SPS flow advice needed for my tank.

[hanknmorgan]

I have a small 12g nanocube and was recently given some SPS frags. Thanks again Joshua. The stock pump was already upgraded to a Maxi Jet 900 with a hydor flo rotating output. I was under the impression that SPS needed TONS of water flow and I figured that my single pump would not be sufficient. I had an old rio 180 laying around so I tossed it in there blowing directly on the SPS in the back. This was 2 days ago. When I got home today I noticed that one of the frags is looking rough. On the side of two of the branches facing the direct water flow, it has died and is white, while the rest of it still has color. Also, my other soft corals are getting blown around aa ton with the additional powerhead and seem unhappy. Anyway, I removed the second powerhead.

2 questions.

1) Did the powerhead blowing on the SPS kill the coral on that side? That's what it looks like, but I thought lots of flow on them was good.

2) Since my tank doesnt appear to be liking the added flow, do I really need more flow or will I be ok with my single maxi jet 900?

This is my first attempt at SPS, and I am pretty upset that this happened as that was my favorite/largest frag. The rest of that frag still looks fine though, can it regenerate, or is the white part game over?

Thanks.

[JimD]

You never want to aim a high flow pump directly at an acro, it needs to be either indirect or a wide dispersal pump like a Tunze, Hydor or Seio. Chances are that the direct flow from the Maxi caused sloughing or the loss of the coral flesh itself. Redirect the flow to bounce off the glass in the general area of the coral and cross your fingers.

[hanknmorgan]

Sorry, the maxi jet wasnt blowing on it. I have that as the return pump from the rear chambers. I had a rio 180 blowing on it that is rated at 120 GPH only. Thats a real bummer. I hope the rest of it will be ok. The problem is that with that extra powerhead in the tank there is nowhere to aim it that doesnt cause my sand a soft corals to get tossed around. Plus it looks junky in there. Do I need more flow than the single maxi jet to keep the SPS happy?

[ClownReef®]

Random flow is the answer.

[JimD]

I suggest visiting the nano forum and see what some of the other guys are doing for flow. As a rule, for acros, the more indirect random flow, the better.

[hanknmorgan]

Alrighty then. I did a little plumbing and now have the secondary pump in the rear chamber as well with an extension that comes over the back wall with a duckbill nozzle that spreads the water out more. I couldnt stand seeint the powerhead in the display and I cant drill the rear bulkhead with the tank full, so this worked out quite nicely. I was able to adjust it so that the soft corals dont seem to be getting too battered and it shoots across the tank from the SPS. There is a lot of movement in the tank, and its random. The hydor flo blows toward the other output on it's rotation and really mixes things up nicely. Thanks for the help.

I havent learned much about SPS yet and it was a surprise to get some to try. I knew they needed really strong flow, and I assumed that meant right on them. Now I know I guess.

Luckily only one branch got really blasted badly, the rest of the frag looks OK. I guess I could always snap off the messed up branch. Does SPS regrow or will the bald spot be a permanent deal? Thanks.

[hanknmorgan]

They all look great. There are polyps sticking out of all of them all the time. Two of them just have little polyps that stick out of the end of the bumps and the other two are covered in polyps. I hope it re encrusts the part that got damaged. I doubt I will have algae on there. I havent had any algae in months, so hopefully it will stay clear and regrow ok. It's very cool stuff and I am enjoying watching it. Thanks again and thanks for the help everyone.

[hanknmorgan]

Millepora. Cool deal. I got them all mixed up and I cant remember what everything is called. They all look great though with the exception of the little that got messed up by the pump. I think I am an SPS addict now. What are the other 2 called again.

[gjuarez]

Hey hank, do you have any pics of the new modification? WHat about the new corals?

[hanknmorgan]

I dont have any pics, but I will try to take some. We have a fairly nice digital camera, but man does it suck at macro shots for some reason. I cant get close up livestock pictures to focus at all. I will have play around with the full manual mode and see if I can get some.