More flow ?

[Rmckoy]

I’ve been debating if more flow is needed for a very long time ….
after scraping the glass ( which has been neglected for awhile )
The stuff floating around is moving but I wouldn’t say I have a ton of flow .

that being said is there any calculation for volume or tank size to give a estimate of what’s required for movement ?
does it change largely depending on livestock ?

 

[bushdoc]

Good question, many sources say 10-20 x turnover, but looks like reefers use 40-100 or higher times turnover, especially for SPS. I am not talking about return pump turnover, but powerhead turnover. I use around 100x, but I have controllable pumps and can decrease/increase flow on the fly.
My tank is at the moment mixed reef, aiming towards SPS.
FOWLR tanks need around 10-20, LPS less then SPS.
Other consideration is also fact that flow should not be constant, but rather changing and alternating., with occasional bursts. I create "Storm" 1-2x/day, lasting 10 min.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve been debating if more flow is needed for a very long time ….
after scraping the glass ( which has been neglected for awhile )
The stuff floating around is moving but I wouldn’t say I have a ton of flow .

that being said is there any calculation for volume or tank size to give a estimate of what’s required for movement ?
does it change largely depending on livestock ?

Often moderate is the happy median but will also depend on tank size and whether or not you have coral in there as some coral such as euphyllia, duncan, etc cant tolerate aggressive flow without getting damaged.

 

[Rmckoy]

Often moderate is the happy median but will also depend on tank size and whether or not you have coral in there as some coral such as euphyllia, duncan, etc cant tolerate aggressive flow without getting damaged.

I haven’t got back into stocking corals heavy as it once was .
now only palys , gsp , Xenia , and 2 small hammer frags

72”x27”x27”

one end I have a cp150 jeabo cross flow
Other end I have a scp180 jeabo cross flow
And a sw20 close to the one end pointing towards the middle .
all running at around 80%

Return pump is a 15000L dc jeabo pump running at 95%
Skimmer is run off of a 9000L dc pump running at 100%

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I’ve been debating if more flow is needed for a very long time ….
after scraping the glass ( which has been neglected for awhile )
The stuff floating around is moving but I wouldn’t say I have a ton of flow .

that being said is there any calculation for volume or tank size to give a estimate of what’s required for movement ?
does it change largely depending on livestock ?

In my experience, turn over is just one thing to consider. Each type and brand of power head puts out different flow. Some are shooting across the tank, while others have the same flow rate but are wide and seem like they hardly move water. I think flow rate is an old way of looking at this. Watch your tank, just by moving around what you already have may create better random flow in the tank. The tank will tell you what it wants.

 

[Rmckoy]

In my experience, turn over is just one thing to consider. Each type and brand of power head puts out different flow. Some are shooting across the tank, while others have the same flow rate but are wide and seem like they hardly move water. I think flow rate is an old way of looking at this. Watch your tank, just by moving around what you already have may create better random flow in the tank. The tank will tell you what it wants.

Well said and why I’ve left it along for so many years .
I am confident it’s ok . But is there room for improvement is my main question

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Well said and why I’ve left it along for so many years .
I am confident it’s ok . But is there room for improvement is my main question

If you're hammer is out and gently swaying randomly, your golden. Use him as your guide. I get random flow from 4 cheap regular power heads just by how they are placed . Just look for that random sway.

 

[Rmckoy]

If you're hammer is out and gently swaying randomly, your golden. Use him as your guide. I get random flow from 4 cheap regular power heads just by how they are placed . Just look for that random sway.

Thank you !