Less flow at night?

johnnstacy · 08/23/2006, 11:11 PM

Makes sense since the ocean is generally more calm at night. Do you guys turn your CL off or in some other way make things more calm at night? Even if I turned off the CL, I would still have the tunze streams and return flow coming in. Just wonder if that flow at night makes any difference to the corals.

JJohn · 08/24/2006, 12:01 AM

I too am waiting for an answer on this one. I have always had a wavemaker or, now a Controller, to turn off all but one powerhead and the return during the night. Lately, I am wondering if it makes a difference. Maybe my SPS's would do better if I left everything on at night. Anyone have some thoughts on this topic?

John

jmguerry12 · 08/24/2006, 01:01 AM

johnstacy
why dont you try just turning down your streams say maybe 50% and have them alternate slower(more time in between). If you have a controller you acn do that.

neotekz · 08/24/2006, 02:04 AM

not sure but i think less flow will lower your already low ph at night, i wouldn't turn it down too much.

Kinetic · 08/24/2006, 02:23 AM

is it really calmer at night? I think it might be just as high of flow at night then in the daytime.

Lowering your flow WILL NOT lower your pH. crazy kids =)

Peter Eichler · 08/24/2006, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kinetic
is it really calmer at night? I think it might be just as high of flow at night then in the daytime.

Lowering your flow WILL NOT lower your pH. crazy kids =)

It's not really calmer IME and I'm not sure why so many people seem to think it is. Lowering your flow will decrease gas exchange at the surface of your water and could certainly aid in lowering your PH.

neotekz · 08/24/2006, 02:28 AM

u don;t think so? it does in my system at least since i have one power head pushing the surface water. might be something else...

Kinetic · 08/24/2006, 03:11 AM

Good idea:

Run a frag tank with your main system, have it on an opposite photo period, and then the time in between, fill it with a refugium light. Also keep the flow at max all the time. I think that'd be a good combo for a healthy tank

Aquai · 08/24/2006, 03:46 AM

IMO the sea is not any calmer at night, especially under the surface, it's not like rivers stop flowing and currents stop moving during the night in the ocean.

Personally i leave all my equipment on 100% of the time...

moobar · 08/24/2006, 05:43 AM

Anyone seen any hard data on this, are the currents calmer during night?

I have slightly lower circulation during nights, but my daytime flow is very high, so the night flow is still quite high too.

reefdood · 08/24/2006, 08:03 AM

Never been diving at nght but "they" say it's no calmer at night. Makes me wonder why these wavemaker/ controler companies make a night time feature that slows down pumps then?

I have a night mode on my wavemaster pro that I never use.

ATP · 08/24/2006, 08:25 AM

A couple of good articles to read on flow: Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine; June 2006 and August 2006. Go to: www.reefs.org

AAOM link has the articles.

scumonkey · 08/24/2006, 11:39 AM

I HAVE been diving at nite....red sea, caribibean, indian ocean...
The currents are just as strong at nite as in the daytime!
Under a full moon in the red sea, the current was so strong one nite we had to abort the dive!

johnnstacy · 08/24/2006, 11:45 AM

Perhaps I thought it was more calm because when we get up early to go fishing, it is real glassy. Maybe the wind had more to do with that. I see nothing in Steve Tyree's article on flow at reefs.org that indicates that day or night makes a big difference. In fact, I think he indicates that there is greater gravitational pull when the moon is out then when the sun is out, thus creating more tidal movement at night......new one on me.

nmprisons · 08/24/2006, 11:45 AM

the ocean is not calmer at night. i have spent almost as many days on the water as i have on land over the past decade and i can tell you it is just as rough when the sun sets as it was during the day.

FSOL · 08/24/2006, 12:27 PM

I think they make it that way so that you can turn it down at night and let the fish relax.

msuzuki126 · 08/24/2006, 12:29 PM

I'm always in the ocean fishing offshore and 75% of the time it is much calmer at night.

Kinetic · 08/24/2006, 12:44 PM

maybe it depends on where you are and what the weather is like?

twon8 · 08/24/2006, 12:47 PM

i don't have less flow at night, because that is when your tank needs o2 the most, as photosynthesis has stopped, so decreasing flow would also decrease the gas exchange during its most important time.

Peter Eichler · 08/24/2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by msuzuki126
I'm always in the ocean fishing offshore and 75% of the time it is much calmer at night.

The surface being calmer doesn't always mean there's less flow below the surface.

