Can corals have too much flow?

Most SPS appreciate pretty high flow rates. However, most LPS corals will retract or can detach from their skeletons with too much/strong flow.

How do I know if my flow is too high?

Signs that your flow might be too high. High flow and fish….Flow rates are usually given as a general guide but here are a few ways to tell if your flow is too high:

1. Sand blowing up into the water column.
2. Fish hiding or at worst, not surviving.
3. Coral polyps not extending or coral not growing.

How much turnover should a reef tank have?

A healthy tank water turnover rate to strive for is six to 10 times per hour. Many aquarists feel that higher turnover is better, especially for a reef tank system.

Do SPS need high flow?

There are many variables involved in having a successful SPS tank and strong circulation is certainly one of them. So remember to “go with the flow”. Your SPS will be happy you did.

What happens when too much flow is allowed through a pump?

Pumping other substances such as hot water or hydrocarbons may cause damage to the pump if flow is restricted too much. Pumping some materials such as blood may be sensitive to impeller RPM. Other products such as concrete or peanut butter may be sensitive to pressure.

How much flow does a coral need?

For soft corals and LPS corals aim for at least 20 times turn over, and for SPS corals, at least 50 times tank volume turnover per hour. So for a 250 litre reef tank, it needs a minimum flow of 5000lph and for SPS corals it would need 12500lph.

How much flow should reef tank have?

The needed flow rate for a reef tank is (size of tank) x (turnover). For example 50g x 20 = 1,000gph. Therefore, if you have a 50 gallon aquarium, you should aim to have at between 500 and 1,000 gallons per hour of flow at a minimum.

Can a filter be too strong for a tank?

A fish tank filter can be too powerful and negatively affect the aquarium’s ecosystem. This component should be powerful enough to oxygenate the water and keep the tank free of debris. However, if your fish struggle to swim or the water is too turbulent, the current created might be too strong.

Why are my zoas stretching?

In my experience zoas stretch to obtain a missing element, whether that be nutrients in the water or light. Low flow can lead to stretching, high flow will lead to elongated lashes/skirts.