Importance of water flow?

Tsao · 12-30-2008, 04:51 AM

First is a picture of the set up I have now. Second is how it used to be, I really liked the way it used to be, I think it looks nice, however, I read that you shouldn't wall stack due to flow problems. Just curious what types of problems would arise and if it's really that bad of an idea.

BigAl07 · 12-30-2008, 10:02 AM

Low-No flow will create "Dead" zones in your tank where detritus and "goop" will tend to settle/collect and cause cascading water parameters.

I personally like to "Test" my flow by using a different colored sand and slowly letting it drop into the tank. Observe and see how quickly it finds a place to collect and then decide if you have a problem. Almost all tanks have an area that stuff settles in but it shouldn't happen very quickly. Ideally anything in the water column will stay suspended for a period of time then settle thus giving fish and other animals more time to consume it.

I like the new look.

ReefLady · 12-30-2008, 10:18 AM

What Al said. Also, some corals like med/high water flow, so where you have lower flow areas, you will limit where you can place corals.
Low/no flow areas also allow nuisance algaes as well as cyano/diatom breakouts to gain an easy foothold.

Snelly40 · 01-10-2009, 11:11 AM

when i feed cyclop-eez i can always see my flow. My goal was to have it so when i poured some in there would be some everywhere within 5 seconds. Flow should be swirling and pretty strong. Corals will love it and will thrive

motocrosstcw · 01-10-2009, 11:33 AM

i have quite the bit of flow as for i have a submersible pump and a powerhead in my tank there both little but for stackin rock as long as you put the flow behind themand flow in the front as well my sub pump is the flow for the front of my tank and also subs for a wave maker the way i have it setup and my power head is pointed directly behind my rock wall i have stacked and my tank is doing great my clarki loves it beds and swims all day in front of the flow and my corals just bloom and wave everyday from it and tank is crystal clear so we all can sit in a aww to how wonderful mother nature is to us

12-30-2008, 04:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tsao Star Polyps Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 169 View Gallery Karma Komment	Importance of water flow? First is a picture of the set up I have now. Second is how it used to be, I really liked the way it used to be, I think it looks nice, however, I read that you shouldn't wall stack due to flow problems. Just curious what types of problems would arise and if it's really that bad of an idea.

12-30-2008, 10:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Importance of water flow? Low-No flow will create "Dead" zones in your tank where detritus and "goop" will tend to settle/collect and cause cascading water parameters. I personally like to "Test" my flow by using a different colored sand and slowly letting it drop into the tank. Observe and see how quickly it finds a place to collect and then decide if you have a problem. Almost all tanks have an area that stuff settles in but it shouldn't happen very quickly. Ideally anything in the water column will stay suspended for a period of time then settle thus giving fish and other animals more time to consume it. I like the new look. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

12-30-2008, 10:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Importance of water flow? What Al said. Also, some corals like med/high water flow, so where you have lower flow areas, you will limit where you can place corals. Low/no flow areas also allow nuisance algaes as well as cyano/diatom breakouts to gain an easy foothold. __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

01-10-2009, 11:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Snelly40 Manta Ray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,098 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Importance of water flow? when i feed cyclop-eez i can always see my flow. My goal was to have it so when i poured some in there would be some everywhere within 5 seconds. Flow should be swirling and pretty strong. Corals will love it and will thrive __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society*

01-10-2009, 11:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
motocrosstcw Cabbage Leather Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: allegan michigan Posts: 392 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Importance of water flow? i have quite the bit of flow as for i have a submersible pump and a powerhead in my tank there both little but for stackin rock as long as you put the flow behind themand flow in the front as well my sub pump is the flow for the front of my tank and also subs for a wave maker the way i have it setup and my power head is pointed directly behind my rock wall i have stacked and my tank is doing great my clarki loves it beds and swims all day in front of the flow and my corals just bloom and wave everyday from it and tank is crystal clear so we all can sit in a aww to how wonderful mother nature is to us

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