How do you know proper flow in DT?

[Antlrman]

So I am curious on my flow. All my parameters are good. Corals are growing. But my polyp extension is simply not there. Very little if any at all. Now I am wandering if my flow is to high. I have a 220gal dt with 2 WAV powerheads. Both on Apex programmer on different patterns but both only ramp up 50% power during the run cycle throughout the day.

Should I just start experimenting with less flow to see What happens?

 

[ngoodermuth]

If it's SPS I would actually suggest more flow. I've got two MP40s and an MP10 on my 120 which are all synced to run the tidal swell mode which ends with all three on full blast, plus my return pump is kicking out some flow as well. All my SPS love it. Actually my LPS seem pretty happy too.

 

[happyhourhero]

I would increase flow as well. I have 2 RW-8 in my 65 on full blast else mode. I find that basically everything likes medium to high indirect flow.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Great question and I would like to see more input as well. Of course it all depends but I wonder myself sometimes! ;)

 

[Ty Hamatake]

I recently upgraded to two MP40s in my 48" 75 gallon tank. The attached picture is their schedule (one is set in anti-sync with a max output of 60%). I also kept my Koralia 3G 2450, which I know is overkill, but it's only on for short periods of time. Since the upgrade in flow (the MP40s replaced two Koralia Evo 1150s) I've noticed a ton more polyp extension. I have to agree that, in this case, more is better.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Should I just start experimenting with less flow to see What happens?

yes.

 

[Antlrman]

Good info, so here is what I have done. i did a little more research and watched some videos. I added the FLO chart to my Apex dashboard to follow what my FLO is on the graph. According to Apex for SPS dominated tank I should be in a FLO factor of approx 6-7. I am only at 3.5 FLO currently. So I went in and changed my power output on the WAV right and left powerheads. I will continue to make gradual changes until my FLO begins to show an average of 6-7 for a value. I will try this first. It sounds like my FLO is too low.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Good info, so here is what I have done. i did a little more research and watched some videos. I added the FLO chart to my Apex dashboard to follow what my FLO is on the graph. According to Apex for SPS dominated tank I should be in a FLO factor of approx 6-7. I am only at 3.5 FLO currently. So I went in and changed my power output on the WAV right and left powerheads. I will continue to make gradual changes until my FLO begins to show an average of 6-7 for a value. I will try this first. It sounds like my FLO is too low.

Ooh, I like experiments. Before and after pictures?

 

[Antlrman]

Sorry for the phone pics Before photos. WD and OP frags had great extension the night I put them in the tank. Now none. The others have never really had any extension at all. All is coloring nicely and all frags are growing well. Good entrusting and growth, but just no extension. I had no nitrates before, but now have raised nitrates slowly with dosing and have raise PO4 slowly as well. I feed daily but not on weekends as my tank is at the office.
Salinity. 1.025
PH 8.07
TEMP 78.1
NO3 5-10PPM
PO4 .03
CAL. 480
MG. 1500
ALK. 7.8-8.3
Dose Pohls Xtra Special daily
Dose vitamin c weekly
Dose iodine weekly
Dose ME Polyp Extender weekly

Feed Mixed frozen food with Reefroids and Coral frenzy daily

Running 3 - Radion XR30w Pro led.
Adding 4- T5 in the next couple weeks for supplemental light

Hoping the Flow increase will help with extension. Not sure what else I can do.

 

[Ike]

More flow is a good idea, however your lack of polyp extension could have nothing to do with your flow rates. Do you have a Centropyge sp. angel or an algae eating blenny in the tank by chance? If so, that's the most likely culprit, pests (red bugs, aefw) are another possibility to look into.

 

[Antlrman]

MOre flow is a good idea, however your lack of polyp extension could have nothing to do with your flow rates. Do you have a Centropyge sp. angel or an algae eating blenny in the tank by chance? If so, that's the most likely culprit, pests (red bugs, aefw) are another possibility to look into.

The tank is pest free. I have dipped every frag that has gone in the tank and monitored the corals closely. I have not seen anything that tells me pests. I will look closer though to rule that out. I have a Flame Angel and a lawnmower blenny. but I havent seen either picking at the corals. But I suppose that advise will make me look closer at that as well. Thank you for pointing that out.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have acros with no PE that grow like crazy. I feed fish food.
I have one Acro that the mother colony is at a local LFS(has been for years) and has no pe, but mine is like a hippie.

 

[Antlrman]

I am really curios now about the Angel and Blenny and wondering if they need to go. Im Just not sure that they would be able to stop all PE on all the frags. I have some 40+ sps frags growing and none have any good PE.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Just came to mind. Have you been able to check during lights out? I actually just posted about how I'm seeing a lot more PE during that time (I beleive this is standard). But you may be able to rule some things out (pests, niping, etc) if you're getting good extension during the night.

I may be way off with this one. I have no data to back it up, just thinking out loud.

 

[Ike]

I am really curios now about the Angel and Blenny and wondering if they need to go. Im Just not sure that they would be able to stop all PE on all the frags. I have some 40+ sps frags growing and none have any good PE.

It's a defense response and they will stay retracted even if it's been some time since they've been picked at. Throughout the course of a day or week it wouldn't be difficult for them to make the rounds on 40+ frags. I would wager money that one or both of them is responsible.

I've heard so many times in this hobby about how someones angel doesn't nip and that they couldn't possibly be why there's no polyp extension, only to have them be caught in the act upon closer observation. Try to observe the tank without them seeing you. When you're watching the tank they'll associate you with food and modify their usual behavior. I also know people that haven't removed a possible nipper, even if they didn't see it happening, and then have PE return soon thereafter.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have some 40+ sps frags growing and none have any good PE.

maybe your flow is too high. If I had delicate parts I wouldn't put them out in a high wind.

 

[Antlrman]

I never see the tank at night. It is at my office and I really only see it during the day while im working. So I'm really not sure. Maybe I will have to find a cool underwater video camera to view from home at night. :-) or maybe just come in at night to see. Lol. But good idea, something to rule out.

 

[Ike]

Just came to mind. Have you been able to check during lights out? I actually just posted about how I'm seeing a lot more PE during that time (I beleive this is standard). But you may be able to rule some things out (pests, niping, etc) if you're getting good extension during the night.

I may be way off with this one. I have no data to back it up, just thinking out loud.

Getting good PE at night with no or little PE during the day is usually an even greater indication that a fish is nipping. If there is never good PE, I'd lean more towards some type of nocturnal invertebrate nipping, pests or a parameter issue.

 

[Antlrman]

I have no issue removing the Angel or the Blenny. I just have to figure out how I will do that. Gonna need a fish trap i guess.

I have quite a few inverts as well. Cleaner shrimp, coral banded shrimp, fire shrimp, emerald crabs, hermits, Sally Lightfoot

 

[Ike]

maybe your flow is too high. If I had delicate parts I wouldn't put them out in a high wind.

Even two Wav pumps at full tilt in that size tank wouldn't be enough to cause all SPS to retract. Though it may do some damage to the sps closest to the flow...