08/23/2006, 11:11 PM	#1
johnnstacy Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 1,043	Less flow at night? Makes sense since the ocean is generally more calm at night. Do you guys turn your CL off or in some other way make things more calm at night? Even if I turned off the CL, I would still have the tunze streams and return flow coming in. Just wonder if that flow at night makes any difference to the corals.

08/24/2006, 08:03 AM	#11
reefdood Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 1,553	Never been diving at nght but "they" say it's no calmer at night. Makes me wonder why these wavemaker/ controler companies make a night time feature that slows down pumps then? I have a night mode on my wavemaster pro that I never use. __________________ ~I am Fragholio!~ ~I need species for my fraghole!~ Current Tank Info: 30g drilled display with a 20g sump, modded CPR skimmer in sump, Mag7 return, 1/4 hp chiller, Ranco DS, 175w Hamilton, (3) 3' VHO, IC 660, (2) hacksawed MJ 900's on a Waveaster Pro, LED moonlights, and an inch of sand.

08/24/2006, 08:25 AM	#12
ATP Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Louisville, CO Posts: 166	A couple of good articles to read on flow: Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine; June 2006 and August 2006. Go to: www.reefs.org AAOM link has the articles. __________________ Pete Current Tank Info: 180g SPS, 150g Mixed

08/24/2006, 11:45 AM	#15
nmprisons Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,520	the ocean is not calmer at night. i have spent almost as many days on the water as i have on land over the past decade and i can tell you it is just as rough when the sun sets as it was during the day. __________________ 25gallon tank up and cycling since 7/29/06 Mostly LPS reef (lords, micros, duncans, etc.) with some ricordia florida and zoanthids. Current Tank Info: 25 gallon, 28lbs of Marshall Island and Kaelini Live Rock, 2x65 power compact lighting, IFS Protein Skimmer

08/24/2006, 12:29 PM	#17
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	I'm always in the ocean fishing offshore and 75% of the time it is much calmer at night. __________________ Red House=My 90 build. Matt. Current Tank Info: 90 rebuild

08/24/2006, 12:01 AM	#2
JJohn Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 229	I too am waiting for an answer on this one. I have always had a wavemaker or, now a Controller, to turn off all but one powerhead and the return during the night. Lately, I am wondering if it makes a difference. Maybe my SPS's would do better if I left everything on at night. Anyone have some thoughts on this topic? John

08/24/2006, 01:01 AM	#3
jmguerry12 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fontucky Posts: 63	johnstacy why dont you try just turning down your streams say maybe 50% and have them alternate slower(more time in between). If you have a controller you acn do that.

08/24/2006, 02:04 AM	#4
neotekz Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: ottawa, Ontario Posts: 698	not sure but i think less flow will lower your already low ph at night, i wouldn't turn it down too much.

08/24/2006, 02:23 AM	#5
Kinetic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,230	is it really calmer at night? I think it might be just as high of flow at night then in the daytime. Lowering your flow WILL NOT lower your pH. crazy kids =)

08/24/2006, 02:28 AM	#7
neotekz Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: ottawa, Ontario Posts: 698	u don;t think so? it does in my system at least since i have one power head pushing the surface water. might be something else...

08/24/2006, 03:11 AM	#8
Kinetic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,230	Good idea: Run a frag tank with your main system, have it on an opposite photo period, and then the time in between, fill it with a refugium light. Also keep the flow at max all the time. I think that'd be a good combo for a healthy tank

08/24/2006, 03:46 AM	#9
Aquai Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 83	IMO the sea is not any calmer at night, especially under the surface, it's not like rivers stop flowing and currents stop moving during the night in the ocean. Personally i leave all my equipment on 100% of the time...

08/24/2006, 05:43 AM	#10
moobar Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 44	Anyone seen any hard data on this, are the currents calmer during night? I have slightly lower circulation during nights, but my daytime flow is very high, so the night flow is still quite high too.

08/24/2006, 11:39 AM	#13
scumonkey Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NYC NY Posts: 467	I HAVE been diving at nite....red sea, caribibean, indian ocean... The currents are just as strong at nite as in the daytime! Under a full moon in the red sea, the current was so strong one nite we had to abort the dive!

08/24/2006, 12:27 PM	#16
FSOL Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 926	I think they make it that way so that you can turn it down at night and let the fish relax.

08/24/2006, 12:44 PM	#18
Kinetic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,230	maybe it depends on where you are and what the weather is like?

08/24/2006, 12:47 PM	#19
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	i don't have less flow at night, because that is when your tank needs o2 the most, as photosynthesis has stopped, so decreasing flow would also decrease the gas exchange during its most important time. __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank