Too much flow possible?

[expo703]

I got pair of neptune wav's they are can do like 4,000 gph each I have a 135gal display just two clowns and CUC right now. I took out my two hydor 3rd gen koralia rated for 1350 and put one in a 20gal long QT is that to much flow for my QT tank? just have two pieces of PVC and a small powerhead that has airline tubing with a valve shoots some bubbles in there.. Should I take it out and maybe point the two koralia's at the front of the tank in my main display or leave one in the QT?

My new wav's seem to be making my 1" clowns hug the backwall and its not even full blast they are set @ like 50% lol i'm scared for them I plan on getting LPS,softies, and some easy SPS.

[whosurcaddie]

At half speed the pumps are giving you 29X turnover good for softies and LPS but not strong enough for SPS. 1300gph is too much flow for a 20 gallon qt. I have an 800gph powerhead in my 60 gallon qt and its plenty because the only thing breaking up the flow is the pvc.

[expo703]

Originally Posted by whosurcaddie

At half speed the pumps are giving you 29X turnover good for softies and LPS but not strong enough for SPS. 1300gph is too much flow for a 20 gallon qt. I have an 800gph powerhead in my 60 gallon qt and its plenty because the only thing breaking up the flow is the pvc.

My tank is 72x18x24(135gal) I have a sicce 5.0 return pump doing about 880gph but is tuned down to second lowest setting so I have no clue what gph that is.

Livestock:
big CUC and I have two clown fish currently(my clowns are only 1-1.5" and seem scared when I first put in the new pumps they were/are hugging the backwall lol is there a thing as to much flow?) .

Plan on SPS,LPS,softies, and few tangs.

So I SHOULD take out the 1350 3rd gen from my QT tank and either sell them (if anyone wants (2) two week old 3rd gen 1350gal koralis pm me =D ) or I could put them both on back wall facing the front of the tank? Then fine tune my two wav pumps that are on the sides of my tank?

Thanks.

[whosurcaddie]

You could use the koralias like you mentioned. What I would do is find a flow pattern that you like with your wav pumps and then find the dead spots (usually in the rear corners) and use the koralias to take away those dead spots.

You generally want 5x turnover with your return pump, so I would turn the return pump back to max if possible.

[anthonys51]

like the guy said i would shoot for about 80 percent flow rate. but remember most corals don't really want direct flow, even sps don't want 4000 gph blasting away at them from 5 inches away.
you want a nice flow,basically you could aim one up and one down across the tank maybe even get timers and have them running 20 mins on 20 off. rotating back and forth.

[expo703]

Man flow is confusing and hard to measure..I know apex is working on measuring flow but.. okay.. I have two drains (1 full syphon) with a ball value and another as a backup so a herbie style. My return pump probably only has 4-5feet of head and has a dial on it which its dialed basically all the way down second last notch.. if I put it on max (wide open) I have to turn my drain ball valve all the way open to keep up..(which is only a 3/4" bulkhead) my other backup drain is 1" bulkhead.

You generally want 5x turnover with your return pump, so I would turn the return pump back to max if possible.

so I need ~675gph off my return is that right? I don't know how to calculate that if my pump has 4-5feet of head that is about 880gph if its not dialed down right? Not sure how to measure it with the dial that is built into my pump. I have a vertex omega 150 idk what flow rates that need?


I'm going to put the two hydor's on back panel aiming downish and toward the center of the tank both of them kinda shooting at the same spot then till I see some deadspots how do you know what is a deadspot if I don't have any coral? I just have some algae :O I could use my apex to turn them off and on 20 mins apart as well.