Capn's Flow Thread got me worried...

paintballer768 · 08/21/2008, 10:39 PM

I have a 24 gallon nano. Top half is being turned into SPS only. Mid/bottom is LPS and zoanthids (LPS like candy canes, duncan, acans, micros). Currently running a MJ900. I need enough flow that it will deliver to the top half well enough for the SPS to be happy, yet not make my LPS on the bottom and middle mad and too aggitated. I ordered the Sure Flow mod today and got it, but thats WAYYYYY too much flow. So I sold the mod kit, and just ordered a Koralia 1. Do you all think this will be able to provide sufficient flow across the top half of the tank???

All comments welcome!!

Toddrtrex · 08/21/2008, 10:42 PM

I have a couple of K 1s in my 29 ( 30" long ) and I find them too weak for it. I moved an old SEIO 620 into to help, and think that is alot better.

If you want to stick with the Koralias, you may want to try the 2.

I have a Haddoni carpet on the sand bed, which don't like a lot of direct flow, so I think you will be fine with your LPS.

paintballer768 · 08/21/2008, 10:44 PM

Its something like 17" wide. So subtract the length of the K from that, and thats the distance I need strong flow for. K1 or 2 do you all think?

Toddrtrex · 08/21/2008, 10:45 PM

Still have a feeling that even with it only being 17", still think it will be a bit weak.

paintballer768 · 08/21/2008, 10:49 PM

Ehh ok. Gotta cancel my order tomorrow morning and replace with it a K2. Lemme post a pic and see what you all think...

The top rock is now positioned a little differently to the right, with the piece of the green frag on it. Now its alot like 1 larger rock, with plenty of places for plugs. So thats where Im going to load it up at.

paintballer768 · 08/22/2008, 06:55 AM

What does everyone else think too? Phones dont open for any other 2 hours

phish guy · 08/22/2008, 09:39 AM

i think a #1 would be ok. if you go with the #2 just be sure to point it upwards to try and limit its blast goin onto your LPS.

LionfishFinatic · 08/22/2008, 09:53 AM

i have a k2 and a k3 in my 29 and i still think there is not enough flow.

you need to have the polyps swayiong in a random flow and when your corals get bigger they need MORE flow to get through all the branches. BTW i also added a modded maxijet1200 yesterday.

Racenrich · 08/22/2008, 11:19 AM

The 14g nano I once had, was running 2-MJ 1200's in it! granite alot of flow, but the corals love it.
Just put some rock in the way of the softies and such...you wont regret the extra flow!

HTH

paintballer768 · 08/22/2008, 12:22 PM

My major worries are my acans, candy canes, and my duncans. Theyre all near the bottom, so the flow that comes off the side walls and across the middle can be semi-turbulent, especially towards my baby duncan haha. This is all in the front left corner mostly, so the SPS are in the back right corner, so I figure if the K2 is aimed at the SPS, by the time it comes around, itll hopefully be a little slower by the time it reaches the LPS.

pony_killer · 08/22/2008, 12:44 PM

quit being a pansy and mod an mj900 or 1200

paintballer768 · 08/22/2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pony_killer
quit being a pansy and mod an mj900 or 1200

Already did that, and it nearly shot my unmounted frags across the tank.

LionfishFinatic · 08/22/2008, 01:13 PM

i wouldn't "aim" it at anything but the wall or the rockwork. once the flow bounces off everything it is a very nice random flow. also if you purposely aim a PH at anything, even SPS, it will blow the tissue right off of it. HTH

paintballer768 · 08/22/2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LionfishFinatic
i wouldn't "aim" it at anything but the wall or the rockwork. once the flow bounces off everything it is a very nice random flow. also if you purposely aim a PH at anything, even SPS, it will blow the tissue right off of it. HTH

Got it, Ill probably be better off aiming it at the wall near the SPS and having it bounce off that towards the corals.

wilsonh · 08/22/2008, 05:30 PM

Due to major house renovations and other reasons, a few months ago I pulled down my reef, and have just kept frags of a few favorite hard to get sps, plus some softie frags and 2 small fish, in a small 15 gallon tank. It has a small HOB skimmer on it and hardly any flow.
It is the last place you would expect sps to do well but to my surprise the frags are doing and growing awesome plus more pe than I have ever seen before. I am starting to wonder if we go overboard on flow, I think it may be more important to have just enough gentle movement to keep things clean.
BTW the sps frags are growing right alongside low flow softies such as torch and candycane. They are all small frags & i've just managed to keep them all out of stinging range of each other, all are doing well.

