How do you know when you have "enough" flow?

JT101 · 08-30-2007, 10:46 AM

My 10 week old AquaPod 24 has a single MaxJet 1200 "behind the wall" with two 1-1/4" fan outputs on 1/2" LocLine. One output is pointed down and to the left rear corner, the other goes across the tank towards the front right corner.

The water seems to be moving pretty well, but I am afraid of overdoing it. My percula pair seem to "fight" the current ocassionally, so I don't know if this is bad for them or not.

When do you know when you have "enough"? I have seen some tanks in LFS that have an AMAZING amount of water flow, it's like the whole tank is churning. I just don't know how you know when you have the right amount.

Thanks
John

AQTCJAK · 08-30-2007, 10:54 AM

I always judge by this factor if the tank is 100 gallons & i want a turn over rate of 40x I calculate the math. 100x40=4000. Fish & corals require different flow rates high flow & high pressure flow are very different. The smaller pwrheads generate a higher pressure becuase of the smaller outlet while large pumps move more water & a lower volume in comparision

JT101 · 08-30-2007, 11:17 AM

OK, thanks for the tip. So, my AquaPod 24 is a 24 gallon tank (obviously

) but with all the LR and sand etc. it's probably much less, but I'll assume an empty tank. The MaxJet 1200 is rated at 295 gal/hour. So, if I do (24X40) = 960. WOW! I am WAY underflowed!! So, I need to buy THREE MORE 1200's at least? Even if I assume I only have 20 gallons of water in the tank, that's still (20X40) = 800.

Saltwater Noob · 08-30-2007, 11:23 AM

WOW 40x I thought the tank was to turn 15 to 20x's I need like 4 more MJ1200's then is this right??

caitrina · 08-30-2007, 12:37 PM

whoa note what he is saying here, he is saying that if HE wants the turn over rate to be 40 X "always judge by this factor if the tank is 100 gallons & i want a turn over rate of 40x I calculate the math. 100x40=4000. He is not saying that is the rule of thumb, he is saying that is his calculation if he wants that turn over rate. Rate of flow depends also on what you have. I have 2 pumps in my 65 that are pumping a total of 1000 gph and the one in sump pumping 782 gph. so I roughly have a turn over rate of 27 times an hour.

BigAl07 · 08-30-2007, 12:39 PM

There isn't a hard and fast rule about this. You need to judge your flow by what you keep. That's what AQTCJAK was saying about different fish and different corals needing different flow. If I had 40x flow in my 12g Nano Cube it would literally tear the flesh off of my Frogspawn, devils finger, and Xenia corals. Yes you can have too much flow depending on what you're keeping in the tank.

Allen

kathywithbirds · 08-30-2007, 12:43 PM

Well, from what I've gathered it's more like you're after 10x to 40x depending on what's in your tank. (Disclaimer: I've been at this 3 or 4 months... beginner myself!)

I figure my pumps put out a total of 1200 gph on my 37... a really rough est. is that I'm at 30x. I think. I've got 3 two-inch fish, a bunch of zoos,, polyps and a frogspawn and they all seem happy. My goal is a BTA (in about 6 months I figure), but I don't know what flow is requred for them yet.

Edit here: there's 2 maxijets, hooked up to skimmer and reactor, so their flow is dimished some. I'm probably somewhere bet. 20x and 30x.

JT101 · 08-30-2007, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caitrina

whoa note what he is saying here, he is saying that if HE wants the turn over rate to be 40 X "always judge by this factor if the tank is 100 gallons & i want a turn over rate of 40x I calculate the math. 100x40=4000. He is not saying that is the rule of thumb, he is saying that is his calculation if he wants that turn over rate. Rate of flow depends also on what you have. I have 2 pumps in my 65 that are pumping a total of 1000 gph and the one in sump pumping 782 gph. so I roughly have a turn over rate of 27 times an hour.

OK, I have a MaxJet 1200 with a 295 gph rating, my tank is 24 gallons so I'm turning it over about 13 times an hour. If I assume that all of my LR and sand is displacing, say, 3-4 gallons then I can assume that my MJ1200 is turning my tank over at a slightly faster rate of 14.75 times per hour.

If I get ANOTHER MJ1200 then it would be 26x/hr and 29.5x/hr., respectively.

Right now the only coral I have is a new zoanthid, about 3" x 4" across. I read that this is a "medium flow" coral but I don't know what "medium" is, as the word "medium" is in and of itself a highly subjective term.

I would LOVE to get as many beautiful corals as I can but I'm VERY confused by all the terms (i.e., sps, lps, leathers etc etc), it makes my head spin! I think I just need to read-up as much as possible and stick with the single zoanthid for now.

BigAl07 · 08-30-2007, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT101

I would LOVE to get as many beautiful corals as I can but I'm VERY confused by all the terms (i.e., sps, lps, leathers etc etc), it makes my head spin! I think I just need to read-up as much as possible and stick with the single zoanthid for now.

