the bottom, same can be said about lighting.

What are your water parameters like? LPS corals will react poorly to too little nitrate or phosphate in the water and may recede a bit.

 

[Whipples]

I run an mp40 on one side and two mp10s opposite on a 4' tank (until I can switch out for mp40) antisync reef crest all day and the mp10 go from 55-75% all day, and the mp40 41-55%. My hammers and octospawn open like crazy and sps has both polyp extension and encrusting. Having the two powerheads fight each other helps creat a lower flow corner for my LPs garden.

 

[School of Fish]

For the flow issues, you may want to test turning down all of pumps a little bit and see how the corals react, it's sort of a tweak and see type of thing. LPS corals generally like lower flow and the way you have your powerheads would have the most intense flow towards the top, so powerhead placement shouldn't be the issue. However, the LPS that I can see look pretty good, especially that bubble coral!

Another potential thing that may be happening is the return flow being reflected off the glass and hitting the LPS at the bottom, same can be said about lighting.

What are your water parameters like? LPS corals will react poorly to too little nitrate or phosphate in the water and may recede a bit.

Yes I think the reflection off the glass is a flow deal. I guess point them away to farthest point to hit the glass? What do you mean light reflection on glass? never thought about that great point.

 

[School of Fish]

I run an mp40 on one side and two mp10s opposite on a 4' tank (until I can switch out for mp40) antisync reef crest all day and the mp10 go from 55-75% all day, and the mp40 41-55%. My hammers and octospawn open like crazy and sps has both polyp extension and encrusting. Having the two powerheads fight each other helps creat a lower flow corner for my LPs garden.

So your Mp10s are running at 20% -35% if in anti-sync because they would be 55-75% of the max speed of the MP40.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Yes I think the reflection off the glass is a flow deal. I guess point them away to farthest point to hit the glass? What do you mean light reflection on glass? never thought about that great point.

Light will bounce off of the glass as it spreads and sometimes create a higher par area than you would expect even at deeper areas in the tank.

I used to point my overflow nozzles towards the corners of my tank to help disperse the flow better. I now have random flow generators that help disperse it even more so no one area receives a ton of flow at once.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

I have a mixed reef Planet Aquarium 120g rimless. My question is about flow and circulation. I have a Vectra return and 2 MP 40s. The MP40s are on each side a few inches below the surface. A couple of my friends say I have too much water movement. Anybody have insight with a similar set up and settings that have been successful? I feel some LPS could open more. Recently added some SPS. Here re my settings... Any feed back would be very appreciated.

When I had my pumps running against each other at full intensity, some of my corals were gettting hit pretty hard. Even the sps couldn't handle it. So I shifted the schedule of the pumps in a way that gives one pump priority at any given time. This seems to work great.

 

[Whipples]

So your Mp10s are running at 20% -35% if in anti-sync because they would be 55-75% of the max speed of the MP40.

Correct. Which works nicely for creating some return flow against the MP40 but is still a work in progress. It is also enough that it can push some water back against the mp40 and I've seen polyps going both ways on the SPS, so creating some decent turbulent flow throughout the day where they are and nowhere near max. When I was toying with it I had the mp10s off for a brief second and the MP40 return gyre was enough to nearly tear my hammers off their heads. At some point I would like to replace them with a second MP40 so I get more consistent left-right fluctuation throughout the day, which is in my mind how I picture ocean currents.

 

[School of Fish]

Correct. Which works nicely for creating some return flow against the MP40 but is still a work in progress. It is also enough that it can push some water back against the mp40 and I've seen polyps going both ways on the SPS, so creating some decent turbulent flow throughout the day where they are and nowhere near max. When I was toying with it I had the mp10s off for a brief second and the MP40 return gyre was enough to nearly tear my hammers off their heads. At some point I would like to replace them with a second MP40 so I get more consistent left-right fluctuation throughout the day, which is in my mind how I picture ocean currents.

I like your approach.