Sps Nightmare

[SeaDweller]

Oh yeah!

 

[LARedstickreefer]

That PE...Maybe I need one of these bombs?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

That PE...Maybe I need one of these bombs?

I’ve always had good PE. I accredit it to using mild flow but it could be from the elevated nutrients, +1350 mag, +450 cal, the spectrum, I don’t run my skimmer when the lights are on, etc. Who knows really.

 

[LARedstickreefer]

I’ve always had good PE. I accredit it to using mild flow but it could be from the elevated nutrients, +1350 mag, +450 cal, the spectrum, I don’t run my skimmer when the lights are on, etc. Who knows really.

What’s your turn over? I know it’s relative, but maybe I’m going nuts with mine? My PE is there, but nowhere like yours.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

What’s your turn over? I know it’s relative, but maybe I’m going nuts with mine? My PE is there, but nowhere like yours.

I’m not sure, but it’s not much. It’s a 50 gallon cube with 2 mp40s mounted on the back wall facing the front and each set at a speed of 20% on a 10 second gyre pulse. I like almost zero flow every 8-10 seconds.

 

[LARedstickreefer]

I’m not sure, but it’s not much. It’s a 50 gallon cube with 2 mp40s mounted on the back wall facing the front and each set at a speed of 20% on a 10 second gyre pulse. I like almost zero flow every 8-10 seconds.

I’m rocking 100 times turn over, reef crest mode 100%. I better turn them down a bit and see

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I’m rocking 100 times turn over, reef crest mode 100%. I better turn them down a bit and see

How many vortechs and what size tank?

 

[LARedstickreefer]

How many vortechs and what size tank?

34g display. Two mp10s, on the back,
one on either side pointing to the front.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

34g display. Two mp10s, on the back,
one on either side pointing to the front.

I tried to post a video of my flow but I can’t get it to load.

 

[LARedstickreefer]

I tried to post a video of my flow but I can’t get it to load.

Over my pay grade.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Over my pay grade.

Mine too apparently

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Mine too apparently

Oh well. I think a lot ppl use way more flow than is needed, often times to the point that it stresses the sps. My fastest growing acros are in areas with almost no flow.

 

[LARedstickreefer]

Oh well. I think a lot ppl use way more flow than is needed, often times to the point that it stresses the sps. My fastest growing acros are in areas with almost no flow.

It’s definitely worth some experimenting. I’ll turn my flow down a bit, change up the pattern as well.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I came up with around 18-20x

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I believe it’s now safe to say I’m in the clear

 

[SeaDweller]

Weathered the storm pretty well, I’d say.

 

[C. Eymann]

Oh well. I think a lot ppl use way more flow than is needed, often times to the point that it stresses the sps. My fastest growing acros are in areas with almost no flow.

Beautiful corals you have there and glad you didn't suffer too bad from the malfunction.

I have tossed around this idea as well about increased flow /too much flow can stress corals out and stunt growth a bit, as I to have witnessed frags of the same species grow faster in lower flow environments, I dont believe this is due to stress, because if you have snorkeled or dove on a reef crest, flow and mass water movement is massive compared to home aquariums

I think it has more to do with the fact that Acropora esp will grow much more dense skeletons in higher flow environments, which means more calcification needs to take place to see visible growth

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Beautiful corals you have there and glad you didn't suffer too bad from the malfunction.

I have tossed around this idea as well about increased flow /too much flow can stress corals out and stunt growth a bit, as I to have witnessed frags of the same species grow faster in lower flow environments, I dont believe this is due to stress, because if you have snorkeled or dove on a reef crest, flow and mass water movement is massive compared to home aquariums

I think it has more to do with the fact that Acropora esp will grow much more dense skeletons in higher flow environments, which means more calcification needs to take place to see visible growth

I definitely get more vertical growth/less surface encrusting in lower flow versus the higher flow areas. When I say stress I’m taking about reefers that go way over board, bc that’s what they’ve been told acros NEED, and I just find this to be not true. I’m not saying no flow either, but I think the “as much flow as possible” advice is bad advice.

 

[C. Eymann]

I definitely get more vertical growth/less surface encrusting in lower flow versus the higher flow areas. When I say stress I’m taking about reefers that go way over board, bc that’s what they’ve been told acros NEED, and I just find this to be not true. I’m not saying no flow either, but I think the “as much flow as possible” advice is bad advice.

I agree with all points you have brought up, there is a big difference between "tons of flow" and "the right kind of flow", the "more the better" is definitely not sound advice.
Getting the correct type and amount of flow is something I feel many new to SPS easily mess up and will think they need to absolutely blast their first sps frag with direct laminar flow and subsequently fail.
The right kind of flow in a tank is much easier these days with the broad range of wave pumps available because back in the day unless you dropped 500 on a Tunze, other wave pumps didn't exist, and getting the right kind of flow for SPS was a near a type of artform.

I will agree in some cases of slower growth could very well be a stress response due to too much flow, but I also theorize flow in relation to skeleton density development can play a major part/variable as well when it comes to percieved visible growth.

Who knows for sure? all we can do is theorize!

 

[LARedstickreefer]

Beautiful corals you have there and glad you didn't suffer too bad from the malfunction.

I have tossed around this idea as well about increased flow /too much flow can stress corals out and stunt growth a bit, as I to have witnessed frags of the same species grow faster in lower flow environments, I dont believe this is due to stress, because if you have snorkeled or dove on a reef crest, flow and mass water movement is massive compared to home aquariums

I think it has more to do with the fact that Acropora esp will grow much more dense skeletons in higher flow environments, which means more calcification needs to take place to see visible growth

I knocked my flow rate down to 60% of what it was and my PE has definitely improved. I may knock it down even lower just to see the result.