Flow Level

[Pickles]

I would like to start by saying...I am new to this hobby but have built a good foundation of knowledge through READING and experience. My question is...does anyone out there have a decent definition of what would describe LOW flow, MODERATE/MEDIUM flow, and HIGH flow when dealing with coral? Please remember I am new to this hobby. I have been ridiculed once on here and I really dont want that to happen again! Any POLITE help, suggestions, or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[apollothesun]

on what size tank?

 

[Myteemouse]

I've read that 10x min
40-50x is good for high flow corals!

 

[brandyrb]

When placing corals based on their flow requirement. Low flow would be an area of your tank with very little water movement, medium flow would be an area of your tank with a moderate amount of water movement, high flow would be where there is a lot of water movement in your tank.

I watch how the coral polyps and fish move in different areas of my aquarium to figure out the low, medium and high flow areas. Hope that helps.

 

[darklcd]

flow varies depending on the size and design of the tank. if you have a fish only set up the 10x is usully ok where as if you have a lot of corals then higher is better.

what do you have in your tank and what do you plan on adding

 

[returnofsid]

IMO, Brandy's absolutely right. Going on GPH doesn't take into consideration a lot of things, such as tank shape, placement of power heads, rocks or corals that will impede flow. Polyp movement would be a great indication of flow. Low flow, the polyps would be moving, but very little. Medium flow, they'd be constantly moving and high flow, constantly moving but being battered with flow.

Quality if more important than quantity. It's important to have random flow patterns as apposed to "linear" or "laminar" straight flow patterns. Placing power heads where their flow is broken up by other power heads, glass from the tank or rocks will create a more random flow pattern.

 

[dnjan]

Probably the most useful information that could be added to this thread is velocity, in terms of inches-per-second of water movement past the corals.
I'm sure that a turkey baster could be used to insert some visible particles (a few bits of flake food?) into the waterstream, and then a stopwatch could be used to time how long it takes the partcles to move some distance when they get near various corals.

Of course variety of the velocity is also important (the only thing I have ever seen that grows well in constant velocity is the hair algae on the end of my seaswirl nozzle!), but I think that some information on average and peak velocities would be useful.

 

[Ed Hahn]

Too bad you guys were not at last Meeting in Seattle, he he. Things like placement of powerheads, the long clear path for water flow to initiate flow. Place the returns towards surface where resistance is less. Make water flow across the surface so it tumble on far wall on timers. Use timers go 5 minutes one way then 5 minutes the other way. You will be surprised what one can do with small powerheads. Please look up Jake Adams with fluid dynamics in Reef Tanks.

 

[Pickles]

Too bad you guys were not at last Meeting in Seattle, he he. Things like placement of powerheads, the long clear path for water flow to initiate flow. Place the returns towards surface where resistance is less. Make water flow across the surface so it tumble on far wall on timers. Use timers go 5 minutes one way then 5 minutes the other way. You will be surprised what one can do with small powerheads. Please look up Jake Adams with fluid dynamics in Reef Tanks.

thanks for the help....I have taken the advise to place them at the surface and have been having really good luck so far.

 

[gas4544]

Observe your coral and see how they are responding to the water flow. Your corals are your like your kids, and they depend on you to gie them what they need. If they are happy, they will grow and show polyp extension. I know this sounds oversimplifies, but we can learn allot by observing our coral.