Poll: Laminar Flow vs. Turbulent Flow

[MnFish1]

In Hydrology (my field) and Enginering Both terms are associated with a Reynolds #. Both refer to the flow of a current and the energy in that current (usually single stream ie, in a pipe, stream, out of a pump).

I have turbulent flow in one of my tanks that only has one return inlet and points in one direction. It’s classified as turbulent because of the energy and movement of the flow, not because there are multiple pumps or anything else. Another tank has laminar flow from an mp40, there is lots of water being moved but the flow is soft and does not have high energy or disturbances in its stream.

I can’t answer the poll as is from what I know because my tanks have both types of flow.

Thanks - I agree with this as well. I have heard people say 'laminar flow is bad' But - turbulent flow that is too strong is also 'bad'. Or?

 

[mta_morrow]

I have 2 gyres on my 5’ tank. I run them forward for 20 seconds, then in reverse for 20 seconds, opposite of each other.

So 1 is running forward and the other in reverse. While one is ramping up the other is ramping down.

During ramp up and the first 5 seconds at speed, a lot of turbulence is being created as the forward motions are ‘crashing”.

The rest of the time is laminar flow across the top and bottom