Too much flow?
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KrisReef
10K Club member
Can’t see the video but as a point of reference these guys do live in the ocean where currents are variable.
An over blown lps will generally retreat into the skeleton while a well swept LPs will extend the arms/polyps out to maximize their exposure to the current to collect food and nutrients from the water column.
I have seen videos from farms that had currents that would probably sweep away most people/ swimming with fins unless they had an anchor line to hold fast to.
An over blown lps will generally retreat into the skeleton while a well swept LPs will extend the arms/polyps out to maximize their exposure to the current to collect food and nutrients from the water column.
I have seen videos from farms that had currents that would probably sweep away most people/ swimming with fins unless they had an anchor line to hold fast to.
Steve2020
Well-Known Member
IMO that is way to much flow and it looks like the flow is in one direction. It is best to have an alternating flow IMO. I recently got rid of the few SPS I had and going strictly LPS and Softies. I was really never happy with my flow as far as LPS is concerned so I decided to purchase some custom made Nem Guards with adjustable deflectors to replace my other Nem Guards and what a big difference this has made. Corals seem much happier. My tank is 84x30x24 and the issue I was having is being able to push water from one side of the tank to the other side but with the MP60's lowest speed being 3600gph, when running Reef Crest or Lagoon when one pump goes into a higher speed and the other goes low, the low speed side does not allow the higher speed side to push water future down the tank thus the corals at the ends of the tank only get directional flow. Over a year ago Ecotech told me that they understand this could be an issue with larger tanks and that they would lower the low speed of the Vortech's but they never did and have not answered my question on WHY NOT! This was before they were bought out.
I can send you a video of what my flow looks like with these deflectors tomorrow if you would like. Lights are off now unfortunately.
Attached is what these deflector guards look like. They are adjustable from 40-90 degrees I believe in 5 degree increments.
I can send you a video of what my flow looks like with these deflectors tomorrow if you would like. Lights are off now unfortunately.
Attached is what these deflector guards look like. They are adjustable from 40-90 degrees I believe in 5 degree increments.
Perfect, can you send me a vid tomorrow and a link to purchase those Nem Gaurds...I might be able to print them myself too.IMO that is way to much flow and it looks like the flow is in one direction. It is best to have an alternating flow IMO. I recently got rid of the few SPS I had and going strictly LPS and Softies. I was really never happy with my flow as far as LPS is concerned so I decided to purchase some custom made Nem Guards with adjustable deflectors to replace my other Nem Guards and what a big difference this has made. Corals seem much happier. My tank is 84x30x24 and the issue I was having is being able to push water from one side of the tank to the other side but with the MP60's lowest speed being 3600gph, when running Reef Crest or Lagoon when one pump goes into a higher speed and the other goes low, the low speed side does not allow the higher speed side to push water future down the tank thus the corals at the ends of the tank only get directional flow. Over a year ago Ecotech told me that they understand this could be an issue with larger tanks and that they would lower the low speed of the Vortech's but they never did and have not answered my question on WHY NOT! This was before they were bought out.
I can send you a video of what my flow looks like with these deflectors tomorrow if you would like. Lights are off now unfortunately.
Attached is what these deflector guards look like. They are adjustable from 40-90 degrees I believe in 5 degree increments.
Thanks alot
Steve2020
Well-Known Member
Attached are a few videos in Short Pulse and Lagoon Mode at 50%. Disregard some of the mess in the tank. I am adding sand back into the tank a little each day plus redoing some of the rockscape. Also I am not great at taking videos lol.
I have also attached the link for the Deflectors. You can also purchase from Etsy.
Smart Reef Integrations
www.smartreefintegrations.com
Short Pulse:
Lagoon Mode:
Looking good ! Thanks for links.Attached are a few videos in Short Pulse and Lagoon Mode at 50%. Disregard some of the mess in the tank. I am adding sand back into the tank a little each day plus redoing some of the rockscape. Also I am not great at taking videos lol.
I have also attached the link for the Deflectors. You can also purchase from Etsy.