DidYouSayReefer · 08/22/2008, 07:31 PM

It really depends on what "sps" you are referring to. SPS is too general of a term. You need to look at how the coral is growing, its shape, and where the coral may generally reside on the reef. Not all corals are from the crest were they are constantly pounded. Some are growing right next to the LPS you are also keeping. You need to decide what species you are trying to keep and then decide what type of flow is best. I think the 1s will do just fine for most. At least it will be a happy medium with the LPS.

wilsonh · 08/22/2008, 10:19 PM

The sps I am referring to includes the ones in my avatar, or at least frags from them.

BangkokMatt · 08/22/2008, 10:22 PM

As a rough guide sps requires at least 40x turnover from the powerheads. I have got 80x

flyyyguy · 08/22/2008, 10:32 PM

oops

paintballer768 · 08/22/2008, 11:04 PM

Heres an idea too. I have 2 1/2 inch frags of two different types of green acropora. My MJ900 is pointed directly at them, and the water only goes about 5 inch until it hits the rock the corals are on. These frags are showing full polyp extension (idk about full, but you get the point that PE is very good) and have been growing for the month they've been added. The other frags are going to be placed on a rock to the right of it, yet angled so the flow will collide with them if it were a little stronger, and not laminar.

I think the Koralias water movement capabilities (moving in a not-laminar fashion) and that this new K2 I ordered is just under 3x stronger than the MJ, I think I will be ok. On top of being ok, with the flow needing to be same speed for only 2-3" farther than it is now, I think almost any SPS (acro, mille, monti, stylo, pocci) will be happy

Everyones Hero · 08/22/2008, 11:42 PM

One thing I noticed about my K2 vs my Maxi-Jets or Penguin is how concentrated the flow is. With the MJs & Penguin the flow is very concentrated, even as distance increases. With my K2, which flows twice as much as my Penguin, the flow feels much gentler.

I think that has to do with the opening to the K2 vs the Penguin.

paintballer768 · 08/22/2008, 11:55 PM

More gentle? Thats not good LOL. Ill see how it feels, it should be here on tuesday or wednesday. Worst comes to worst, I sell it online again in a day, and order the K3 for once and for all.

Everyones Hero · 08/23/2008, 12:49 AM

That was a bad choice of words.

You know how when you put your hand in front of a Maxi Jet you can feel it push hard right in one spot? My K2 isn't like that.

It'd say the opening to the K2 is about 2" wide & the water pressure is the same over that entire opening.

paintballer768 · 08/23/2008, 09:45 AM

Its like the maxijet is like putting your finger over the hose and making it stronger, and the Koralia is like just letting the hose run. Is that a way to think about it?

Everyones Hero · 08/23/2008, 11:02 AM

Kind of. I'd say it's more of the Korilla is using a wider hose so more water can move through the opening with lower pressure. 100g/minute through a garden hose will have a much higher pressure than 100g/minute through a fire hose.

08/21/2008, 10:44 PM	#3
paintballer768 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South FL Posts: 227	Its something like 17" wide. So subtract the length of the K from that, and thats the distance I need strong flow for. K1 or 2 do you all think? __________________ -Jeff Current Tank Info: 24 gallon mixed SPS LPS Zoas

08/21/2008, 10:45 PM	#4
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Still have a feeling that even with it only being 17", still think it will be a bit weak. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

08/21/2008, 10:49 PM	#5
paintballer768 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South FL Posts: 227	Ehh ok. Gotta cancel my order tomorrow morning and replace with it a K2. Lemme post a pic and see what you all think... The top rock is now positioned a little differently to the right, with the piece of the green frag on it. Now its alot like 1 larger rock, with plenty of places for plugs. So thats where Im going to load it up at. __________________ -Jeff Current Tank Info: 24 gallon mixed SPS LPS Zoas

