How much flow is to much

[Antonias1391]

i know this must be a very common question but i was planning my dream tank (300g) and i was pondering what id the limit for sps i currently have about 80 times movement per hour in my 75g tank is that enough or would 100times per gallon be appropriate as well. This is randome flow i am talking about to. the kind you can generate with wave-makers and vortechs also on a side note would this be to much flow for a 300g display?? 27000gph with 4 vortech-MP40wES and 2 MP-60wES. then 3000 with 2 sea swirl units. thanks!!!

 

[ronnie]

I have almost 11000 in my four foot 120G. I want another vortech for it.

For a 300, I'd plan on doing around 100 times an hour on the low end, and upwards of 125 times an hour depending on the live rock placement/amount.

It is too much flow when the fish are pinned on the glass. Until then, you are fine.

 

[xmjxflipx]

in my 46 bowfront i have 2 K4 and 2 k3 for flow......it is more broad flow and my sps like it, i think youll be fine what the heck that amount of flow especially with vortech because of the broad flow, i have had it where the flow is directly on the sps and they start to recede. IMO ur placements of the vortech to allow random flow is good.

 

[soccerbag]

It is too much flow when the fish are pinned on the glass. Until then, you are fine.

lol....got a good laugh at that comment....

 

[FiReBReTHa]

I was concerned about that today. I have very limited PE on most of my corals.

I just tuned down the two mp40s to see if slower may encourage bigger PE.

 

[skinz78]

LOL wow, I always thought 40 to 50x was more than enough, I definately need more for my new tank!

 

[Paul_N]

I was looking at you tank thread and you have a clam and a couple lps. If you plan on having more of those I would be cautious of too much flow in the tank.

 

[efrain torres]

you need gyro flow and turbulence is the best for sps .

 

[Antonias1391]

I have almost 11000 in my four foot 120G. I want another vortech for it.

For a 300, I'd plan on doing around 100 times an hour on the low end, and upwards of 125 times an hour depending on the live rock placement/amount.

It is too much flow when the fish are pinned on the glass. Until then, you are fine.

Thanks for the help again Ronnie your experience is always a great help. how much flow do you currently have in your tank?? im currently doing about 80times and i can foresee myself needing more in the next 6 months

LOL wow, I always thought 40 to 50x was more than enough, I definately need more for my new tank!

it depends on what you have in your tank, if its purely sps then you probably need more. if its mixed lps and polyps your probably good!

I was looking at you tank thread and you have a clam and a couple lps. If you plan on having more of those I would be cautious of too much flow in the tank.

This is more a question about a sps dominated system, also aren't clams subjugated to strong flow? and im sure you could find places in the tank with a lower flow for them especially if you kept the lower parts of the tank a "little" calmer

you need gyro flow and turbulence is the best for sps .

my thinking as well. isn't a back and forth motion good for them as well? ive found my sps like the nutrient export mode the best in my tank good gyre/back and forth as well as highs and lows for a couple min.

 

[ronnie]

About 90 times an hour. A little over 10000gph

 

[Paul_N]

This is more a question about a sps dominated system, also aren't clams subjugated to strong flow? and im sure you could find places in the tank with a lower flow for them especially if you kept the lower parts of the tank a "little" calmer

.

Clams like flow but not direct flow or to the point of the mantels folding back on them. If I were you I would start with the Vortechs and go from there. I don't think you should be so hung up on a number. It will also depend on your rock work.

 

[Antonias1391]

i completely agree that the number is not what is important but the health of the animals in the ecosystem. the number is just a way to gauge what is required i suppose

 

[ronnie]

I have a derasa about 12" from an outlet of my OM 4-way. It is currently laid on its side, but it actually moved about 6" to get into the spot it is at now.

 

[skinz78]

Yep, I do have a lot of clams in my tank, it is pretty well mixed up. I did the math the other night and I have about 48 times movement in there and everything seems happy with the exception of one Milli but I can move it to a higher flow area.

 

[Troylee]

I'm gonna say it all depends on your aquascape.... I have 15,000 gph on my 220 which comes out to about 70times per hour and my tank has more than enough flow.... Less rock is better "2 islands or so" and gonna give you more flow with 15k per hour than a fruit stand with 25k per hour.

 

[Antonias1391]

Thats true minimalist rock-work allows more flow in the tank initially but the coral growth will get in the way at some point correct? Also minimalist rock-work isn't every ones cup of tea as well. it really is tank dependent though i think. my vote so far is more then u think u need with vortechs and other controllable pumps and if it is to much to begin with you can gear them down a bit. then when u need that extra umph you can crank um up! :bigsmile: