Let's Talk About Water Movement in an SPS Tank.

[LittleBlueGT]

Originally posted by yellowtruck75
What about using 2 sea swirls instead of the Oceans Motions? How would that be when it comes to flow and different currents. 1 at each end.

I prefer the OM units. Better built than a SS. With a 4-way you get more of a wave effect then with a SS. Of course a SS still has random currents and is much better then having just a steady port. But, if you can make a 4-way work that would definitely be my 1st choice.

[herbert4]

Check out the OM squirt by oceansmotions.com I am not sure on the size but you can go to the web site and talk to paul. He might be able to come up with a solution.

Good Luck

[predatory_orca]

Hi,

Not sure when this thread was started or if it's dead now (as I see the last post was in July.), but I have a 10 gallon nano reef, that I would like to keep only a couple SPS, a few LPS, and alot of softies in. At one end of the tank, my power sweep is on its medium setting, waving back and forth, the other end (from the back) gets the return water from the Penguin mini filter, offering some flow. In a tank this small do you think this will be sufficient flow? I am ordering metal halides on pay day, and am really looking foreward to getting a violet with red polyps montipora danae frag asap.

[RedEyeReef]

MH on a 10 gallon tank? Have you thought of heat issues with such a small water volume. Even a 150 MH puts off heat.

[predatory_orca]

Hi RedEyeReef,

In repply to your question, as with all MH set ups, if it is needed, I can buy a chiller. In the case of my nano, an ice probe. However, if I remove my heater from the equation, I suspect since I keep my apartment at a comfortable 68 - 70 degrees (I like it cold), that the MH should do the job quite nicely. The MH I am ordering is 175 watts, and should be sufficient for the 1 or 2 SPS I want, as they'll be near the top, and maybe a crocea clam. These will be bought later however, as my tank is currently only nearing the 3 month old mark. I also intend to add a Rubbermaid stock tank of 70 - 100 gallons for a sump/refugium. This should solve volume, heat and stability issues. I'll be doing the MH/heater (or lack of heater) tempeture test before I add any corals on a day off, and will keep a sharp eye on the tank, to make sure "Merlot" my baby maroon clown isn't stressed. I thank you for your concern though, and if you have any improvement suggestions to my current plans, you're welcome to post em.

[JB NY]

It's probably enough flow to start. As has been said before, it's easy to have enough flow in the new tank. When things start to grow, make sure you inspect you corals once in a while to make sure the whole coral is receiving flow around it.

[predatory_orca]

Thanks for all the input everybody, much appreciated.

[minsmarine]

Such a nice Job Joe,
In my little 50G tank, I was trying to achieve and so far I have not achieve the way in your video. Reached to about 60% of your achievement. So heading to reach your traget.

Technically, in my 45G tank ( 35x18x18 )
I achieved about 100% by
1 x Tunze 6100 ( 3500GPH ) 50%-100% in 4 Sec with 7091.
1 x PH 400GPH
1 x 600GPH Return.

My Tunze sit at the center , near top and blow direct to front panel, while PH @ left and Return @ right to create random movement. Achieve with limit ( not to your standard yet ).

Thinking of getting another 6080 or 6100 to place at Left side to create more troublent water. While moving PH to right side so there wil be about 1,000 GPH at right side while another 2,000-3,500 from left.

Care to comments ?

[mortenN]

Tunze stream, waves in SPS tank
I can see in this thread many people like the stream-pump from Tunze

The next question I think about is what are the best waves duration and the % fall of the pumps.

In my tank I have 100-70 % 4 sek. on the waves, but is the a "good waves" for SPS.

What is your experienced with this??

[mrpet]

i have 2 tunze 6100 on my 180 along with 2 3/4" ss ran by a
sequince 750 seems like enough to me still have dead spots
though going to add a couple of maxi 1200 see if that works..
the more current i give my corals the better the growth seems
to be...good thread jb....
scott

[JB NY]

Glad this thread is helpful.

Good water movement is much harder to attain than people realize. People just assume they have 20x turnover and all is good. But the 20x doesn't help much if half the corals are not getting that turnover.

I think that water movement is probably one of the biggest reasons people have such problems with SPS, especially when they start to grow.

[mortenN]

I have 2 x Tunze 6000 in a 85 g tank , with 100/70 % waves I have about 40 x movement, but is the better to have 100/50 % in the waves? or are the waves of minor importance? I will also test to put one more pump in the tank. I have also one Tunze 6100, but I can't give max power on this, the tank is a cube and my sand will not stay at the bottom.

[JB NY]

Originally posted by mortenN
I have 2 x Tunze 6000 in a 85 g tank , with 100/70 % waves I have about 40 x movement, but is the better to have 100/50 % in the waves? or are the waves of minor importance?

