A Healthy Reef Flow Rate!!!

[LuckySingh]

I always wanted to start this thread and discuss the thoughts about the flow rate for better and healthy colors....
How many times u like to turn ur tanks water and does it help in better coloration of ur corals??

[Mr Cob]

definitely need surface agitation for all corals. Moderate to heavy indirect flow seems to be the best in general, obviously on the heavy side for SPS and moderate for LPS and even light flow for softies.

I honestly don't calculate turnover rate....I just judge visually by the corals, once everyone seems happy I leave it. I'm probably turning 40-50x per hour...majority of that on the SPS side.

[Mr Cob]

I just calculated it... 42x

[Europhyllia]

I go by what it looks like too

[Big_Pun]

same here i just go by eye and as long as sand isnt being blown. my return nozzles point to the surface, and i have a mp-40 on side glass and a mp-10 on back glass both turned to 75% power. tank is so much cleaner now and coral seem to like the added flow.

[LuckySingh]

might be a dumb question..but how do u calculate the flow rate of ur tank??

[Bill S]

Mine was about 40x when I had SPS: 1800+1300+1250+2600+2600=9550.

Tank: 210-30(rock/sand)+20+30=230

955/215=41.5

[Mr Cob]

add up all of your GPH from your pumps...including your return pump and powerheads.

Then divide that number by your total water volume, less rock and sand.

*Bill forgot a ZERO after the "955", might confuse some. His should read: 9550/230= 41.5x