Flow

[Davesreef’s]

Hey all I think flow is one factor causing my corals to struggle in my 90 gal tank. I have a hugger wave maker that says pushes 2380 gph along with my return pump. I’m wondering what would be a decent wave maker and how someone would set it up. The hygger is in the top right of my tank while the return pumps are on the left. The tank is 4ft long 2ft high and 18in deep.

 

[mcarroll]

A couple things:

Two pumps are almost always better than one, all things considered. (Sometimes 2+.)

GPH ratings are likely to be a little deceiving at first. If you're using a controllable pump withe some sort of wave cycle like this...

...you can see that your pump is spending a lot of time not at 100% output. Sometimes there's even a considerable amount of time spent at 0%.

Use modes that use more of your pump's capacity, or even run it at 100% continuously.

After you add another pump or two, there should be enough total flow capacity that wave modes will be fine.

Going just by claimed GPH numbers has led many a reefer to think they have "great flow" when the reality isn't so clear.

As explained, there's the amount of "on time" that's usually in question, but also the quality of the flow.

Many pumps have flow that is VERY soft and doesn't carry through the tank much at all. This is low velocity flow.

Velocity (force) is what does the work in water flow....it's what gives GPH "meaning". Can your flow move detritus? That is a question of force, not GPH.

Many good options for moving tank water around – a second pump like what you have would probably be fine. IMO, also consider Tunze streams or nanostreams. You could even consider their AC (non-controllable) pumps. All excellent.

 

[GHOSTLY]

Hey all I think flow is one factor causing my corals to struggle in my 90 gal tank. I have a hugger wave maker that says pushes 2380 gph along with my return pump. I’m wondering what would be a decent wave maker and how someone would set it up. The hygger is in the top right of my tank while the return pumps are on the left. The tank is 4ft long 2ft high and 18in deep.

My flow in a 20g tank is 2x 600gph wavemakers, 1x 300gph powerhead, and 2x 500gph returns, I still feel like my flows lacking. For me ill dump as much flow in a tank as possible and as long as sand isn't getting kicked up id say youre good. There isn't a set number but its very dependant on your corals