Flow Assistance (Short Video)

[splunty]

I've been struggling to get proper flow in my 14g peninsula. Hopefully this video link will work:

Short Video (or) https://photos.app.goo.gl/nqqJ2MDFvphmbx8YA
Long Video (or) https://photos.app.goo.gl/ExGJtKsC5frG5Uy39
One More (or) https://photos.app.goo.gl/VXPsQuMppYUtyza6A

EDIT: The leather is sort of leaning over a bit now. :( I added a third video showing it getting knocked about. I don't know if that's okay or not.

The quick question is, how is this flow? The video is focused on the highest, most turbulent flow. The Xenia is being whipped pretty good but I plan to move or remove it anyway. (Considering rainbow acopora for that spot.) The rest of the tank are montipora, cyphastrea, and a candy cane. The montipora gets high random flow and everything else is pretty low/moderate. There doesn't seem to be any debris collecting anywhere (aka no dead spots).

The only power head is a IM WaveLink AIO desktop on its lowest setting, in wave mode. It's on the far end of the tank facing directly at the flow from the return pump (MightyJet mini 266gph running at highest setting). Unlike this picture, both are pointed slightly down into the tank. Surface agitation has been causing pretty bad salt creep since installing the power head.

I would like to keep the power head as I get a couple of dead spots with just the return pump, and I am worried of what would happen if the pump fails and there's no power head.

So how does this look? Clowns/Shrimp in the tank seem fine. Mostly I just don't want to be punishing the leather, and there's nowhere it can be moved. The flow definitely shoves the leather around a few mm at a time, but it isn't acting too upset?

 

[TX_REEF]

is the powerhead on a constant flow rate? If so, you could consider putting it on a timer so they leather has some time to relax. Maybe on 20 mins every hour or so? If you go that route, I recommend Kasa smart outlets, super easy to set and control via free app on your mobile device. I use this method with 2 gyres on opposing sides of my display.

kasa smart outlet (also comes in other sizes): https://amzn.to/4dsoN8M

 

[splunty]

TL;DR - Thanks, I think you helped solve the problem.

Long version:

The powerhead (was) on sine wave mode (IM's ocean-like waves) on the lowest power. However, you did give me an idea: the return pump was set on a constant flow rate. I changed the return pump to sine wave mode and that seems to have solved the problem. The leather is now barely moving and back to standing upright again in just a few minutes.

Interestingly, the power head had been collecting bubbles and every half hour or so blowing a ton of bubbles into the tank. I changed the power on it from 1/9 to 3/9. The corals don't seem to be affected by that extra flow, but the bubbles have stopped collecting.

(The bubbles are from the return pump turbulence on the surface. I think the powerhead was just not running fast enough to keep the tiny bubbles from settling inside it.)

Thanks!