When do you have enough flow?

[Medicine Man]

I feel like this is a stupid question but here goes. I just set up my new Oceanic 144 half cylinder tank with an Iwaki MD70RLT return pump and 2 Tunze 6100 Streams on 7095 Controller. I was amazed at how much flow I had with only the Iwaki pump going but I noticed some dead spots in the corners. So I hooked up my Tunze Streams and currently have them turned down to 40% and still have sand blowing around. I thought I may be able to get away with just the Iwaki pump and a couple of penductors connected but have never used eductors and not really sure what they will produce. How can you tell that you have enough flow for SPS corals? Sounds terrible but I have always had tons of flow and not sure when its just overkill. Thanks for any advice. I know its hard without seeing the system.

[LobsterOfJustice]

When you put food in the water, nothing settles on the bottom.

[craab]

you can never have enough flow! ;)

what is your tank turnover per hour?

[scaryperson27]

When it rips your face off.

[AaronKelly]

you can never have enough flow... flow is probably the most important thing to a tank... it keeps detritus from building up and it also keeps the fish active. it keeps the water well aerated as well. if youve ever been snorkeling or scuba you know how strong the currents are so the fish can handle it.

[sanosuke]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10548732#post10548732 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AaronKelly
you can never have enough flow... flow is probably the most important thing to a tank... it keeps detritus from building up and it also keeps the fish active. it keeps the water well aerated as well. if youve ever been snorkeling or scuba you know how strong the currents are so the fish can handle it. I couldn't have said it any better.:)

[philpot]

I keep softies and they don't do well if there is too much flow!?!?

[RichConley]

You should be able to run both those tunzes in that tank without having sand problems. You're not aiming them properly.

(I was basically running two 6100s in a 58g tank with a 4" bed)

[tperk9784]

My favorite answer is when the fish get pinned to the glass.

[am3gross]

one thing you could do is go to a bare bottum tank. then there is no worry about sand storms. the bottom will be covered with coraline in no time!

[Medicine Man]

Rich, What settings did you use on your controller? Interval one seems to do well in regards to the sand storm issue since only one pump is going at a time.

Tank turnover is about the max for the overflow system. I would say approx 1000-1200 GPH. Thanks for the help everyone!

[victor_c3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10550936#post10550936 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by am3gross
one thing you could do is go to a bare bottum tank. then there is no worry about sand storms. the bottom will be covered with coraline in no time!

Yup, I fully agree.

I started my 30 gallon tank with a 2-3 inch deep bed. After running the tank for 3-4 months and noticing how much crap was collecting in the bed that I wasn't able to clean up, I decided to suck my substrate all out.

about one month later, the bottom of my aquarium was completely covered with coraline algae.

The only down side is you can't keep certain sand sifting species.

My next aquarium, without a doubt, will be bare bottom as well.

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10554472#post10554472 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Medicine Man
Rich, What settings did you use on your controller? Interval one seems to do well in regards to the sand storm issue since only one pump is going at a time.

Tank turnover is about the max for the overflow system. I would say approx 1000-1200 GPH. Thanks for the help everyone!

No controller. Full blast, all the time.


Victor, if you've got crap settling in your sand, you dont have enough flow. Going barebottom doesnt fix a lack of flow.