too much flow?

robzilla · #1 01-12-2009, 05:30 PM

here's the list of pumps that i have for flow in my 120. not many corals, mostly softies as the angel eats the nice ones..

tunze 6000 1850 g/h
koralia 4 1200 g/h
seio m820 820 g/h
MaxiStream modified Maxijet 1200 (not sure of exact but) 800 g/h
rio 2500 return 782 g/h

i'm running bare bottom.
your thoughts?

Aquattro · #2 01-12-2009, 05:34 PM

nope, not too much, IMO

GreenSpottedPuffer · #3 01-12-2009, 05:55 PM

Only you can judge the flow in your tank by how your corals react, if there are no dead spots, ect.

Numbers don't mean a heck of a lot when it comes to flow IMO. Flow patterns are so much more important.

And its not really possible either to have too much flow unless you really went nuts with powerheads in a small tank.

sphelps · #4 01-12-2009, 06:46 PM

On my 120gal cube I run 2 tunze 6101s (3200GPH/each) and a dart (3600GPH) on a closed loop and I also use a Dart as a return pump.
So you're not over any limits but flow requirements are more based on livestock. I would say however you're under powered for flow due to the bare bottom, I'm not sure what advantage this gives you for only soft corals.

fkshiu · #5 01-12-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robzilla

here's the list of pumps that i have for flow in my 120. not many corals, mostly softies as the angel eats the nice ones..

tunze 6000 1850 g/h
koralia 4 1200 g/h
seio m820 820 g/h
MaxiStream modified Maxijet 1200 (not sure of exact but) 800 g/h
rio 2500 return 782 g/h

i'm running bare bottom.
your thoughts?

The Maxistream will give you a lot more than 800 gph if it's working properly and the Rio 2500 return will give you a lot less than 782 gph after headloss.

I agree that flow patterns are more important than numbers and going bare bottom with softies defeats the point of having no substrate in the first place: mega-crazy flow. A low flow BB tank will at least easily show you where all the crap is pooling up.

robzilla · #6 01-12-2009, 08:05 PM

with the bare bottom, do you have the flow patterns towards the bottom to pick up the poop? or with enough flow, nothing really stays at the bottom?

sphelps · #7 01-12-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robzilla

with the bare bottom, do you have the flow patterns towards the bottom to pick up the poop? or with enough flow, nothing really stays at the bottom?

You'll need constant flow streams over the bottom to stop anything from settling, this can be fairly difficult to achieve and requires a lot of flow. It also helps if the rock work is suspended in a way that as little rock is in contact with the base as possible.