Torch talk. Par and flow edition.

[RBarth]

Alright let's try and answer a question I have that has apparently no right answer lol. So I ran across a video the other day from TSA talking about torch flow. Kinda made sense, kinda didn't. A specific question I have is about tentacle fullness. Flow in my cube is a constant battle.

Oh, before we go further the disclaimer is I have a full Euphyllia tank. I would like to take parameters out of this conversation assuming we can come to some mutual agreement that P: .10, N: 15, Mg 1500, Ca 420 and Alk 8.5 is generally acceptable.

Tentacle fullness. Flow and lighting. What causes Tentacles to get thin and stringy? Some say they don't get full till they get goooood flow. Some say they get thin from too much flow. Same conversation with lighting. PLEASE refrain from words like, moderate flow n lighting. That blanket statement helps no one. Par numbers are something we can all understand. Flow obviously is hard to quantify. Videos help.

I've got 7 torches in the tank and they all go thru different stages obviously but we all see people's tanks that clearly have figured it out. Hope this all made sense lol.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Tentacle fullness. Flow and lighting. What causes Tentacles to get thin and stringy? Some say they don't get full till they get goooood flow. Some say they get thin from too much flow. Same conversation with lighting. PLEASE refrain from words like, moderate flow n lighting. That blanket statement helps no one. Par numbers are something we can all understand. Flow obviously is hard to quantify. Videos help.

This right here lol! I have the hardest time with low, moderate, and high flow and lights! I just learned recently that my rainbow chalice I thought was in low to moderate light was probably 100 par too much for what is considered appropriate lighting.
As per your question I am within my 2nd year of reef keeping and also wonder this. I have torches doing well but they do not have the long stringy tentacles they had in wyswyg pics or at LFS. What I can tell you is that mine are placed between 150-240 par depending on which one.
here is a YouTube link to mine showing flow.

 

[RBarth]

Thanks so much for the video! Flow looks good there and very similar to TSA vid. My reefing addiction always has me tweaking. Juuuust when u figure it out something retracts. Lol. U tell some people u got ur torches at 200 and they act like u slapped their mom..."duuuude 140 max" then u hear, "mine didn't look good until they were at 350". I guess that's why I love this ****...

 

[RBarth]

Bump

 

[Floyd-]

Its all a mystery to me honestly. Like you said I have a single torch and I dont know if my lighting is high enough where its at. Some people say yes and others a huge no. Also flow im still tweaking after this tank has been going solid for a year!
Mine is in the sandbed and getting maybe 150par and the arms have always been SUPER tiny, maybe 1/2" long max.

 

[RBarth]

Definitely a weird dynamic. It just seems like it should be, if ur torch has skinny tentacles increase/decrease something. It's not like anything is retracted. These have plenty of flesh. Thanks for the help though!