Too much water flow?

[ChrisV]

I tossed 2 crappy powerheads replacing them with a tunze stream 6060 (1600gph) in a 54gal corner tank. With the magnum and sump return, the flow totals somwhere around 2400gph. Its not causing a sand storm but this is a bit too much right? I was thinking some of the soft coral wouldnt like the high current, but the tank does have a nice spinning motion now. Acropora should enjoy, its giving the fish a bit of a workout too I might add, but they seem happy.

Anyway, thumbs up for the tunze stream and thanks for any opinions/comments.

CV

 

[Anonymous]

No such thing as too much flow. You can have to much velocity though.

Louey

 

[mike90]

1600gph is one hell of a powerhead though. how many gallon tank?

 

[ChrisV]

54 gallon corner tank....

 

[mike90]

sounds like a bit too much movement for me.

 

[Tackett]

No such thing as too much movement. Hypothetically, take a 54 gallon section of actual ocean coral reef and measure the gph. Its a helluva lot more than 1600. Your critters will adapt, algae will not, and detrious will not have time to collect and decay on the bottom.

FWIW I had over 2500 gph in my 55 and I wanted more.


Loey is right about the velocity though. Velocity meaning alot of flow in a small area. Like a jetstream, can be damaging. However tunze's are designed to avoid exactly that, so you are good to go.

 

[ChrisV]

Yeah, the water movement is very even and the junk that broke free is mostly picked up now. I think everything should adapt well. The only problem I have is the top water ripples. I need to find a way to keep the tunze from disturbing the perfect ripples I had, like rock placement or somthing, theres got to be a way...

Also, I should put the tunze on a timer to give them some sleep/rest time right?

 

[Tackett]

Yes I would put the tunze on a timer. I would try to alternate the current as much as possible. I would run it a little slower at night as well.

As far as ripples go FYI.....check this out, little acid-base balance 101:

Your tank gets alot of its oxygen content by surface agitation. The movement of the watter lapping traps oxygen from the air and pulls it into the water. So, generally, the more surface agitation, the higher oxygen content your tank will have. A high oxygen content will conversley equal a low CO2 content. A low CO2 content and a high oxygen content equal two things. 1. less acidodic water, higher PH. 2. Higher buffering capacity, or higher alkalinity.

I have found that many buffering or alkalinity problems (hardness or whatever the kids are calling it these days.) as well as livestock losses for that matter, are due to low dissolved oxygen levels in the water. If you are having chronic alkalinity problems, the first thing you should try is creating more surface agitation.

 

[ChrisV]

Thanks again Tackett

 

[Tackett]

no problem man.