What is the amount of flow you need for lps/ softies?

BradsOcean · 05/20/2008, 02:54 PM

I am going to get my 40g going again and i was thinking of maybe putting like 3 of the nano koralia's in there for a total of 18x's turnover.....would that be enought or should i add one more? also, i would put one nano koralia on the left and right side glass, and one on the back, facing forward...would that be good?

Andrew · 05/20/2008, 03:02 PM

Keep in mind that pumps such as the Koralias and Tunze have a wide flow spread also. Softies and LPS prefer moderate flow. I would start out with one or two and go from there. Experiment around some until you get the desired flow that satisfies you and yours corals.

BradsOcean · 05/20/2008, 03:09 PM

ok, 1 nana koralia would only be 6 turnover...and 2 would be 12xs turnover...i have seen people w/ like 40 times turnover...so do lps and softies like low flow?

Andrew · 05/20/2008, 03:12 PM

they like anywhere from low to medium. It really depends on the coral itself and it's size. So... you'll have to do some experimenting with the placement of the corals as well. I mean i ran 4 tunze nano streams in my 37 without a problem. Good flow for just about any coral.

BradsOcean · 05/20/2008, 03:15 PM

and what were the gph on those? how much turnover did you have?

Michael · 05/20/2008, 03:19 PM

20 times the turn over in gallons is enough brad, the guys who run 30-40 times have hard corals who need very turbulent water flow, most soft corals need medium and some like shrooms low flow, i have 7 soft corals and it took awhile to adjust the flow so they were all happy, to start with they were being blown about i run 22 times turnover at present and i know for my tank this is more than enough, if i get hard corals then id think again though

BradsOcean · 05/20/2008, 03:25 PM

so what is considered:
low flow: 10xs?
medium: 20xs?
high: 30-40?

styndall · 05/20/2008, 03:26 PM

Don't go too crazy with powerheads. A lot of soft corals like lower areas of flow. Set up your tank so you have a few spots that are almost dead, a few with only a little current, some middle, and some that see water blowing every which way. Then place your corals according to what they need. Stick your pom pom xenia in a low-flow, high light spot, put your mushrooms in medium flow, etc..

Leave yourself options, so if something doesn't seem happy where it is, you can move it and change conditions.

Playa-1 · 05/20/2008, 03:58 PM

I would start with around 20X and go from there.

in2deep · 05/21/2008, 03:36 PM

IMHO it is almost as important as to which direction the flow is going and even small movements in aiming a powerhead can make a big difference. You can have alot of flow to keep the turnover high if you aim the flow away from certain corals. I have a 30 gallon with tons of flow but it took a while to get it that way by carefully positioning each powerhead and some are actually pointing directly at the bottom so the flow is diverted more.

payyourtoll · 05/21/2008, 04:05 PM

agreed, its all about positioning. You can add 10x and have everyone blowing over. You can add 3x this amount and with proper aim have everything happy.

05/20/2008, 02:54 PM	#1
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	What is the amount of flow you need for lps/ softies? I am going to get my 40g going again and i was thinking of maybe putting like 3 of the nano koralia's in there for a total of 18x's turnover.....would that be enought or should i add one more? also, i would put one nano koralia on the left and right side glass, and one on the back, facing forward...would that be good? __________________ the low cost of 3 Ramen meals a day is feeding my zoa addiction Current Tank Info: had a few small reefs in the past, researching for my future 125 :)

05/20/2008, 03:09 PM	#3
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	ok, 1 nana koralia would only be 6 turnover...and 2 would be 12xs turnover...i have seen people w/ like 40 times turnover...so do lps and softies like low flow? __________________ the low cost of 3 Ramen meals a day is feeding my zoa addiction Current Tank Info: had a few small reefs in the past, researching for my future 125 :)

05/20/2008, 03:15 PM	#5
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	and what were the gph on those? how much turnover did you have? __________________ the low cost of 3 Ramen meals a day is feeding my zoa addiction Current Tank Info: had a few small reefs in the past, researching for my future 125 :)

05/20/2008, 03:19 PM	#6
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	20 times the turn over in gallons is enough brad, the guys who run 30-40 times have hard corals who need very turbulent water flow, most soft corals need medium and some like shrooms low flow, i have 7 soft corals and it took awhile to adjust the flow so they were all happy, to start with they were being blown about i run 22 times turnover at present and i know for my tank this is more than enough, if i get hard corals then id think again though __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

05/20/2008, 03:25 PM	#7
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	so what is considered: low flow: 10xs? medium: 20xs? high: 30-40? __________________ the low cost of 3 Ramen meals a day is feeding my zoa addiction Current Tank Info: had a few small reefs in the past, researching for my future 125 :)

05/20/2008, 03:02 PM	#2
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Keep in mind that pumps such as the Koralias and Tunze have a wide flow spread also. Softies and LPS prefer moderate flow. I would start out with one or two and go from there. Experiment around some until you get the desired flow that satisfies you and yours corals.

05/20/2008, 03:12 PM	#4
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	they like anywhere from low to medium. It really depends on the coral itself and it's size. So... you'll have to do some experimenting with the placement of the corals as well. I mean i ran 4 tunze nano streams in my 37 without a problem. Good flow for just about any coral.

05/20/2008, 03:26 PM	#8
styndall Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 282	Don't go too crazy with powerheads. A lot of soft corals like lower areas of flow. Set up your tank so you have a few spots that are almost dead, a few with only a little current, some middle, and some that see water blowing every which way. Then place your corals according to what they need. Stick your pom pom xenia in a low-flow, high light spot, put your mushrooms in medium flow, etc.. Leave yourself options, so if something doesn't seem happy where it is, you can move it and change conditions.

05/20/2008, 03:58 PM	#9
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I would start with around 20X and go from there.

05/21/2008, 03:36 PM	#10
in2deep Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 880	IMHO it is almost as important as to which direction the flow is going and even small movements in aiming a powerhead can make a big difference. You can have alot of flow to keep the turnover high if you aim the flow away from certain corals. I have a 30 gallon with tons of flow but it took a while to get it that way by carefully positioning each powerhead and some are actually pointing directly at the bottom so the flow is diverted more.

05/21/2008, 04:05 PM	#11
payyourtoll Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Port Richey Posts: 666	agreed, its all about positioning. You can add 10x and have everyone blowing over. You can add 3x this amount and with proper aim have everything happy. __________________ Rob Current Tank Info: 150 reef - 29 clown