Water Flow - How much is too much?

jdm01 · 04/01/2006, 04:29 PM

I have a 90g with approx 3,000gph water flow in it. I just added 5 chromus (2 green and 3 bumblebee). The fish are really struggling to swim and the food is moving so fast it is hard to catch. I am assuming they will catch on over time???

Alaskan Reefer · 04/01/2006, 05:30 PM

Don't worry about the fish -- they will adjust and appreciate it in the long run. Too much flow is the point at which your livestock starts suffering, namely corals. Fish handle about triple the current you're providing in a typical natural environment.

I have 32X turnover in my 125, and I have to place my softies and LPS carefully or it irritates them. The fish love swimming into the Tunze streams once they acclimated to them.

Avi · 04/01/2006, 06:09 PM

I can agree with that. I would say, however, that the kind of flow in your tank isn't ideal. Rios generate a very strong narrow flow. The same company makes Seios...they generate a broader flow that's less stressful on the occupants of your reef, even with the same amount of turnover. That's the kind of flow that would be preferable.

Alaskan Reefer · 04/01/2006, 07:16 PM

Absolutely agree with Avi. Didn't read your signature to see that your flow is all linear, not disbursed in a stream such as a Seio or Tunze (a powerhead with a prop instead of an impeller) would produce -- I just assumed that 3000gph meant you had stream pumps.

Assuming you can afford to do so, I'd scrap all of those Rios and replace them with a pair of Seios or Tunzes -- you get the added bonus of taking potentially faulty / livestock damaging if it becomes so equipment (Rio pumps) out of your system. You can always use them to mix salt, kalk, or whatever.

jdm01 · 04/02/2006, 10:43 AM

If I choose to scrap and change two questions come to mind: 1. What model should I get? and 2. How many would I need to generate the right flow? I want to do a variety of corals (softies, LPS, SPS, etc...) in addition to the fish. The tank measures 48"x18"x24".

Avi · 04/02/2006, 11:09 AM

My reef's a 120-gallon tank with very similar measurements....48X24X24. I don't have a lot of SPS, so maybe you would want a bit more slow than I have now, though I'm even going to up mine a little soon.

If you're going to go with Sieos, for the most part, you'd save a lot of money rather than going with Tunzes. I have mostly Sieos and I'm very satisfied. On the other hand, I've never had Tunzes, but from what I read, everyone that does is very satisfied and compares them, to one degree or another, more favorably to the Sieos.

Anyway, I think you would be happy and successful with Seios. For your size tank and for what you want to keep, I think you would do best with two Seio 1100s. In addition to the Sieos I do have a Maxijet 1200 with a Hydor Flo Deflector. I mention this because though it doesn't sound like even being worth the addition of it, I can see that it makes a real difference. It's sufficient to create more randomness in the water motion that's apparent. I have some Pagodas in the tank and when I see the way the polyps move with the water flow, it absolutely mimics the kind of water movement I see when I snorkel in reefs. So, I recommend that. I think it makes a significant enough of a difference to be worth having.

jdm01 · 04/02/2006, 01:35 PM

Thanks for the advice. I will probably trade out for the Sieos. Not a huge cost compared to the rest of the tank (although my wife may revoke my credit card soon)! I put a couple of featherduster frags from my other tank in there. Will they get used to the current as well? They are looking a little whipped around right now.

Avi · 04/02/2006, 01:43 PM

Feather Dusters are kept best in a mild flow where the microscopic foods that they take in aren't blasted off them before they can be take down to their "mouths" and ingested.

jdm01 · 04/03/2006, 03:53 AM

I found a good place for the feather dusters out of the major current. I also repositioned all 3 powerheads on the back glass and that seems to have helped the overall motion distribution.

MarkD40 · 04/03/2006, 07:49 AM

jdm01

I have a 110g that is 48X18X30. After 7 years of regular powerheads I removed all of my PH's and put in 2 Seio 1500 stream pumps last week. The difference is PHENOMENAL!

The current produced is broad and more gentle than regular powerheads while at the same time they move much more water. I was afraid my tangs would get blown away but they love the flow. They are much more active and swim all over the tank and enjoy riding the current. When my good sized sailfin tang poops, instead of it falling to the bottom of the tank and sitting there it gets picked up by the current and is drawn into the pump and gets pulverized and spread through the tank. Sounds gross but is good for my filter feeders.

The fish have no trouble feeding with the pumps on and seem to enjoy chasing the food, but I turn the pumps off during feeding because the food gets drawn into the pumps and gets shredded into dust.

