Too much flow?

[Kial]

I have a Waterbox frag 145 with 2x SOW 20 jabao wavemakers. One on each end, but not completely opposite.

With both on it seems like there is wayyy to much flow. I have them both on W1 at lowest speed and dialed to slow.

I have just added 2x small clowns which are the first additions to the tank and it looked like they were fighting hard to swim against the current.

Does anyone have any experience with these pumps and if I should keep 1 turned off for the clowns sake. Currently switched one off anyway until I get some more info.

Thanks

 

[Sean Clark]

I let the livestock in the tank determine my flow.

 

[Calvin]

Idk about those pumps, but I know in my tank I run the flow pretty high so it can reach all the way across my tank (Waterbox Reef 220.6) and all IMO the fish will figure out where the flow patterns are. Every once in a while you will see them get pushed pretty good but they just loop back around and just keep going. I would say as long as it's not blowing g your sand around or cause the sand to pile up in certain spot and be deeper then other then I would say it's fine. But depending on what route you want to go with coral stocking is where you should really worry about it.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have a Waterbox frag 145 with 2x SOW 20 jabao wavemakers. One on each end, but not completely opposite.

With both on it seems like there is wayyy to much flow. I have them both on W1 at lowest speed and dialed to slow.

I have just added 2x small clowns which are the first additions to the tank and it looked like they were fighting hard to swim against the current.

Does anyone have any experience with these pumps and if I should keep 1 turned off for the clowns sake. Currently switched one off anyway until I get some more info.

Thanks

Two thoughts: one, some fish choose to “surf” in the current, so maybe the clowns are seeking out the higher flow when you see them fighting to swim against it. Two, can you place the pumps a little lower on the wall but point them toward the surface a bit? This would slightly reduce the velocity of the flow (I’m just assuming that if you pointed them up without moving them, they would create too much turbulence at the surface; hence my suggestion to lower them).

 

[Kial]

Two thoughts: one, some fish choose to “surf” in the current, so maybe the clowns are seeking out the higher flow when you see them fighting to swim against it. Two, can you place the pumps a little lower on the wall but point them toward the surface a bit? This would slightly reduce the velocity of the flow (I’m just assuming that if you pointed them up without moving them, they would create too much turbulence at the surface; hence my suggestion to lower them).

I've got them sort of as low as i can without blasting into rock work (thinking ahead for coral) or moving the sand.

I'll try angle it up more anyway and see how that goes as I already have a wave on the surface.

With the second pump shut off they do look alot more chilled. As I've just put them in I'll let them settle for a few days before changing it up again.

 

[Kial]

Idk about those pumps, but I know in my tank I run the flow pretty high so it can reach all the way across my tank (Waterbox Reef 220.6) and all IMO the fish will figure out where the flow patterns are. Every once in a while you will see them get pushed pretty good but they just loop back around and just keep going. I would say as long as it's not blowing g your sand around or cause the sand to pile up in certain spot and be deeper then other then I would say it's fine. But depending on what route you want to go with coral stocking is where you should really worry about it.

May just be that they will find a new spot to hang out as I have only put them in today. Hopefully out the way of the pump a bit haha.

With the flow from 1 pump I could probably stick with that as I'm planning to go softies/lps. However would like the increased flow to keep sand bed cleaner etc

 

[Calvin]

May just be that they will find a new spot to hang out as I have only put them in today. Hopefully out the way of the pump a bit haha.

With the flow from 1 pump I could probably stick with that as I'm planning to go softies/lps. However would like the increased flow to keep sand bed cleaner etc

Where are the powerheads located in the tank?

 

[Kial]

Where are the powerheads located in the tank?

Each end.

One side nearer the front and the other nearer the back.

 

[Calvin]

Oh then yeah I wouldn't worry about it. I would personally run both. Unless the fish are being pinned up against the glass with the flow I wouldn't worry about it honestly.

 

[Calvin]

Each end.

One side nearer the front and the other nearer the back.

Oh as a side note on your flipper I would put the plastic scrapper because the metal one can scratch the glass pretty easily. I know from experience unfortunately.

 

[Kial]

Oh then yeah I wouldn't worry about it. I would personally run both. Unless the fish are being pinned up against the glass with the flow I wouldn't worry about it honestly.

Yeah I'll chuck the second back on in a day or so once they are settled etc. See if I can play around with it abit to try lower the flow slightly.

Actually wish I got smaller wavemakers as these ones are pretty large. Very prominent in the frag unfortunately

 

[Kial]

Oh as a side note on your flipper I would put the plastic scrapper because the metal one can scratch the glass pretty easily. I know from experience unfortunately.

As in swap the metal blade out for a plastic one?

 

[Calvin]

As in swap the metal blade out for a plastic one?

