Reef Discussion

[rosechaser]

I find it very difficult to judge the flow and whether corals are happy...any tips? or guides?

 

[Gunnie]

For SPS, look at the polyps, when you have good random turbulent flow they will flow side to side, up and down, sometimes gently, then violently when a surge goes by, in all directions ideally. For colonies which are tabling in structure, i try to ensure there is good flow going vertically up from below and through the coral as well good lateral flow.

this video gives you a good idea

For LPS my experience is see how much they are expanding, if you think they could be getting too much flow try moving it to a lower flow area and seeing how it opens up the next day.

 

[MTG]

if i had that much flow in the video in my tank my LPS would loose all its heads!. i run very minimal flow on an alternating pulse current. very indirect with the wave makers not pointed at any corals. i have found hammers like minimal flow as high flow damages them very easily

 

[Gunnie]

Sorry just to add my experience is mainly with SPS corals, i have 2 LPS in my tank and have had trouble placing them, they are not happy and they expanded larger in QT, so will be trading them in soon which is a shame as I love the movement they provide

After going diving on the reef and experiencing what the currents were like, I got a whole new understanding and appreciation for where our inverts come from, and as a result also become a bit obsessed with flow in my new tank :P

 

[Woody Mackay]

I thin as Gunnie said, polyp extension gives u a pretty good idea. When I have too much flow, my LPS retract and sulk for a day or so. If you have direct flow on SPS their polyps with retract and you can blow the skin off them. For my SPS, because I have constant speed cheapie wavemakers, I direct them toward one another a few cm's in front of my SPS. The flow patterns collide and become random and turbulent. Its best to work this out when u do a clean and the waters' full of crap, you can see how the water is moving. I have about 50x turnover in my tank, but the way it is setup my SPS get atleast that or stronger, and my LPS wave quite a bit but gently. I dont wana touch it now as they all look very extended and happy !