Are you getting enough flow in your tank?

[Gumbies R Us]

One of the main aspects I see many people deal with is ensuring they have enough flow in their tanks. Even to this day, flow can confuse me at times, but I feel like I have mine dialed in just right. I want to know if you are getting enough flow in your tank. Share your tips and what you use to achieve efficient flow! Photo Credit: @fox0521

 

[JZ199]

Tagging along for this one! I also just kind of wing it and have no science behind my flow and positioning of power heads and returns.

 

[X-37B]

2 Sea Sweeps and Tunze 6255's is all the flow my 59×30×22 needs.
Best random flow out there, imo.
Tank is 6 days away from being 6 months old.

 

[twentyleagues]

I have a cube and its not easy to judge or get correct flow (recently found out). It looked like I had plenty nothing settling on the bottom and stuff swaying in the flow. Had some "tester" sps start to stn, some looked good. I added a Tunze ph and stuff started looking better almost immediately including the euphyllia that I thought already looked good. Its not easy.

 

[GARRIGA]

I’m looking to use closed loop system as it’s never made sense using unsightly wave makers through out a tank. Hoping to design it so water empties on one end and all returns on the other. Best example I have of fully moving water vs just blowing it around hoping that works then having to adjust as corals grow and flow forced to change. Think about what happens when you empty a bucket. Every ounce of water moves in that direction vs swirling around

 

[Vivid Creative Aquatics]

I’m looking to use closed loop system as it’s never made sense using unsightly wave makers through out a tank. Hoping to design it so water empties on one end and all returns on the other. Best example I have of fully moving water vs just blowing it around hoping that works then having to adjust as corals grow and flow forced to change. Think about what happens when you empty a bucket. Every ounce of water moves in that direction vs swirling around

We run close loops in our office tank - with the Random Flow Generator, of course. But, one of the ways we where abel to achieve both a closed loop and the ability to adjust for coral growth is to do the closed loop on stand pipes.

This gives the ability to adjust the height of the outlet as you need to. in fact we have already adjusted it upwards by an inch or two, two times.

This can be achieve either as stand pipes like we have here - or drop pipes from above the tank (if you have a canopy). You can even do this off of regular outlets on the back wall, by using a series of 90-degree elbows

The loops combine with the Random flow generator create plenty of flow.

 

[Dburr1014]

(2) 120 crossflows, mp40 and a wav on a 60"x24"

I still haven't perfected the flow.

 

[GARRIGA]

Instead of stand pipes. I’m designing an AIO with oversized interval sumps to capture and return water. Think about a peninsula but with two end caps. Each slotted. The overflow grabbing water from the top, bottom and mid section this way entire tank contents empties out. Still tinkering with the return and both will contain filtration components to simplify the plumbing including making the return a Fuge as final scrub.

Trying to minimize use of powerheads to reduce maintenance as well.

 

[exnisstech]

Flow is probably one of the hardest things in this hobby for me to get right. My 36x24x24" SPS tank I think I have it dialed in. Sticks are growing and all detritus settles in one corner for easy removal. Running 2 mp10s on reef crests 75% power and two nero 5s on random at 70% power all on the back wall. My large tank 84x30x25" I run 6 Mp40s but I'm still not happy with the flow so will be changing it up. I have two jeboa gyres I may add.