To much flow?

crazywesc · 05/28/2008, 08:53 PM

I have a 45 hex with a few softies, lps and a bubble tip anemone. I have a canister filter that I run carbon in that puts out 350 gph and a koralia 2 600 gph for flow. I want to start keeping sps so I thought I needed more flow and bought a koralia 3 850gph. I have only had it for two days now and my mushrooms frogspawn and fingerleather shrunk up and are not as big as they were before I added the K3. Do I have to much flow or will they get used to it in a couple more days.

HumanIMDB · 05/28/2008, 08:54 PM

That is probably too much flow for softies.

Flightpipe · 05/28/2008, 09:00 PM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1400041
I had a simular question last night this thread may help ya

demonsp · 05/28/2008, 09:05 PM

This isnt to much flow.It could be coral or powerhead placement. Coral like good flow and do well in higher flow tanks but dont like direct high flow.

crazywesc · 05/29/2008, 07:11 PM

No matter how I position the powerheads all they do is make sand storms. I have holes under my rock, corals fell over and sand everywhere. Its like a whirlpool in the hex.

demonsp · 05/29/2008, 07:14 PM

Whats the substrate?
How old is this tank?

crazywesc · 05/29/2008, 07:30 PM

substrate is fine grain live sand. The tank has been running for five months now.

demonsp · 05/29/2008, 07:37 PM

I would think that after 5 months and your still kicking up alot of dust then something isnt right. Its ok if it kicks up the surface and reshape the landscape then a HOB media filter will help remove the fine material and the rest will settle. Then ofter algea and bacteria levels increase this will help weigh down the sand. Your SB will help convert ammonia and nitrate into nitrogen with proper flow ( sand sifting CUC ) or just collect nitrate with low flow plus uneatin food , fish waste and other debris will collect and over time become troublesome.

I think placed so the flow will kickup an inch or so at the main spot would be ideal.

crazywesc · 05/29/2008, 07:38 PM

Here is a pic of it before I added the k3 so you can see what I have to work with.

demonsp · 05/29/2008, 07:44 PM

This is alot of flow but try and place them both faceing the same dirrection. And 1 above the other. 1 offset from top to upper mid and then the other in the middle facing mid bottom and middle. This would create a circuler flow that would work great.

Toddrtrex · 05/29/2008, 07:46 PM

If they are closing up, it is too much flow for them. That is one problem with keeping SPS and some softies together -- each prefer different flow amounts.

With the tank you have -- tall and narrow -- going to have some issues with keeping both happy. Might be easier to place the SPS in the few higher flow areas that you had, compared with finding low flow areas for the softies with the new powerhead.

stingythingy45 · 05/29/2008, 07:51 PM

Yes.......too much.

crazywesc · 05/29/2008, 08:14 PM

Ok I never thought about facing them in the same direction. I just moved them to the right side of the tank with the k3 upper mid facing up and the k2 in the mid bottom. Its actually not blowing sand all over the place now but it is still moving the top layer around. I think I disturbed the sand bed to much by moving the powerheads around yesterday. I'm gonna try to fix the holes in the sand bed tonight then I'll see what It looks like when I get home from work tomorrow.

demonsp · 05/29/2008, 08:18 PM

SPS like flow more then light. Then get water flow right and work coral around the flow. You can always find or make a spot for any coral , this is easy but low flow your misuse of flow can be much much worse.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/1/aafeature/view

fattyratrat · 05/29/2008, 08:20 PM

that is a pretty tank dude...

demonsp · 05/29/2008, 08:25 PM

Oh sorry ,Fattycatcat is right, it is a nice tank. I think your just fine tuning it but your looking good.

crazywesc · 05/30/2008, 07:29 PM

Well I got home from work today and the sand has been blown everywhere again. My fingerleather was buried and the anemone has moved. This is the first time he has moved since I got him. So I'm getting rid of the K3. Anybody want to trade a K2 for a K3?

Bud Reeferman · 05/30/2008, 08:51 PM

With that tank shape, it seems like flow is misdirected with too much flow rebounding off the walls and towards the sand. I suggest trying some Hydor FLO Rotating Water Deflectors to spread out the flow or cut back on the number of powerheads.

crazywesc · 05/31/2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by demonsp
Oh sorry ,Fattycatcat is right, it is a nice tank. I think your just fine tuning it but your looking good.

Thanks for the compliments. I cant wait to start getting some SPS growing in there.

demonsp · 05/31/2008, 10:53 PM

This is why i dont like koralias as the only source. I use a Rio 1450. IT has a flow control knob and a duck bill tip for dirrection controll and they work great for water changes. They give you much more controll.

Playa-1 · 05/31/2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stingythingy45
Yes.......too much.

I agree, I think you've got too much flow in the tank. I would unplug one of the powerheads and see how it goes.

Michael · 06/01/2008, 01:56 AM

i think it looked great before you added the extra power head personally

demonsp · 06/01/2008, 02:11 AM

The problem with flow is it takes time to show any ill effect from its mis managment. Getting it right before this happens is best. Get the flow positioned for the tanks health and then place coral , dont adjust the flow to the coral.

Quote:

Originally posted by mikeydj
i think it looked great before you added the extra power head personally

Michael · 06/01/2008, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by demonsp
The problem with flow is it takes time to show any ill effect from its mis managment. Getting it right before this happens is best. Get the flow positioned for the tanks health and then place coral , dont adjust the flow to the coral.

understand what you are saying lance, but i still think his tank looked great before he added the extra flow

demonsp · 06/01/2008, 04:19 PM

The pic he showed is not a 5 month tank. I would like to see how it looked the day he started thread.