08/22/2008, 06:55 AM	#6
paintballer768 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South FL Posts: 227	What does everyone else think too? Phones dont open for any other 2 hours __________________ -Jeff Current Tank Info: 24 gallon mixed SPS LPS Zoas

08/22/2008, 09:39 AM	#7
phish guy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South NJ Posts: 1,003	i think a #1 would be ok. if you go with the #2 just be sure to point it upwards to try and limit its blast goin onto your LPS. __________________ Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people. Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Reef, Reeftech LEDs ( on their way out for reefbreeder Photons), Reef Octoput NWB250, Custom made Sump/Refufium, Mp40wES, Koralia's. SPS, LPS, Zoas/Palys

08/21/2008, 10:39 PM	#1
paintballer768 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South FL Posts: 227	Capn's Flow Thread got me worried... I have a 24 gallon nano. Top half is being turned into SPS only. Mid/bottom is LPS and zoanthids (LPS like candy canes, duncan, acans, micros). Currently running a MJ900. I need enough flow that it will deliver to the top half well enough for the SPS to be happy, yet not make my LPS on the bottom and middle mad and too aggitated. I ordered the Sure Flow mod today and got it, but thats WAYYYYY too much flow. So I sold the mod kit, and just ordered a Koralia 1. Do you all think this will be able to provide sufficient flow across the top half of the tank??? All comments welcome!!

08/21/2008, 10:42 PM	#2
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I have a couple of K 1s in my 29 ( 30" long ) and I find them too weak for it. I moved an old SEIO 620 into to help, and think that is alot better. If you want to stick with the Koralias, you may want to try the 2. I have a Haddoni carpet on the sand bed, which don't like a lot of direct flow, so I think you will be fine with your LPS. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

08/22/2008, 09:53 AM	#8
LionfishFinatic Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 693	i have a k2 and a k3 in my 29 and i still think there is not enough flow. you need to have the polyps swayiong in a random flow and when your corals get bigger they need MORE flow to get through all the branches. BTW i also added a modded maxijet1200 yesterday. __________________ " Hours spent in thoughtful silence, help us make the right decisions, more than days and days of talking." --Meteu Current Tank Info: starting a 125g SPS dominated reef

08/22/2008, 11:19 AM	#9
Racenrich Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NWI, St. John Posts: 2,083	The 14g nano I once had, was running 2-MJ 1200's in it! granite alot of flow, but the corals love it. Just put some rock in the way of the softies and such...you wont regret the extra flow! HTH __________________ Home of the $15 FRAGS... Current Tank Info: 67g long (72x12x18), 30g Sump....10.5.yr old watchman golby!

08/22/2008, 12:22 PM	#10
paintballer768 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South FL Posts: 227	My major worries are my acans, candy canes, and my duncans. Theyre all near the bottom, so the flow that comes off the side walls and across the middle can be semi-turbulent, especially towards my baby duncan haha. This is all in the front left corner mostly, so the SPS are in the back right corner, so I figure if the K2 is aimed at the SPS, by the time it comes around, itll hopefully be a little slower by the time it reaches the LPS. __________________ -Jeff Current Tank Info: 24 gallon mixed SPS LPS Zoas

08/22/2008, 12:44 PM	#11
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	quit being a pansy and mod an mj900 or 1200

08/22/2008, 01:13 PM	#13
LionfishFinatic Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 693	i wouldn't "aim" it at anything but the wall or the rockwork. once the flow bounces off everything it is a very nice random flow. also if you purposely aim a PH at anything, even SPS, it will blow the tissue right off of it. HTH __________________ " Hours spent in thoughtful silence, help us make the right decisions, more than days and days of talking." --Meteu Current Tank Info: starting a 125g SPS dominated reef

08/22/2008, 05:30 PM	#15
wilsonh Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 345	Due to major house renovations and other reasons, a few months ago I pulled down my reef, and have just kept frags of a few favorite hard to get sps, plus some softie frags and 2 small fish, in a small 15 gallon tank. It has a small HOB skimmer on it and hardly any flow. It is the last place you would expect sps to do well but to my surprise the frags are doing and growing awesome plus more pe than I have ever seen before. I am starting to wonder if we go overboard on flow, I think it may be more important to have just enough gentle movement to keep things clean. BTW the sps frags are growing right alongside low flow softies such as torch and candycane. They are all small frags & i've just managed to keep them all out of stinging range of each other, all are doing well.