I don't think it makes much of a difference. I like having the current go up and down a little. FWIW I keep mine at 100/30%.

[mortenN]

Originally posted by JB NY
I don't think it makes much of a difference. I like having the current go up and down a little. FWIW I keep mine at 100/30%.

Tnks Joe, I will try 100/30%.

[minsmarine]

Mime @ about 40/100% 4 Sec. It's help a lot, poly swim left , right, up , down.

but not much like Joe yet. Reaching almost same at upper side, bottom have less flow, so adding one more 6100 for my 50G. Than they will ROCK & ROLLS

[Cube Crazy]

Well not exactly in the planning stages but I have my 36x36x24 that has a CL(am3k) and with the distance it has to travel I no longer think I have enough flow, I was considering a CL over the back with another AM3K for a second CL to add some flow to some dead spots. The tank has no sand in the display so I am not concered with a sand storm. I was also concidering using a tunze stream but not sure how it does on a 3ft tank? anyone use these on a 3ft tank?

Thanks,
Dave

[mortenN]

Hi.
about 3 days ago I put one more Tunze stream in my 85g cube tank.
So, now is one 6100 by 100/30 %, one 6000 by 100% and one 6000 by 100/30 %
This give me about 54 x water movement.

Look at the acros with this water movement, its no problem, they like it.

[Fliger]

I love Streams. I have 2x 6200's and 1x 6100. They are fantastic. On the rare occassions that I get any type of algae, it's in a more stagnant spot. Just reposition the Stream and presto, gone. I am going to add a fourth Stream later (currently using 2 SEIO's - which are nice as well - just a little too small).

The new magnets are fantastic. I hate plumbing.

[SunnyX]

I recently added a TUNZE Stream 6100 to my 120 and i see a definate difference in my corals. I took out 2 Aquaclear 402's,1 aquaclear 802 and 1 aquaclear 902. Left 2 aquaclear 402's in for added movement. so now i have the stream and two aquaclears and loving it. Thinking about getting the controler for the stream but will it make much of a difference? i run the stream at 100% right now. this is how i have the pumps arranged-



I think they are positioned correctly.

[JB NY]

Hi Sunny,

The streams make a big difference, but even with them make sure you observe the tank as it starts to mature. Make sure all the coral are getting good flow. As was stated earlier, in the first year or so good flow is much easier to obtain than when the tank is older and the SPS have grown large enough to block and change flow patterns.

[Lowredranger]

not sure if anyone is still reading this thread but i will give it a shot. i have a 35g hex and i am planning on stacking the rock in a cone configuration. i was looking into a seio 620 making a circular flow around the rock starting in the back and either another seio pointing the other direction in the back or recently have been looking at the closed loop how much direct current can most sps take i was think with a 1200gph pump i could put 6 outlets one on every side which would be shooting about 200gph out of the six sides what do you guys think about this flow.
thanks Jason

[JB NY]

Hi Jason,

That will work fine. I don't know if you read the thread or not. The basic idea is to watch your corals to make sure they are getting good, flow. The actual turnover amount is not as important, but by making sure they have good flow you will hit the 15-20X anyway. With a new tank it is very easy to get good flow throughout the tank as there are very little obstructions, as the coral grow is when you need to periodically get and re adjust your flow.

[Lowredranger]

ok so if i use a closed loop system on a hex and put an outlet on each side and use a dolphin pump at 2000gph if i have 5 outlets that is 400gph out of say either 1-3/4 outlet. depending on if i can mount it with no head otherwise it will have about 300gph. i was also thinking of puting one of the seio 620 pushing the water around the tank. so i guess my main question is if the 300-400 gph is not too much directly at the corals i need to know how to get the water out of the tank? Will the pump just suck the water out or does it have to be siphoned i did not really want to drill but the tank is against a wall and i thought i could keep the pump level with the top of the tank and put the pump in the closet. how do you think this would work.
thanks
Jason

[stevedola]

Im setting up a 75 gallon and intended on drilling for a closed loop. I havent decide yet but was leaning towards not using an OM squirt for random movement, rather just positioning 4 heads to create misdirectional flow. My question deals with my concern of SPS flow- how many GPH should I use inorder to ensure proper flow for the high current needed for SPS corals. I was thinking of a velocity T4 pump that operates at 1200ghp...is that enough or should I go with a pump rated for 1500 ghp?

ps-4 ft head loss

[JB NY]

If it's a new tank, shoot for 15-20X. When the tank is young the flow is easy to attain. When the corals start growing is when you have to really pay atttention.