Yes, there is such a thing as too much flow!

[tah532]

I recently got rid of my Tunze 6060 1600gph and replaced it with a couple powerheads running about 480gph and my fish are looking so much more at ease, healthy and natural. With the Tunze they were skittish, unnatural looking, and disease ridden. After just a couple days of the new flow they are back to normal going about their business and disease symptoms clearing up.

[marrone]

I think the whole high flow craze is for people with sps that have BB tanks. They need the flow to move all the garabage from accumulating. As for the fish unless you have fish that live in the surf you don't need heavy flow and most will do better without it. All my tanks have low flow but good water movement and all my fish are heathly, large and living long lives.

[tah532]

I definately and totally agree with ya now!

[Titan*69]

Some fish like Clown,Sohal tangs and big Triggers do appreciate swift movement. As most trigs are shallow water fish, and the tangs I mentioned hang on reef edges in the stronges of currents. The worst fished for flow have to be the lionfishes, just can't handle it. Good to hear your fish are doing much better.

[TOYMAN357]

that tunze need a home let me know

[tah532]

nope already sold it, it went out within 24hours

[Fredy]

I have a 210 with a mag 18 return (possibly switching to a mag 24) and tow PH rated at 400 GPH. I was thinking of going to 2xSeio M1500's and getting rid of the old PH. Do you think this is too much flow for a FWLR? or not enough.

Thanks,
Fredy

[tah532]

I think as long as the fish look like they are relaxed and going about their business in the tank without struggling, your flow isnt too much, and as long as the water is moving a little bit to not have garbage collecting everywhere or dead spots you are ok.

[Fredy]

I will give the two Seios a try. Worst case I can always sell them here.

Thanks

[marrone]

The Seios aren't like other power heads as they have a wide gently flow and you can dial them down too is they're to strong.

In a FOWLR or FO tank water movement is more important than flow, as in a BB SPS Reef tank where flow is more important. You want to have good water breakage and not have any areas in the tank that are either to strong or wirlpool like. This makes it hard on the fish to swim in and a lot of times led to junk & waste collecting in areas and getting trapped.

[Fredy]

marrone,
So what is your recommendation for my 210?

Thanks,
Fredy

[marrone]

Fredy

How high is your tank from the sump to the top of the tank as the Mag18 pumps 1,000pgh at 6' why the Mag24 pumps 1,700gph at 6'. This is a lot of flow for a Fish tank, unless you t-off the return into the tank.

I would go with the Mag9.5, 700gph at 6', and going with 1 or 2 Seio 620 or 820. This way you can adjust the Seio flow if it's to much.

A lot of this depends on the setup in the tank and wether you have a lot of rock or open free space. Also take into account the fish your going to have.

[Fredy]

My Sump is right under the tank. I would guestimate 6' of head. I have the return T'd off to both returns on either end of the tank (AGA w/2 Megaflows) The pump is not throttled back, but both of the drain lines are cut back a bit since I was getting to many bubbles. There is about 150-175#'s of LR in the main display with plenty of room for the fish to have at it. The flow form the returns and the two PH (rated at 400gph each) do not do enough
to keep the bottom (crushed coral) and the LR clean.

Current stock;
Emperor Angle
Blue Face Angle
Yellow Tang
Niger Trigger
Hippo Tang
Stars & Stripes Puffer
Blue Spot Toby
Yellow Head sleeper Goby
Snow Flake Eel
5 Damsels
Choc Chip Star
Rainbow Urchin
CoralBanded Shrimp
5 Cleaner Shrimp
Hermits
Snails

Fredy

[marrone]

First you really shouldn't have crushed coral in the tank as unless you vacum it all the time you will just collect junk and cause high nitrates. If you changed it over to sand your gobies & hermits would keep it clean. With what you have, the return and the PH, you should have enough flow in your tank.

I have 2 -260gal tank, which are 3' heigh and I have less flow in both tanks than you and I don't have any problem with junk on the sand or rocks.

[Fredy]

marrone,
That's funny cause I was contemplating on buying "Southdown" for my 210 Thanks for the reply. Hopefully the HD by me has some sand.

Thanks again for the tips
Fredy

[marrone]

Fredy

A warning about using Southdown in a FO or Fowlr tank, it creates a lot of cloudy/dust in the water even if you clean and rinse it really good. Also if you plan on having fish that are going to dig into the sand or move it around, like wrasse or triggers, it will also create dusty storms and leave your tank cloudy. I used it when I started my tanks, and put a layer of live sand on top with some rock on top of that, and my tank was cloudy for quite some time. I had to take a 48" phyton and suck out the loose sand, also changed my filter a lot, before the tank became clear.

Michael

[Kinetic]

For my tank, i have about 40x turnover, about 1" of sand, some fish, sps, etc...

no cloudy / sand storms here. you just need to be clever about how to position your powerheads.

[Fredy]

Currently mt 210 has no live stock in it except my inverts. I am treating my fish with hypo in a 125g bare bottom. I had a ich issue. I plan on removing as much crushed coral as possible (about 75% or so) purchasing some SD form HD giving it a good rinse and placing it in my 210. I have about 6 weeks to let it settle, I should be OK.

[marrone]

Originally posted by koden
For my tank, i have about 40x turnover, about 1" of sand, some fish, sps, etc...

no cloudy / sand storms here. you just need to be clever about how to position your powerheads.

When you use Southdown it doesn't matter how you position your power head as there is a lot of fine particles in it that until they start to stick and clump together. It doesn't take much to cause it to create dusty/sand storms in your tank, whether from your fish digging into it or you PH or filter moving it around.