flow in an sps tank

[Charlie97L]

i'm working on my newly set up 90 (pics coming guys, promise!!), which is going to be around 50% sps, and i'm tweaking my flow.

my question is this... how necessary is massive flow for SPS success?

i have a mag 7 return, teed off of two outlets, and a wavysea closed loop being fed by an eheim 1262 (~900 gph) that is on a 360 back and forth off of the center brace.

i've had sps before, in my 58, they did ok... but in the 90 all the polyps have great extension with just this amount of flow.

i've also got 2 oceanflo 1200s on a back and forth timer, but when that is on, the sps seem to not be as happy as they are with just the wavysea and return.

is massive flow necessary for sps? is what i have too much, perhaps, for a 90? if so, what adjustments would you make?

thanks!
Charlie

[Dragon Wrasse]

I recommend some kind of wave maker for your SPS tank, I have the TUNZE Wavebox in one of my tanks and you would not belive the response I get from my hard corals.....I also use the Red Sea wavemaker in my Softy tank and they love that one but the Tunze wave box works best for SPS's ....just my two cents.....I think water movement is just as important as water flow in a SPS / LPS tank.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=285&aid=366

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=677

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=679

[Charlie97L]

cool man... i do have the wavy sea thing. it's like a 360 degree sea swirl, that's what's on the outlet of a closed loop. so does that count? haha.

[cheeks69]

If your SPS are happy with the amount of flow you have I wouldn't change anything especially if it's a mixed tank. My LPS and softies just don't do well in my tank with alot of flow. I'm using a MAG 12 with two Seios one a 620 the other 1100 which I had to adjust to reduce the flow. My tank is a cube and 18" shorter than your tank so it's a different situation. The only way I would consider going with a high flow tank is if it's dedicated to SPS.

[Dragon Wrasse]

Do you get good Oscollation with it?? I also have two SCWD (squids) on my SPS tank.....they have been working pretty good also....

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=255

[Charlie97L]

yes, i have it set up in a 360 alternating pattern. it takes about right now, 45 seconds to do the whole circuit, but i can speed it up or slow it down.

i'm considering moving the two leathers (not the mushrooms or rics) to my 20g zoa that's coming along nicely. We'll see. I've heard many recommendations to not do leathers and gorgs with sps if you're serious abotu good coloration and growth.

i will keep my lps in there, hopefully i can find a way to design the rockwork to block those that don't like major flow.

[SueT]

I agree if your sps are happy with what flow you have then I wouldn't try to add more or tweak anything for now. Once they start to grow in then you may have to up the flow or alternating flow but for now if they're happy I'd leave well enough alone. PE is always a good sign of happy corals.