Smart Reef Integrations
Short Pulse:
Lagoon Mode:
I’ve tried to fix the flow on mine. What ya think ?
zielit
New Member
Well I think I might have just did that. I have 2 hammers both over a year. One of them recently "deflated" and I'm quite convince it's dead. I do not suspect water quality is the issue otherwise both of them would probably die. I do have "internal UV pump" which I turn once at the blue moon but usually for an hour or 2 only as it generates stronger flow. About a week ago though I forgot to turn it off and it was running whole night.
Do you think that might be a reason? Will it recover or is it pretty much "fried" should I get it out?
That's the healthy one
Do you think that might be a reason? Will it recover or is it pretty much "fried" should I get it out?
That's the healthy one
Steve2020
Well-Known Member
Looks a little better but seems to be directional flow IMO. What powerheads are you running? In the video I only see what looks like an AI powerhead? What mode are you running?
Steve2020
Well-Known Member
Video has sound but screen is blank. Is that the MP40 in the photo you mentioned previously in your first post? If so, what mode are you running? Could you send a photo that shows the locations of your powerheads in respect to each other? Looks like your tank is a peninsula with an internal overflow if I am seeing it correctly. How many powerheads do you actually have?Well, I added new vortec pump covers and I think the flow is good now.
Steve2020
Well-Known Member
That Hammer is not happy to say the least. May be to far gone to recover. You can leave it in to see if it will recover but if you start to see a Brown Jelly substance appear I would remove it immediately because it could spread to your other corals. Brown Jelly Disease can spread fairly fast.Well I think I might have just did that. I have 2 hammers both over a year. One of them recently "deflated" and I'm quite convince it's dead. I do not suspect water quality is the issue otherwise both of them would probably die. I do have "internal UV pump" which I turn once at the blue moon but usually for an hour or 2 only as it generates stronger flow. About a week ago though I forgot to turn it off and it was running whole night.
Do you think that might be a reason? Will it recover or is it pretty much "fried" should I get it out?
That's the healthy one
I am confused about the UV pump thing you mentioned. Can you elaborate a little on that? Never heard of a pump feeding a UV causing flow issues. The pump feeds the UV and then the UV will discharge at a location you pick. Maybe you have a UV setup I am not familiar with. How many gallons is your system? Tank + Sump.
zielit
New Member
I have 80G no sump, use this UV device but just once in a while (1-2h every 2 weeks or so) SUNSUN JUP-01
I doubt it's BJD I don't see any symptoms. Other than that one night when I left that pump running for several hours which increased flow significantly there was no major changes in environment. I'm just surprised it took it down so fast.
It's been like that for a week already, I think I will let it be for few more days, but my hopes are really low.
Steve2020
Well-Known Member
IMO I doubt the flow output of that UV caused the issue. It can only output 210 gallons MAX. For an 80G tank that is only a flow rate of approx 2.5 times. Even with return pump flow and powerhead flow you run, that extra 2.5 turnover rate is negligible IMO. Depending on your type of corals and your rock scape design you should be running 10-50X tank turnover rate or even higher in some cases. Also running a UV 1-2hrs every 2 weeks or so defeats the whole purpose of using a UV and will have zero benefit for your tank. UV is to help to keep your water clear by killing bad free floating bacteria and algae. It will also help to reduce parasites. Both are dependent on flow rates based on the manufacturers recommendations. The way you are using it, bad bacteria, algae and parasites can reproduce as if your not using a UV at all. A little more complex than that but this is a simple uneducated answer.
I am in no way questioning you. Just trying to help and give you a little info you may not be aware of.
Steve2020
Well-Known Member
Now I see. 2 Mp40's and an AI. So, as far as the directional flow is concerned that I saw in the video, I think what is happening is that you have the MP40's on the same side along with the return which overpowers the AI on the opposite side. I believe the flow from the MP40's and the return in hitting the the opposite sides glass then moves downward and then across the bottom back towards the return side. Kind of like a circular motion top to bottom. One way to tell and how I check my flow is I put an airline close to one of the Vortech's to where it pulls in the air and discharges really fine bubbles. Just a thought. With an internal overflow like you have I think it makes it difficult to put opposing MP40's one on each side which is what I would do. I thing adjustable diverter guards might help and give you the flow you are looking for but don't quote me on that since I have zero experience with a peninsula tank with an internal overflow.