Quote:

Originally posted by mikeydj
understand what you are saying lance, but i still think his tank looked great before he added the extra flow

05/28/2008, 08:53 PM	#1
crazywesc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mobile, Al. Posts: 210	To much flow? I have a 45 hex with a few softies, lps and a bubble tip anemone. I have a canister filter that I run carbon in that puts out 350 gph and a koralia 2 600 gph for flow. I want to start keeping sps so I thought I needed more flow and bought a koralia 3 850gph. I have only had it for two days now and my mushrooms frogspawn and fingerleather shrunk up and are not as big as they were before I added the K3. Do I have to much flow or will they get used to it in a couple more days.

05/28/2008, 08:54 PM	#2
HumanIMDB Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,556	That is probably too much flow for softies. __________________ 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)

05/28/2008, 09:00 PM	#3
Flightpipe Sea Turtles Love Me...... Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pensacola, FL. Posts: 745	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1400041 I had a simular question last night this thread may help ya __________________ "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so." Current Tank Info: 29 BC Reef

05/29/2008, 07:46 PM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	If they are closing up, it is too much flow for them. That is one problem with keeping SPS and some softies together -- each prefer different flow amounts. With the tank you have -- tall and narrow -- going to have some issues with keeping both happy. Might be easier to place the SPS in the few higher flow areas that you had, compared with finding low flow areas for the softies with the new powerhead. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

05/29/2008, 07:51 PM	#12
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Yes.......too much. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

05/28/2008, 09:05 PM	#4
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	This isnt to much flow.It could be coral or powerhead placement. Coral like good flow and do well in higher flow tanks but dont like direct high flow.

05/29/2008, 07:11 PM	#5
crazywesc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mobile, Al. Posts: 210	No matter how I position the powerheads all they do is make sand storms. I have holes under my rock, corals fell over and sand everywhere. Its like a whirlpool in the hex.

05/29/2008, 07:14 PM	#6
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Whats the substrate? How old is this tank?

05/29/2008, 07:30 PM	#7
crazywesc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mobile, Al. Posts: 210	substrate is fine grain live sand. The tank has been running for five months now.

05/29/2008, 07:37 PM	#8
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	I would think that after 5 months and your still kicking up alot of dust then something isnt right. Its ok if it kicks up the surface and reshape the landscape then a HOB media filter will help remove the fine material and the rest will settle. Then ofter algea and bacteria levels increase this will help weigh down the sand. Your SB will help convert ammonia and nitrate into nitrogen with proper flow ( sand sifting CUC ) or just collect nitrate with low flow plus uneatin food , fish waste and other debris will collect and over time become troublesome. I think placed so the flow will kickup an inch or so at the main spot would be ideal.

05/29/2008, 07:38 PM	#9
crazywesc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mobile, Al. Posts: 210	Here is a pic of it before I added the k3 so you can see what I have to work with.

05/29/2008, 07:44 PM	#10
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	This is alot of flow but try and place them both faceing the same dirrection. And 1 above the other. 1 offset from top to upper mid and then the other in the middle facing mid bottom and middle. This would create a circuler flow that would work great.

05/29/2008, 08:14 PM	#13
crazywesc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mobile, Al. Posts: 210	Ok I never thought about facing them in the same direction. I just moved them to the right side of the tank with the k3 upper mid facing up and the k2 in the mid bottom. Its actually not blowing sand all over the place now but it is still moving the top layer around. I think I disturbed the sand bed to much by moving the powerheads around yesterday. I'm gonna try to fix the holes in the sand bed tonight then I'll see what It looks like when I get home from work tomorrow.

05/29/2008, 08:18 PM	#14
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	SPS like flow more then light. Then get water flow right and work coral around the flow. You can always find or make a spot for any coral , this is easy but low flow your misuse of flow can be much much worse. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/1/aafeature/view

05/29/2008, 08:20 PM	#15
fattyratrat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 278	that is a pretty tank dude...

05/29/2008, 08:25 PM	#16
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Oh sorry ,Fattycatcat is right, it is a nice tank. I think your just fine tuning it but your looking good.

05/30/2008, 07:29 PM	#17
crazywesc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mobile, Al. Posts: 210	Well I got home from work today and the sand has been blown everywhere again. My fingerleather was buried and the anemone has moved. This is the first time he has moved since I got him. So I'm getting rid of the K3. Anybody want to trade a K2 for a K3?

05/30/2008, 08:51 PM	#18
Bud Reeferman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 408	With that tank shape, it seems like flow is misdirected with too much flow rebounding off the walls and towards the sand. I suggest trying some Hydor FLO Rotating Water Deflectors to spread out the flow or cut back on the number of powerheads. __________________ Bud Reeferman _________________________ Current Tank Info: 225g with refugium, Starfire, three 450W MH, two 5' VHO Actinic, moon lights, Octopus skimmer, auto top-off, C02 reactor, chiller, two Little Fishies reactors, ghosts of hundreds of dead fish and coral

05/31/2008, 10:53 PM	#20
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	This is why i dont like koralias as the only source. I use a Rio 1450. IT has a flow control knob and a duck bill tip for dirrection controll and they work great for water changes. They give you much more controll.

06/01/2008, 01:56 AM	#22
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	i think it looked great before you added the extra power head personally __________________ 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)