08/22/2008, 07:31 PM	#16
DidYouSayReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 159	It really depends on what "sps" you are referring to. SPS is too general of a term. You need to look at how the coral is growing, its shape, and where the coral may generally reside on the reef. Not all corals are from the crest were they are constantly pounded. Some are growing right next to the LPS you are also keeping. You need to decide what species you are trying to keep and then decide what type of flow is best. I think the 1s will do just fine for most. At least it will be a happy medium with the LPS. __________________ Hair algae is your tank hitting puberty. You can't stop it. Just let it happen. In time, this too will pass. Current Tank Info: 110 gal w/ 55 gal sump mixed reef

08/22/2008, 10:19 PM	#17
wilsonh Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 345	The sps I am referring to includes the ones in my avatar, or at least frags from them.

08/22/2008, 10:22 PM	#18
BangkokMatt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Krung Thep Posts: 3,100	As a rough guide sps requires at least 40x turnover from the powerheads. I have got 80x __________________ I've spent a lot of money on booze, women and fish. The rest I just squandered. Current Tank Info: 150g sps Reef (now FOWLR after a devastating crash due to chiller) , 2x400w MH (Icecap ballast, Lumenmax 2, Reeflux 12k SE), Deltec AP701, Grotech Tec III, Chiller, 2 x Tunze 6101, 1 x 6205 (+ m/c), bla bla

08/22/2008, 10:32 PM	#19
flyyyguy King of the white corals Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,239	oops __________________ I like holding hands, snuggling, and long walks on the beach

08/22/2008, 11:04 PM	#20
paintballer768 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South FL Posts: 227	Heres an idea too. I have 2 1/2 inch frags of two different types of green acropora. My MJ900 is pointed directly at them, and the water only goes about 5 inch until it hits the rock the corals are on. These frags are showing full polyp extension (idk about full, but you get the point that PE is very good) and have been growing for the month they've been added. The other frags are going to be placed on a rock to the right of it, yet angled so the flow will collide with them if it were a little stronger, and not laminar. I think the Koralias water movement capabilities (moving in a not-laminar fashion) and that this new K2 I ordered is just under 3x stronger than the MJ, I think I will be ok. On top of being ok, with the flow needing to be same speed for only 2-3" farther than it is now, I think almost any SPS (acro, mille, monti, stylo, pocci) will be happy __________________ -Jeff Current Tank Info: 24 gallon mixed SPS LPS Zoas

08/22/2008, 11:42 PM	#21
Everyones Hero Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,154	One thing I noticed about my K2 vs my Maxi-Jets or Penguin is how concentrated the flow is. With the MJs & Penguin the flow is very concentrated, even as distance increases. With my K2, which flows twice as much as my Penguin, the flow feels much gentler. I think that has to do with the opening to the K2 vs the Penguin.

08/22/2008, 11:55 PM	#22
paintballer768 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South FL Posts: 227	More gentle? Thats not good LOL. Ill see how it feels, it should be here on tuesday or wednesday. Worst comes to worst, I sell it online again in a day, and order the K3 for once and for all. __________________ -Jeff Current Tank Info: 24 gallon mixed SPS LPS Zoas

08/23/2008, 12:49 AM	#23
Everyones Hero Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,154	That was a bad choice of words. You know how when you put your hand in front of a Maxi Jet you can feel it push hard right in one spot? My K2 isn't like that. It'd say the opening to the K2 is about 2" wide & the water pressure is the same over that entire opening.

08/23/2008, 09:45 AM	#24
paintballer768 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South FL Posts: 227	Its like the maxijet is like putting your finger over the hose and making it stronger, and the Koralia is like just letting the hose run. Is that a way to think about it? __________________ -Jeff Current Tank Info: 24 gallon mixed SPS LPS Zoas

08/23/2008, 11:02 AM	#25
Everyones Hero Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,154	Kind of. I'd say it's more of the Korilla is using a wider hose so more water can move through the opening with lower pressure. 100g/minute through a garden hose will have a much higher pressure than 100g/minute through a fire hose.