Yes, sorry I didn't specify that. The plastic one does a pretty good job, and if I need to really scrap the glass I use on of the continuum scrapers with a metal blade. Those work great.

 

[Kial]

Yes, sorry I didn't specify that. The plastic one does a pretty good job, and if I need to really scrap the glass I use on of the continuum scrapers with a metal blade. Those work great.

I'll have a look into it. Right now I'm just using the soft side without the scraper.

No lights going on yet for a few weeks anyway so shouldn't be cleaner the glass much

 

[Calvin]

Yeah I'll chuck the second back on in a day or so once they are settled etc. See if I can play around with it abit to try lower the flow slightly.

Actually wish I got smaller wavemakers as these ones are pretty large. Very prominent in the frag unfortunately

In all honesty just turn them both on and let them run over night and see what the sand looks like the next morning. If all the sand is still in place I wouldn't worry about, because at the end of the day the rock work will break up the flow and for coral placement when that time comes.

Will the pumps go any lower on the flow?

 

[Kial]

In all honesty just turn them both on and let them run over night and see what the sand looks like the next morning. If all the sand is still in place I wouldn't worry about, because at the end of the day the rock work will break up the flow and for coral placement when that time comes.

Will the pumps go any lower on the flow?

I've had both pumps running for the whole cycle and sand is pretty good. Get the odd hump in spots but nothing that noticeable. It's just when the clowns went in it made me question if its too much.

I've put them on the lowest setting and still seems alot. Need to figure out if a fast wave pattern (like quick blast) is better instead of a longer drawn out slower wave (if that makes sense)

 

[Calvin]

I've had both pumps running for the whole cycle and sand is pretty good. Get the odd hump in spots but nothing that noticeable. It's just when the clowns went in it made me question if its too much.

I've put them on the lowest setting and still seems alot. Need to figure out if a fast wave pattern (like quick blast) is better instead of a longer drawn out slower wave (if that makes sense)

I know on my tank I use the expanding pulse, but there is also a short pulse option and the description are literally word for word the exact same and say "Used to create a resonat standing wave.". But that being said I can also control the pulse length time in the mobius app (using 2 MP40's) to get the wave that I want in the tank. And then at night I run nutrient export from 12-3 am. I think on you WB Frag 145.4 the issue you will face will be the depth of the tank, at 16" that's pretty shallow and the flow doesn't have much time or space to dissipate before hitting the sand. But on the flip side you'll get killer par in that tank!

If you are wanting to go softie and lps in might not hurt to go with smaller powerheads. Realistically, (and Idk if you like AI products) but two Nero 5's would probably be a great option for that tank. Plus they are a really thin design and look clean, but still also have a certain degree of adjustability (which I believe is 15 degrees of adjustment, but don't quote on that.). My wife's cousin is running one on a 40 gallon aio that is no more than 2 foot wide and it goes low enough that it won't disturb the sand at all. Just and option.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Also, to note, once you get more in the tank, the flow will slow down a bit as it runs into the corals and such. I had a yellow assessor that came out at night to surf the waves. Very funny fish.

 

[Kial]

I know on my tank I use the expanding pulse, but there is also a short pulse option and the description are literally word for word the exact same and say "Used to create a resonat standing wave.". But that being said I can also control the pulse length time in the mobius app (using 2 MP40's) to get the wave that I want in the tank. And then at night I run nutrient export from 12-3 am. I think on you WB Frag 145.4 the issue you will face will be the depth of the tank, at 16" that's pretty shallow and the flow doesn't have much time or space to dissipate before hitting the sand. But on the flip side you'll get killer par in that tank!

If you are wanting to go softie and lps in might not hurt to go with smaller powerheads. Realistically, (and Idk if you like AI products) but two Nero 5's would probably be a great option for that tank. Plus they are a really thin design and look clean, but still also have a certain degree of adjustability (which I believe is 15 degrees of adjustment, but don't quote on that.). My wife's cousin is running one on a 40 gallon aio that is no more than 2 foot wide and it goes low enough that it won't disturb the sand at all. Just and option.

The nero 5s were exactly what i wanted to start with. Just budget wouldn't allow unfortunately. Looks like the jabao slw 20/30s are very similar and more budget friendly though so I may test those out.

Yeah par will be decent in this, will add a third light later on also as currently 2x hydra 32s should do the job

 

[Calvin]

The nero 5s were exactly what i wanted to start with. Just budget wouldn't allow unfortunately. Looks like the jabao slw 20/30s are very similar and more budget friendly though so I may test those out.

Yeah par will be decent in this, will add a third light later on also as currently 2x hydra 32s should do the job

Ahhh I understand the budget thing! Never used the hydras before but I would think that for what your wanting to do with LPS and softies that will be plenty. I couldn't seeing you need a 3rd.