Too much flow?

tb27272 · 07/15/2007, 07:09 PM

I have recently tried switching from a MJ600 to a 1200 on my 29 gallon reef. I have been getting a lot of advise about lots of flow lately. Anyhow, the tank has a pair of RBTAs, a large trumpet and a large frogspawn. The frogspawn is not happy, he is not opening up like he used to do. Should I switch back to the previous powerhead? The high flow people were mostly SPS people. thanks tommy

sir_dudeguy · 07/15/2007, 08:17 PM

I'm one of the high flow people and i've only got 2 sps corals. I usually run at around 30x turnover but need more IMO

Anyways, the toad, he'll get used to it...both my toads get ticked off when i change the flow and get used to it later. Just as long as the powerhead isnt pointing directly at it, it will open up in a few days.

IMO, the 1200 is not too much in a 29. How many gph is it? I'm thinking its under a thousand. And personally, i dont like maxijets and stuff like those that have a really narrow output because they all have a very concentrated jet of water that is pretty violent flowing. I would suggest switching (not immediately...unless you got the money

) to stuff like Hydor Koralias and Seio's. Or a tunze, but those are really pricey from what i've seen. They all give a really wide, easy flow. You could be using way more gph than you'd think with one of those and it'd be fine. For a 29, i'd say get like either 1 seio 620, or like 1 koralia #3 (the koralia 3 does like 200 more gph, but it disperses its flow even more so it might seem like the same)

kuoka · 07/15/2007, 08:24 PM

Amen. There's no such thing as too much flow IMO.

aquarius77 · 07/15/2007, 08:29 PM

I rip flo through my softie tank but i dont keep any nems. Never have kept one.

Phong33 · 07/15/2007, 08:37 PM

MJ1200 puts out 295gph so that gives you a 10x turnover which IMO is too little. Go for at least 25x turnover. MJ are good but have very linear flow, you want something with a wider dispersed flow like the ones dude guy mentions. On my 29g mixed reef I have a 38x turnover.

fancyfish · 07/15/2007, 09:19 PM

I run two tunze 6100, have frogspawn bta torch etc. they all love the flow. Never can have too much

UrbanSage · 07/15/2007, 09:53 PM

If the tank was doing fine with the MJ600 then why not stick with it?

mnestroy · 07/15/2007, 10:44 PM

I think You can have to much flow, I've found my Long Tip Nem to be much happier when his arms are not being blasted side to side.

Many corals with adapt very well, heck I have a Xenia that is less than in inch from the power head (if they didnt spread like weeds i would move him) and hes bent at a 90degree angle, not much to look at cause theres so much movement you cant appreciate the 'pulsing'

Water movement is one of those tings you need to experiment with, if you added more and after a month things improved then stick with it, if everything looks stressed dial it back.

Power heads like the Tunze Nonostreams are very nice because they do not shoot such a fine jet of water like the MJ.

Oh yah, obviously if you are getting sand storms and sand piles you can try aiming upward, but if you see "waves" on your tank u maybe have to much movement for your size tank

07/15/2007, 07:09 PM	#1
tb27272 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: boone, nc Posts: 332	Too much flow? I have recently tried switching from a MJ600 to a 1200 on my 29 gallon reef. I have been getting a lot of advise about lots of flow lately. Anyhow, the tank has a pair of RBTAs, a large trumpet and a large frogspawn. The frogspawn is not happy, he is not opening up like he used to do. Should I switch back to the previous powerhead? The high flow people were mostly SPS people. thanks tommy

07/15/2007, 08:17 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	I'm one of the high flow people and i've only got 2 sps corals. I usually run at around 30x turnover but need more IMO Anyways, the toad, he'll get used to it...both my toads get ticked off when i change the flow and get used to it later. Just as long as the powerhead isnt pointing directly at it, it will open up in a few days. IMO, the 1200 is not too much in a 29. How many gph is it? I'm thinking its under a thousand. And personally, i dont like maxijets and stuff like those that have a really narrow output because they all have a very concentrated jet of water that is pretty violent flowing. I would suggest switching (not immediately...unless you got the money ) to stuff like Hydor Koralias and Seio's. Or a tunze, but those are really pricey from what i've seen. They all give a really wide, easy flow. You could be using way more gph than you'd think with one of those and it'd be fine. For a 29, i'd say get like either 1 seio 620, or like 1 koralia #3 (the koralia 3 does like 200 more gph, but it disperses its flow even more so it might seem like the same) __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

07/15/2007, 09:19 PM	#6
fancyfish Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,418	I run two tunze 6100, have frogspawn bta torch etc. they all love the flow. Never can have too much __________________ The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax. Albert Einstein I hate micro-bubbles!! Current Tank Info: 215 gallon oceanic Ultimate with starfire front, 3-250 watt metal halide, 4-36 inch 39 watt T-5 actinic and daylight bulbs, aquamedic turboflotor shorty with mesh mod 3-Tunze Turbelle® stream 6105 with controller, 40 gallon sump

07/15/2007, 09:53 PM	#7
UrbanSage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tea, SD Posts: 1,657	If the tank was doing fine with the MJ600 then why not stick with it? __________________ You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Current Tank Info: 270 gallon reef.

07/15/2007, 08:24 PM	#3
kuoka Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Cali Posts: 713	Amen. There's no such thing as too much flow IMO. __________________ They say don't talk about someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.. But if you do, at least you'll be ahead of them AND have their shoes! :) Current Tank Info: 72gal glass bow front reef, mostly LPS with some SPS, tangs, anthias, blenny, paired percula clowns, gold headed sleeper goby, red fairy wrasse

07/15/2007, 08:29 PM	#4
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	I rip flo through my softie tank but i dont keep any nems. Never have kept one.

07/15/2007, 08:37 PM	#5
Phong33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 371	MJ1200 puts out 295gph so that gives you a 10x turnover which IMO is too little. Go for at least 25x turnover. MJ are good but have very linear flow, you want something with a wider dispersed flow like the ones dude guy mentions. On my 29g mixed reef I have a 38x turnover.

07/15/2007, 10:44 PM	#8
mnestroy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 2,216	I think You can have to much flow, I've found my Long Tip Nem to be much happier when his arms are not being blasted side to side. Many corals with adapt very well, heck I have a Xenia that is less than in inch from the power head (if they didnt spread like weeds i would move him) and hes bent at a 90degree angle, not much to look at cause theres so much movement you cant appreciate the 'pulsing' Water movement is one of those tings you need to experiment with, if you added more and after a month things improved then stick with it, if everything looks stressed dial it back. Power heads like the Tunze Nonostreams are very nice because they do not shoot such a fine jet of water like the MJ. Oh yah, obviously if you are getting sand storms and sand piles you can try aiming upward, but if you see "waves" on your tank u maybe have to much movement for your size tank