MP40 flow pattern for SPS dominate tank

Sidsreef

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So I got two MP40’s and have a Sps tank.
I’ll post pictures but i have it set to reef crest during the day and have lagoon at night at about a 10% drop so my fish can sleep easy without being blown around.

There a issue with these schedules and coral flow requirements?

37FDC2A7-5D73-4EB7-BCDB-4DD8E98458C0.png 6191FE38-C308-461C-A20E-8DF3EE009980.png
 

jmichaelh7

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So I got two MP40’s and have a Sps tank.
I’ll post pictures but i have it set to reef crest during the day and have lagoon at night at about a 10% drop so my fish can sleep easy without being blown around.

There a issue with these schedules and coral flow requirements?

37FDC2A7-5D73-4EB7-BCDB-4DD8E98458C0.png 6191FE38-C308-461C-A20E-8DF3EE009980.png
I have the exact schedule …
 

bushdoc

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Perfect!
Two things: depending on the size of your tank and how your corals and fish tolerate it, you could modify the schedule, making bigger drop or larger raise.
I also recommend adding manually 10-15 min bursts of flow. In my experience both fish and corals tolerate it and it stirs sediment from substrate and cleanses rock and corals.
 
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Sidsreef

Sidsreef

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Perfect!
Two things: depending on the size of your tank and how your corals and fish tolerate it, you could modify the schedule, making bigger drop or larger raise.
I also recommend adding manually 10-15 min bursts of flow. In my experience both fish and corals tolerate it and it stirs sediment from substrate and cleanses rock and corals.
I have the exact schedule …
Sweet I’ll keep this schedule!

As for the tank details
Waterbox 90.3
60 gallon display with a 20 gallon sump total 80 gallons

Heres some tank shots for sh*ts and gigs
625A6345-A81C-4DA7-ACAE-558186D50302.jpeg
F0EDAA68-7D4E-4E4D-A8F4-B27B97D74DDF.jpeg
CF5CA0D2-EDE6-4D50-9EB2-0F82C4266615.jpeg
1C6CE80D-4A40-4EC7-B735-A74B6518C925.jpeg
7050AA0C-1FA8-42D1-BD34-EF2BFCCC190D.jpeg
FAC93FDF-7E24-44AD-BA59-49CE6CE87206.jpeg
5587C316-DE65-4128-A879-252352CE8898.jpeg
 

ryshark

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Perfect!
Two things: depending on the size of your tank and how your corals and fish tolerate it, you could modify the schedule, making bigger drop or larger raise.
I also recommend adding manually 10-15 min bursts of flow. In my experience both fish and corals tolerate it and it stirs sediment from substrate and cleanses rock and corals.
I do that. A couple times per day 90% contestant mode for 10-minutes.
 

ryshark

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So I got two MP40’s and have a Sps tank.
I’ll post pictures but i have it set to reef crest during the day and have lagoon at night at about a 10% drop so my fish can sleep easy without being blown around.

There a issue with these schedules and coral flow requirements?

37FDC2A7-5D73-4EB7-BCDB-4DD8E98458C0.png 6191FE38-C308-461C-A20E-8DF3EE009980.png
I’m also curious about what people are doing at night with their Vortechs. Just yesterday I changed my nighttime flow from 20% ReefCrest to 50% Lagoon.
 

KevinC

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Sweet I’ll keep this schedule!

As for the tank details
Waterbox 90.3
60 gallon display with a 20 gallon sump total 80 gallons

Heres some tank shots for sh*ts and gigs
625A6345-A81C-4DA7-ACAE-558186D50302.jpeg
F0EDAA68-7D4E-4E4D-A8F4-B27B97D74DDF.jpeg
CF5CA0D2-EDE6-4D50-9EB2-0F82C4266615.jpeg
1C6CE80D-4A40-4EC7-B735-A74B6518C925.jpeg
7050AA0C-1FA8-42D1-BD34-EF2BFCCC190D.jpeg
FAC93FDF-7E24-44AD-BA59-49CE6CE87206.jpeg
5587C316-DE65-4128-A879-252352CE8898.jpeg
What rock are these?
 

bushdoc

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I’m also curious about what people are doing at night with their Vortechs. Just yesterday I changed my nighttime flow from 20% ReefCrest to 50% Lagoon.
I use lagoon at night. Many corals open polyps at night to feed on suspended organic matter and if flow is too high at that time it may decrease their rate of growth.
 

ryshark

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I use lagoon at night. Many corals open polyps at night to feed on suspended organic matter and if flow is too high at that time it may decrease their rate of growth.
What % do you run lagoon at night?
I was concerned my flow was actually too low at 20% ReefCrest, that’s why increased to 50% and switched to Lagoon.
 

