Recommended Flow Rates?

HumanIMDB · 09/26/2006, 08:46 PM

I did a search and couldn't find what I was looking for so here goes...

What are the recommended flow rates for a reef? I've seen numbers ranging from 10 times the volume per hour and up. Perhaps it would be better if I asked for the definitions of Low Flow, Moderate Flow, and High Flow as they pertain to animals and coral.

Also, what is the recommended flow rate through the sump/fuge? Again, I've seen 10x and up. And, do you used the volume of the sump, the tank, or the system in that calculation?

bertoni · 09/26/2006, 08:51 PM

There's lot of opinions on flow rates, and there's lots of different animals. I would put low flow at 10x the volume, and high flow at 30x the tank or higher.

I would plan on running 3-4x the volume through a sump or refugium. Higher flow probably won't hurt, but it can lead to bubble problems, etc.

HumanIMDB · 09/26/2006, 09:00 PM

Thanks for the info. Just wondering what Low, Moderate, and High flow means on LiveAquaria. Are the flow rate definitions the same for fish and coral? (i.e. Low Flow for fish equals the Low Flow for Coral)

Sorry to ask again, but is that 3-4x the sump/tank/system volume?

The amount of decisions that need to be made setting up a tank is enormous...just trying to struggle through it without making too many wrong ones.

bertoni · 09/26/2006, 09:33 PM

I don't know what kind of flow recommendation LiveAquaria is giving for fish. Pipefish probably want flow even lower than 10x, for example.

For the sump, I'd guess 3-4x the volume of the display tank per hour.

PatMayo · 09/26/2006, 10:02 PM

And some experts prefer even higher flow through the sump. The reason for this is to keep dietrus suspended in the water column for removal via a skimmer. I can see the point because I clean quite a bit of "stuff" off the bottom of my sump.

Regards,

Pat

mg426 · 09/26/2006, 11:27 PM

I have my sump rumming around 5 times/hr and still get Crap on the bottom.

atty · 09/27/2006, 12:08 AM

ive got a 200ltr sump and its getting 4500 ltrs and hour which i think is 22 times an hour and i still have a bit one the bottom. i have 13 an hour times in my tank and i want more.

mattc183 · 09/27/2006, 01:11 AM

If your refering to the placement of livestock. even in a high flow system rocks, corals, powerhead or inlet placement, and other obstacles will create lower flow areas.

MrSpiffy · 09/27/2006, 07:35 AM

I think he's asking about is the 3x-4x flow through the sump referring to the sump capacity or the tank capacity. Good question. As another newbie, I'd like to know the answer, too.

HumanIMDB · 09/27/2006, 07:48 AM

Jonathan answered that question above.

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
For the sump, I'd guess 3-4x the volume of the display tank per hour.

MrSpiffy · 09/27/2006, 08:06 AM

My bad...must've totally missed that.

09/26/2006, 08:46 PM	#1
HumanIMDB Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,556	Recommended Flow Rates? I did a search and couldn't find what I was looking for so here goes... What are the recommended flow rates for a reef? I've seen numbers ranging from 10 times the volume per hour and up. Perhaps it would be better if I asked for the definitions of Low Flow, Moderate Flow, and High Flow as they pertain to animals and coral. Also, what is the recommended flow rate through the sump/fuge? Again, I've seen 10x and up. And, do you used the volume of the sump, the tank, or the system in that calculation?

09/26/2006, 08:51 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	There's lot of opinions on flow rates, and there's lots of different animals. I would put low flow at 10x the volume, and high flow at 30x the tank or higher. I would plan on running 3-4x the volume through a sump or refugium. Higher flow probably won't hurt, but it can lead to bubble problems, etc. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/26/2006, 09:00 PM	#3
HumanIMDB Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,556	Thanks for the info. Just wondering what Low, Moderate, and High flow means on LiveAquaria. Are the flow rate definitions the same for fish and coral? (i.e. Low Flow for fish equals the Low Flow for Coral) Sorry to ask again, but is that 3-4x the sump/tank/system volume? The amount of decisions that need to be made setting up a tank is enormous...just trying to struggle through it without making too many wrong ones. __________________ Chris Rivers Will do computer support for frags. :) Click on the Red House to see our AGA92 Corner Reef Tank Build thread. Current Tank Info: 10 Gal (Aqualight 96W Quad 50/50, AquaClear Power Filter 70 with Chaeto lit by 6500K Bulb, AquaClear Power Head 20, 50w Tronic Heater), 92 Gal All-Glass Corner (Cycling)

09/26/2006, 09:33 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I don't know what kind of flow recommendation LiveAquaria is giving for fish. Pipefish probably want flow even lower than 10x, for example. For the sump, I'd guess 3-4x the volume of the display tank per hour. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/26/2006, 10:02 PM	#5
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	And some experts prefer even higher flow through the sump. The reason for this is to keep dietrus suspended in the water column for removal via a skimmer. I can see the point because I clean quite a bit of "stuff" off the bottom of my sump. Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

09/26/2006, 11:27 PM	#6
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I have my sump rumming around 5 times/hr and still get Crap on the bottom. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

09/27/2006, 12:08 AM	#7
atty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sydney, australia Posts: 195	ive got a 200ltr sump and its getting 4500 ltrs and hour which i think is 22 times an hour and i still have a bit one the bottom. i have 13 an hour times in my tank and i want more.

09/27/2006, 01:11 AM	#8
mattc183 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: enid Posts: 100	If your refering to the placement of livestock. even in a high flow system rocks, corals, powerhead or inlet placement, and other obstacles will create lower flow areas. __________________ An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes, which can be made, in a very narrow field. - Niels Bohr Current Tank Info: 55+

09/27/2006, 07:35 AM	#9
MrSpiffy Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,300	I think he's asking about is the 3x-4x flow through the sump referring to the sump capacity or the tank capacity. Good question. As another newbie, I'd like to know the answer, too.

09/27/2006, 08:06 AM	#11
MrSpiffy Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,300	My bad...must've totally missed that.