How much Flow is to much FLOW

ok so i have 55 gallon with 2 korrila x2 in there and a return from my sump .

is this two much water flow . can someone give a valid reason why this is ok or to much .

 

How do your corals look Kalandra?

the most valid and thus best opinions will come from them

do you have any problems with Cyno?
does your sand get blown about?
do the corals seem to not open very well and when they are they seem buffeted to much?
do your fish seem to all hang out in the bottom corners or in the rock work and rarely front and centre?


I reckon most of the answers to questions above are No?
if so , you dont have to much flow

30 - 50 x tank volume for normal reef type set ups is the norm
even more if you have SPS dominated reef tanks

good water movement coupled with plenty of rock for bacteria to live on, is the best biological filtration system for our tanks - you need that flow to keep the nutrients constantly delivered to the bacteria that break them down for you

but if your inhabitants are struggling (LPS for example bubble corals , dont like to much water they tend not to expand for fear of being ripped apart - shrooms also stay clenched up for fear of being dragged off rocks)
then under those circumstances - re direction of flow rather than reduction can improve things for them

the above is just my opinion

Steve

 

If you are blowing sand all over the place then I would say yes it's too much. Steve summed up pretty much your question.

 

great reply Steve. Helped me out a little as well.

thanks

 

seriously thanks alot steave that answer too all them questions was no in fact .
thank you .

 

Hello, what I use as a Gage is the reef itself. If you look at a live reef the current and movement is quite intense really. In my 55 gal. I have a Koralia 3 and 4 plus the two returns. I also have added a Nano Koralia in one dead spot. You want (from experience) the most flow/cross current your coral can handle and thrive in. This takes experimentation. I like having the back return tube facing down and toward the middle of the back glass to get flow directly behind the rock work. The front return tube is just under the surface and facing the middle (depth wise) to shoot water across the tank for good surface agitation. The two large Koralia are located toward the back of the tank and about 3" under the surface and facing the the front middle of the glass, which also give good surface agitation. This gives the tank a lot of cross current a randomness that I see on the reef.

 

In my 55 I have 4 Korelia 2's plus 1 return. I think this gives a good amount of flow and seems to be pretty random. It does move my sand around a bit whenever I try to adjust them, but once you get them where you like them, this settles down.

 

thank you .

 

I really dont mean to hijack your thread but i dont want to be a pain and start a new thread. I have roughly 1400gph going through a 22 gallon (including 2 koralia 1s and a 780 gph return and with head loss is about 1400gph total). Is this too much because wherever i position the powerheads or the return for that matter theres always sand blowing and when theres not visually sand blowing the tank has been cloudy from day one. Is this too much? what should i do, i want clear water already

 

You may have a little much for that size tank. Here is my 14 gal.

You can see how the Kolalia is positioned. It is a #1. Pointed slightly up gives good surface agitation and the glitter effect. I think it is just right as far as flow and circulation. Try that with just one #1 and if you need a little extra you could add a Nano Koralia.