bushdoc

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What % do you run lagoon at night?
I was concerned my flow was actually too low at 20% ReefCrest, that’s why increased to 50% and switched to Lagoon.
I run it 40% lagoon, but my tank is 120 gal. You basically need to observe your flow and decide visually if it is right, watching corals and fish.
 

ryshark

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I run it 40% lagoon, but my tank is 120 gal. You basically need to observe your flow and decide visually if it is right, watching corals and fish.
My tank is a standard 120 with 2x MP40 and a gyre. I can’t remember I may have even changed it to 40% lagoon from midnight to 6am. Either 40% or 50%
 

AJsReef

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I mimic coral labs but with slightly lower flow rates. Never bought into reducing at night time for fish. Fish are capable of finding somewhere in the rockwork if needed. Flow doesn't magically stop in the ocean when the sunsets.

MP40 sub 20% are the same speed IME as well. Ramping to lower speeds seems to spike instances of the wetside detaching.
 
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Sidsreef

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what about feed schedule ?? i need to stop broadcasting / feeding aiptasia!!

if you look at my schedule I put in a feed mode at 5 to 7pm cause that's typically when I feed and if I'm feeding corals it gives ample time for them to intake the food.
 

bushdoc

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I mimic coral labs but with slightly lower flow rates. Never bought into reducing at night time for fish. Fish are capable of finding somewhere in the rockwork if needed. Flow doesn't magically stop in the ocean when the sunsets.

MP40 sub 20% are the same speed IME as well. Ramping to lower speeds seems to spike instances of the wetside detaching.
“Flow doesn't magically stop in the ocean when the sunsets”
As a scuba diver with 3K logged dives all over the World, I would partially disagree with you. On many ( but obviously not all) reefs, especially those close to the shore, flow decreases at night, due to wind decreasing at night. Also Ocean is larger than most of reef tanks and fish have more space to hide there at night. I do agree that if you have enough rocks and hiding places, your fish should be fine.
 

AJsReef

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“Flow doesn't magically stop in the ocean when the sunsets”
As a scuba diver with 3K logged dives all over the World, I would partially disagree with you. On many ( but obviously not all) reefs, especially those close to the shore, flow decreases at night, due to wind decreasing at night. Also Ocean is larger than most of reef tanks and fish have more space to hide there at night. I do agree that if you have enough rocks and hiding places, your fish should be fine.

My anecdotal night diving experience is opposite. I've been in some ripping currents at night much worse than the day. Tides are much more impactful than wind.
 
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reefnfun

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i have a 240 gallon tank that is all SPS, I have 2 MP 40's, 1 on each side in the middle about 10" from the top. I have them offset slightly so the flow doesn't crash directly into each other. The tank is 5 feet long. They are set to reef crest 100% 24/7. My tank is very heavily stocked with live rock so there are plenty of hiding places for the fish. I am getting fantastic growth and I know some of it is due to all that flow. My lighting is MH. The cons are when both powerheads ramp up at the same time. It rams a bunch of water down the overflow so it is very noisy. Its not a little water but a big surge. We don't really use the living room where it is so its not a big problem for us. We kind of like the waterfall sound. there is a spot where I cannot put coral because it blasts it too hard. I have a calicali staghorn that has grown up to the blast area then stopped. It is going around it. These powerheads have been running full power for a year and a half with no issues. If your on the fence about spending the money on MP'S I would say they are definitely worth it. I keep a spare wet side for (just in case). Take care
 
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i have a 240 gallon tank that is all SPS, I have 2 MP 40's, 1 on each side in the middle about 10" from the top. I have them offset slightly so the flow doesn't crash directly into each other. The tank is 5 feet long. They are set to reef crest 100% 24/7. My tank is very heavily stocked with live rock so there are plenty of hiding places for the fish. I am getting fantastic growth and I know some of it is due to all that flow. My lighting is MH. The cons are when both powerheads ramp up at the same time. It rams a bunch of water down the overflow so it is very noisy. Its not a little water but a big surge. We don't really use the living room where it is so its not a big problem for us. We kind of like the waterfall sound. there is a spot where I cannot put coral because it blasts it too hard. I have a calicali staghorn that has grown up to the blast area then stopped. It is going around it. These powerheads have been running full power for a year and a half with no issues. If your on the fence about spending the money on MP'S I would say they are definitely worth it. I keep a spare wet side for (just in case). Take care
Thank you for the input. I already have two mp40’s
 

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On my 75g sps tank with 2 MP40 I run gyre anti sync on 1min cycles, 50% day and 40% night. Getting good growth all around.
 

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