Good answer! The more you read and research the better off your tank and ALL of it's inhabitants will be for it. Take your time and learn as you go.

Allen

08-30-2007, 10:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
JT101 Neon dottyback Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hicksville NY Posts: 672 View Gallery Karma Komment	How do you know when you have "enough" flow? My 10 week old AquaPod 24 has a single MaxJet 1200 "behind the wall" with two 1-1/4" fan outputs on 1/2" LocLine. One output is pointed down and to the left rear corner, the other goes across the tank towards the front right corner. The water seems to be moving pretty well, but I am afraid of overdoing it. My percula pair seem to "fight" the current ocassionally, so I don't know if this is bad for them or not. When do you know when you have "enough"? I have seen some tanks in LFS that have an AMAZING amount of water flow, it's like the whole tank is churning. I just don't know how you know when you have the right amount. Thanks John

08-30-2007, 10:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,229 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: How do you know when you have "enough" flow? I always judge by this factor if the tank is 100 gallons & i want a turn over rate of 40x I calculate the math. 100x40=4000. Fish & corals require different flow rates high flow & high pressure flow are very different. The smaller pwrheads generate a higher pressure becuase of the smaller outlet while large pumps move more water & a lower volume in comparision __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

08-30-2007, 11:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
JT101 Neon dottyback Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hicksville NY Posts: 672 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How do you know when you have "enough" flow? OK, thanks for the tip. So, my AquaPod 24 is a 24 gallon tank (obviously ) but with all the LR and sand etc. it's probably much less, but I'll assume an empty tank. The MaxJet 1200 is rated at 295 gal/hour. So, if I do (24X40) = 960. WOW! I am WAY underflowed!! So, I need to buy THREE MORE 1200's at least? Even if I assume I only have 20 gallons of water in the tank, that's still (20X40) = 800.

08-30-2007, 11:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Saltwater Noob I'm Learning Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Port Richey, Fl Posts: 367 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How do you know when you have "enough" flow? WOW 40x I thought the tank was to turn 15 to 20x's I need like 4 more MJ1200's then is this right?? __________________ 65 gal Reef Tank 8 gal sump aquaC remora Skimmer w MJ 1200 pump Hydro #3 for flow MJ1200 for flow Current Extreme Pro 6 Bulb T5 Setup Live Stock Yellow Tang - Six Line - Clown - and about 50 red leg hermits - 25 snails - 2 star fish and 2 cucumbers. Corals zoo's and GSP and shrooms surge return pump

08-30-2007, 12:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
caitrina Golden Moray Join Date: May 2007 Location: Somewhere in Florida Posts: 2,611 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: How do you know when you have "enough" flow? whoa note what he is saying here, he is saying that if HE wants the turn over rate to be 40 X "always judge by this factor if the tank is 100 gallons & i want a turn over rate of 40x I calculate the math. 100x40=4000. He is not saying that is the rule of thumb, he is saying that is his calculation if he wants that turn over rate. Rate of flow depends also on what you have. I have 2 pumps in my 65 that are pumping a total of 1000 gph and the one in sump pumping 782 gph. so I roughly have a turn over rate of 27 times an hour. __________________ A reef tank is like a potato chip, you can't have just one! Chronicles Cat's Healing Gift: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ling-gift.html Cat’s 90 Gallon Toy: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...allon-toy.html 24 G Mystery Pod: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...stery-pod.html

08-30-2007, 12:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 12,873 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: How do you know when you have "enough" flow? There isn't a hard and fast rule about this. You need to judge your flow by what you keep. That's what AQTCJAK was saying about different fish and different corals needing different flow. If I had 40x flow in my 12g Nano Cube it would literally tear the flesh off of my Frogspawn, devils finger, and Xenia corals. Yes you can have too much flow depending on what you're keeping in the tank. Allen __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. >((((º> Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...(-NO3=WC%) 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!! Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Now in STORAGE and Dry-Docked BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

08-30-2007, 12:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
kathywithbirds Social Darwinism victim Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Hood, NJ Posts: 5,799 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How do you know when you have "enough" flow? Well, from what I've gathered it's more like you're after 10x to 40x depending on what's in your tank. (Disclaimer: I've been at this 3 or 4 months... beginner myself!) I figure my pumps put out a total of 1200 gph on my 37... a really rough est. is that I'm at 30x. I think. I've got 3 two-inch fish, a bunch of zoos,, polyps and a frogspawn and they all seem happy. My goal is a BTA (in about 6 months I figure), but I don't know what flow is requred for them yet. Edit here: there's 2 maxijets, hooked up to skimmer and reactor, so their flow is dimished some. I'm probably somewhere bet. 20x and 30x. __________________ (\_/) (\__/) ( . .) (^.^) (")(") (> <) Bunny and Bunnina have worked things out. Bunny was mistaken after all, Bunnina was not having an affair. "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." ~Lin Yutang Last edited by kathywithbirds : 08-30-2007 at 12:45 PM. Reason: refigured flow

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