For flow rate and to measure where i put stuff i find out using this method;

A short ribbon gives me a good sense of the flow

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...Photo102-1.jpg


A long ribbon gives me the direction and path of the flow.


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...Photo096-1.jpg


Each time you must turn your stick to see which current is predominent or your ribbon will stay in its original position and give you fasle reading. A turn of the stick forces the ribbon to realine itself to the new and actual current and give you accurate reading. Long ribbon also shows you also where the different currents and flow meet.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...Photo100-1.jpg

So to position a fragile or demanding coral or invert do this at different heights , because it changes drastically because of obstical, namely your rockwork and aquascape, if you didn't think your scape matters with your flow think again. Dead spots can be created because of bad pump positioning, or aquascape. You may need 4 pumps if you have them in the wrong place, while you could get away with 3 or even 2 if they're place in a good and studied fashion, = less money spent on powerheads = less power spent = more money for fish etc.... making sense.

For flow rate and to measure where i put stuff i find out using this method;

A short ribbon gives me a good sense of the flow

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...Photo102-1.jpg


A long ribbon gives me the direction and path of the flow.


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...Photo096-1.jpg


Each time you must turn your stick to see which current is predominent or your ribbon will stay in its original position and give you fasle reading. A turn of the stick forces the ribbon to realine itself to the new and actual current and give you accurate reading. Long ribbon also shows you also where the different currents and flow meet.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...Photo100-1.jpg

So to position a fragile or demanding coral or invert do this at different heights , because it changes drastically because of obstical, namely your rockwork and aquascape, if you didn't think your scape matters with your flow think again. Dead spots can be created because of bad pump positioning, or aquascape. You may need 4 pumps if you have them in the wrong place, while you could get away with 3 or even 2 if they're place in a good and studied fashion, = less money spent on powerheads = less power spent = more money for fish etc.... making sense.


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...Photo097-1.jpg

It a piece of christmass ribbon on a stick just saying


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...Photo095-1.jpg



From behind a rock this came out pretty strong

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...Photo094-1.jpg


This place was for calm waters corals , when the ribbon yields and sway and gives, mild currents. Straight ribbons unyielding very strong currents. Waving ribbons, turbulent and meeting currents, you don't want a bubble coral there.


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...Photo093-1.jpg


Dont ever forget the back chanels they can be surprisingly strong

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...Photo103-1.jpg

A waving spot, very harsh

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/Photo104.jpg


My engeneer crewman.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/Photo105.jpg

For a quick check maybe, but how much of the stuff you gona use to chart your entire tank, expensive stuff to use for that purpose and you'll have to poison your tank before you find out all the info i get with my stick and a ribbon. I dont do that once, it takes a week and more to map and chart your tank. paper and a plan to do what i did. I do it for the purpose of economy of buying too many powerheads at $ 500 a piece. If i can get away with 2, instead of 3,4,5 . Thats money in my pocket on top of knowing where to put my corals and where they'll best grow.

Its like the guy who mentioned using flakes, how much food is he going to waste and polute his tank to find out where the flows are. And flakes stays on the top, currents like the ocean have layers, the bottom flows differs from the top .Specially if you have powerheads at mid tank. I did my reasearch when i was cycling or some of it , so when the life stock was there, i had the right pumps at the right place and the right number of them. Right now i'm using them at only 50% of their capacity, because the tank is new and has no obstacle besides the aquascape. Soon corals grow, like the birds nest where you need to augment the flow. I'll be glad to have that 50% in reserve. because now i can blow my existing corals out of the water lol.