Flow and Acropora

[PointerReefs]

Hello all!

Today I’m wanting to see what everyone’s plans and thoughts are as to how to get the best flow for your Acropora, as it’s currently what I’m trying to perfect without buying more pumps. When I first added Acropora to my tank the way my flow was only a few frags in the front would really get proper flow. As of last night I started playing with getting more flow to all of them across the whole tank using 2 mp40s and angling my return nozzles.. right now I’m running them at a max of 60% power and have them almost aimed at each other on opposite sides of the tank. But still feel there’s more j could do. Considering upping the power to 80% and moving the power heads up another inch or two towards the surface.. maybe switching from lagoon to Reef crest and keeping the same power levels/times.

 

[PointerReefs]

What are your experiences with this? Wondering if anyone’s found a good way to utilize a similar setup to get proper flow to everything in the tank.

 

[Dburr1014]

What are your dimensions /size tank?

 

[Finn450]

looks like a RSR 350...4ft tank. I've learned that more flow is better, as long as the coral is not in front of your powerheads and getting blasted. In the past I thought I had enough flow...until I increased it significantly...result was better polyp extension and growth...as well as less algae issues.

 

[PointerReefs]

looks like a RSR 350...4ft tank. I've learned that more flow is better, as long as the coral is not in front of your powerheads and getting blasted. In the past I thought I had enough flow...until I increased it significantly...result was better polyp extension and growth...as well as less algae issues.

WB 150.4, 4ft. Tank

 

[PointerReefs]

looks like a RSR 350...4ft tank. I've learned that more flow is better, as long as the coral is not in front of your powerheads and getting blasted. In the past I thought I had enough flow...until I increased it significantly...result was better polyp extension and growth...as well as less algae issues.

I suppose my issue is just trying not to shred the LPS at the bottom lol. Was considering getting rid of the Mp40’s and getting Maxspect xf350s or 2 orbit 4s for the laminar flow.. but I’d rather just keep the mp40’s.. I raised them up another inch or so and changed all the lagoon modes to Reef crest except my nighttime schedule..

This is what I’ve got going right now.

 

[slingfox]

You will likely not run into flow issues until your SPS grow out. I have a 5 ft tank which I reset from a mixed reef to SPS dominant. I am currently using two MP40 and already running into issues where the LPS at the bottom get wiped around a lot. I have basically accepted that I won’t be able to get much LPS but that was the point of going to SPS dominant anyways.

One thing you could look into is the Tunze Orca powerheads . They aren’t cheap but they are likely the best powerheads for generating random flow over a large area.

 

[Red_Beard]

Run them as high in the water column as you can without sucking air, and as much power as you can, and point them almost towards each other but not quite, like 3/4 overlap, that will give you some flow in the corners and a ton of turbulent flow everywhere else.

 

[kingranch2003]

Run them as high in the water column as you can without sucking air, and as much power as you can, and point them almost towards each other but not quite, like 3/4 overlap, that will give you some flow in the corners and a ton of turbulent flow everywhere else.

No need to make my post now, Beard. That's it right there!

 

[exnisstech]

Reefer 300 36x22x22" With 2 MP40s on the back wall on 70% reefcrest, 2 Nero 5s one down low on the right back and one on the left end. The one on the back running pulse at 75% the one on the end pulse at 50%. I also have a Tunze orca 6075 on the left end sweeping back and forth varying speed 35% to 65%. I just saw the orca on sale so have a 6105 coming and am hoping being able to have it sweeping back and forth it will allow me to reduce the number of powerheads in the tank. Even with all those listed above I have to blow detritus that settles on the rocks and on some coral. I'm only 3 years into keeping acros but I don't think they can have too much flow as long as it isn't constant blowing directly on them.

 

[PointerReefs]

You will likely not run into flow issues until your SPS grow out. I have a 5 ft tank which I reset from a mixed reef to SPS dominant. I am currently using two MP40 and already running into issues where the LPS at the bottom get wiped around a lot. I have basically accepted that I won’t be able to get much LPS but that was the point of going to SPS dominant anyways.

One thing you could look into is the Tunze Orca powerheads . They aren’t cheap but they are likely the best powerheads for generating random flow over a large area.

Fair, that’s what I’m dealing with now with my LPS I’ll look at the top of my tank and think hey that looks decent for flow, than pan down and my Euphyllia and Goni’s are having a rave

 

[PointerReefs]

Reefer 300 36x22x22" With 2 MP40s on the back wall on 70% reefcrest, 2 Nero 5s one down low on the right back and one on the left end. The one on the back running pulse at 75% the one on the end pulse at 50%. I also have a Tunze orca 6075 on the left end sweeping back and forth varying speed 35% to 65%. I just saw the orca on sale so have a 6105 coming and am hoping being able to have it sweeping back and forth it will allow me to reduce the number of powerheads in the tank. Even with all those listed above I have to blow detritus that settles on the rocks and on some coral. I'm only 3 years into keeping acros but I don't think they can have too much flow as long as it isn't constant blowing directly on them.

I suppose I’m just attached to my Goni’s and Hammers. lol. Wanted a mixture of the movement with the Acro’s up top but I’m moving more and more toward the Acro’s as it seems more of a challenge I enjoy.

 

[PointerReefs]

Run them as high in the water column as you can without sucking air, and as much power as you can, and point them almost towards each other but not quite, like 3/4 overlap, that will give you some flow in the corners and a ton of turbulent flow everywhere else.

I’ll give that a go. Where would you put them like centerish of the sides?

 

[exnisstech]

I have some LPS on the bottom, some type of favias I think and a blasto that seem pretty happy. And a few zoas on tiles. I've never been able to keep goni or flowing LPS like torches alive so I gave up. I added the GSP to the back wall so I would have something in the tank moving lol.

EDIT: the elegance on the bottom is a recent addition but I think I'm going to have to move it to a different tank but more because of too light not so much the flow but it could be both In suppose.

 

[PointerReefs]

I have some LPS on the bottom, some type of favias I think and a blasto that seem pretty happy. Ans a few zoas on tiles. Ive never been able to keep goni or flowing LPS like torches alive so I gave up. I added the GSP to the back wall so I would have something in the tank moving lol.

I have some blasto’s, acans, zoas and such but I found a little shielded nook on the right side of the tank for them that gets less light and flow. So when the lights are cranked up they don’t go further than 150-200ish

 

[Tonycass12]

4'x2'x2'
I run 4 mp40s, 2 on back wall of peninsula and 2 on the end. They run reefcrest most of the day at 95% with 2 periods where they are running on a gyre with the pumps alternating between pushing the flow clockwise and counterclockwise around the tank (kind of like a tidial change in the morning and afternoon).

Turn those bad boys up! You can easily max out the speed on those pumps and still be lacking in some areas in a 4' tank.

 

[exnisstech]

I have some blasto’s, acans, zoas and such but I found a little shielded nook on the right side of the tank for them that gets less light and flow. So when the lights are cranked up they don’t go further than 150-200ish

Ya I'm getting 300 par on the bottom at most locations. I'm using frag racks to shade them a bit for now.

 

[PointerReefs]

 

[PointerReefs]

View attachment 20260216_090034_C0B15741-9EC3-41A0-A37D-FD4BC6E749F1.mov

 

[Red_Beard]

I’ll give that a go. Where would you put them like centerish of the sides?

Yep, one just forward of center and the other just rearward of center.