Flow

Davoaldo · 02/14/2008, 09:06 PM

How do you determine what type of flow an area has?

A lot of articles always talk about things should be place in strong, low, moderate flow areas.

How do i work out whats a strong flow and whats a moderate flow?

If you have a 50g tank and you place a PH in the middle of no where rated at 20x turnover. Does the flow get through all of the tank eventually? Cause the energy has to go somewhere........

That brings up another question. Is it better to have 5 PH in the tank totally up to 20x turnover or just have one big one?

Thanks in advance.

Davoaldo · 02/14/2008, 11:14 PM

BUMP

Tswifty · 02/14/2008, 11:14 PM

I guess if you wanted to determine the flow in a specific area you could just stick your hand in the tank to feel it...?

As far as powerhead placement... what you are looking for here is strong spread out (not concentrated) random flows. Koralia and Tunze powerheads are known for this/ Most corals do not like static concentrated flows that you can get from a majority of powerheads.

In order to get a combination of strong and gentle flow you want to have your powerheads pointed in such a way so that their currents collide and produce offshoots, which will be gentler flows.

Also there are wave makers which will control your powerheads by turning them on and off at intervals to simulate waves and random currents.

Your corals will let you know if you have the correct flow, and if they do not respond well initailly it may just be an issue of placement or redirecting the flows in such a way which stimulates the coral.

One of the things you want to try to eliminate is "deadspots" or areas of no flow, because these are areas where deritus will settle and algae can take up residence.

An important thing to take note of here is that the turnover rate or total flow through your tank is not as important, meaning there is no set number. Random flows which produce offshoots combining both strong and gentle is what you should aim for, and your corals will let you know if your flow is correct.

Hope that helps.

jamesnmandy · 02/14/2008, 11:17 PM

in general, dont mix wavemaker/timers with the Koralia powerheads, just FYI

Tswifty · 02/14/2008, 11:18 PM

yeah i should have specified that... tunze has the controller, not koralia

02/14/2008, 09:06 PM	#1
Davoaldo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 177	Flow How do you determine what type of flow an area has? A lot of articles always talk about things should be place in strong, low, moderate flow areas. How do i work out whats a strong flow and whats a moderate flow? If you have a 50g tank and you place a PH in the middle of no where rated at 20x turnover. Does the flow get through all of the tank eventually? Cause the energy has to go somewhere........ That brings up another question. Is it better to have 5 PH in the tank totally up to 20x turnover or just have one big one? Thanks in advance.

02/14/2008, 11:14 PM	#3
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	I guess if you wanted to determine the flow in a specific area you could just stick your hand in the tank to feel it...? As far as powerhead placement... what you are looking for here is strong spread out (not concentrated) random flows. Koralia and Tunze powerheads are known for this/ Most corals do not like static concentrated flows that you can get from a majority of powerheads. In order to get a combination of strong and gentle flow you want to have your powerheads pointed in such a way so that their currents collide and produce offshoots, which will be gentler flows. Also there are wave makers which will control your powerheads by turning them on and off at intervals to simulate waves and random currents. Your corals will let you know if you have the correct flow, and if they do not respond well initailly it may just be an issue of placement or redirecting the flows in such a way which stimulates the coral. One of the things you want to try to eliminate is "deadspots" or areas of no flow, because these are areas where deritus will settle and algae can take up residence. An important thing to take note of here is that the turnover rate or total flow through your tank is not as important, meaning there is no set number. Random flows which produce offshoots combining both strong and gentle is what you should aim for, and your corals will let you know if your flow is correct. Hope that helps. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

02/14/2008, 11:18 PM	#5
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	yeah i should have specified that... tunze has the controller, not koralia __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

02/14/2008, 11:17 PM	#4
jamesnmandy Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 140	in general, dont mix wavemaker/timers with the Koralia powerheads, just FYI