Flow? How much flow?

L

landon_brim

I have just recently acquired my first few frags of sps. I know that they require alot of flow, but how much is enough? I have a 125 g tank, that is 72 inches long. Several powerheads, but nothing spectacular. I am in the process of trying to get rid of the 1 rio 1700 in the tank and pick up something to replace it.

Also, I need to know what types of additives should be added to the tank to keep these awesome corals. If you cant tell, the majority of my tank is softies. Thanks for the help. Landon
 
You have to sort of trade off with a mixed tank. Softies don't like the flow and SPS you can't have to much! try to concentrate an area of high flow where the SPS are for sure. Also run carbon 24/7 if your not. In a mixed tank your softies will really make your SPS upset with their chemicals.

Best advice would be pick an area for the SPS with high light and then create a high flow area there with powerheads or by positioning returns.

Literally it is almost impossible to have to much. I had over 50x turnover in my 135 and the SPS loved it! Your softies would die with that much!
 
That is exactly what I was afraid of. I know that my anemones hate lots of flow, as well as my other softies, but I really want to keep some sps. I will have to take your advice and place the sps in the highest flow area of the tank. Thanks for the help. I am not currently running carbon, but will be soon.
 
Ya it's tough. Stick with the easy SPS also. Monti's mainly.

As far as your other questions with additives. I have a calcium reactor and do water changes every two weeks and nothing else period. The 3 nicest tanks in our club also do the same!
 
Thanks for the help. I have actually been looking into a calcium reactor. Do you have any suggestions as to which one or where I should get one?
 
Also along with this flow question, I was wondering is it better to have more constant flow or do the corals like random flow better. Or does it even matter just flow flow flow?
 
I do believe they prefer random flow. Of all the toys I have added to my tank that I believe helped the sps growth, I think it was the Tunze Wavebox. They really respond to that back and forth action. And I had 3 Tunze streams and several Maxi-jets on a wavemaker.
 
Couldn't agree move. random is very important. It does a better job cleaning waste off, it brings food to all polyps, etc, etc.

I actually bought a wavebox before the latest price increase and can't wait to use it!
 
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