The pumps are silent and can be mounted in a variety of configurations. I have my 1500's dialed down to about 11100gph because the flow was too strong so you might want to go with the 1100gph models. VERY satisfied customer. I highly recommend these pumps

04/01/2006, 04:29 PM	#1
jdm01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Greenfield Posts: 904	Water Flow - How much is too much? I have a 90g with approx 3,000gph water flow in it. I just added 5 chromus (2 green and 3 bumblebee). The fish are really struggling to swim and the food is moving so fast it is hard to catch. I am assuming they will catch on over time??? __________________ John Martin Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon BioCube

04/01/2006, 05:30 PM	#2
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	Don't worry about the fish -- they will adjust and appreciate it in the long run. Too much flow is the point at which your livestock starts suffering, namely corals. Fish handle about triple the current you're providing in a typical natural environment. I have 32X turnover in my 125, and I have to place my softies and LPS carefully or it irritates them. The fish love swimming into the Tunze streams once they acclimated to them. __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

04/01/2006, 06:09 PM	#3
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	I can agree with that. I would say, however, that the kind of flow in your tank isn't ideal. Rios generate a very strong narrow flow. The same company makes Seios...they generate a broader flow that's less stressful on the occupants of your reef, even with the same amount of turnover. That's the kind of flow that would be preferable. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

04/01/2006, 07:16 PM	#4
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	Absolutely agree with Avi. Didn't read your signature to see that your flow is all linear, not disbursed in a stream such as a Seio or Tunze (a powerhead with a prop instead of an impeller) would produce -- I just assumed that 3000gph meant you had stream pumps. Assuming you can afford to do so, I'd scrap all of those Rios and replace them with a pair of Seios or Tunzes -- you get the added bonus of taking potentially faulty / livestock damaging if it becomes so equipment (Rio pumps) out of your system. You can always use them to mix salt, kalk, or whatever. __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

04/02/2006, 10:43 AM	#5
jdm01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Greenfield Posts: 904	If I choose to scrap and change two questions come to mind: 1. What model should I get? and 2. How many would I need to generate the right flow? I want to do a variety of corals (softies, LPS, SPS, etc...) in addition to the fish. The tank measures 48"x18"x24". __________________ John Martin Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon BioCube

04/02/2006, 11:09 AM	#6
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	My reef's a 120-gallon tank with very similar measurements....48X24X24. I don't have a lot of SPS, so maybe you would want a bit more slow than I have now, though I'm even going to up mine a little soon. If you're going to go with Sieos, for the most part, you'd save a lot of money rather than going with Tunzes. I have mostly Sieos and I'm very satisfied. On the other hand, I've never had Tunzes, but from what I read, everyone that does is very satisfied and compares them, to one degree or another, more favorably to the Sieos. Anyway, I think you would be happy and successful with Seios. For your size tank and for what you want to keep, I think you would do best with two Seio 1100s. In addition to the Sieos I do have a Maxijet 1200 with a Hydor Flo Deflector. I mention this because though it doesn't sound like even being worth the addition of it, I can see that it makes a real difference. It's sufficient to create more randomness in the water motion that's apparent. I have some Pagodas in the tank and when I see the way the polyps move with the water flow, it absolutely mimics the kind of water movement I see when I snorkel in reefs. So, I recommend that. I think it makes a significant enough of a difference to be worth having. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

04/02/2006, 01:35 PM	#7
jdm01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Greenfield Posts: 904	Thanks for the advice. I will probably trade out for the Sieos. Not a huge cost compared to the rest of the tank (although my wife may revoke my credit card soon)! I put a couple of featherduster frags from my other tank in there. Will they get used to the current as well? They are looking a little whipped around right now. __________________ John Martin Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon BioCube

04/02/2006, 01:43 PM	#8
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Feather Dusters are kept best in a mild flow where the microscopic foods that they take in aren't blasted off them before they can be take down to their "mouths" and ingested. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

04/03/2006, 03:53 AM	#9
jdm01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Greenfield Posts: 904	I found a good place for the feather dusters out of the major current. I also repositioned all 3 powerheads on the back glass and that seems to have helped the overall motion distribution. __________________ John Martin Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon BioCube

04/03/2006, 07:49 AM	#10
MarkD40 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 647	jdm01 I have a 110g that is 48X18X30. After 7 years of regular powerheads I removed all of my PH's and put in 2 Seio 1500 stream pumps last week. The difference is PHENOMENAL! The current produced is broad and more gentle than regular powerheads while at the same time they move much more water. I was afraid my tangs would get blown away but they love the flow. They are much more active and swim all over the tank and enjoy riding the current. When my good sized sailfin tang poops, instead of it falling to the bottom of the tank and sitting there it gets picked up by the current and is drawn into the pump and gets pulverized and spread through the tank. Sounds gross but is good for my filter feeders. The fish have no trouble feeding with the pumps on and seem to enjoy chasing the food, but I turn the pumps off during feeding because the food gets drawn into the pumps and gets shredded into dust. The pumps are silent and can be mounted in a variety of configurations. I have my 1500's dialed down to about 11100gph because the flow was too strong so you might want to go with the 1100gph models. VERY satisfied customer. I highly recommend these pumps __________________ My ship came in. Unfortunately it hit a reef. Current Tank Info: 110 gallon reef display tank, fish, LPS, SPS and mushrooms. A 75 gallon sump in basement with protein skimmer, 40watt UV sterilizer, RO/DI, refugium with chaeto, phosban reactor. 40 gallon frag tank.