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Mark Peterson 
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 Topic: Water flow for SPS Coral
Posted: March 30 2004 at 12:13am |
This is just an observation from someone that has seen a lot of SPS in different aquariums.
From the work of Dana Riddle and others, I have gathered that water flow, especially the lack of it, drastically changes the growth of SPS coral. For example I look at the coral growth in Travis' example Time Travel Thanks Travis, those are nice pics of a neat SPS and it's growth.
I am wondering what kind of flow SPS keepers are finding useful for attaining the branching type of growth typically seen in the wild. I have wondered if the "surge" technique of water movement helps SPS branch out better in the aquarium environment.
Edited by Mark Peterson
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P.C Pond buildr
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Posted: March 30 2004 at 8:49am |
Mark, I know we talked a little bit about this with Jon at his work but my corals have seen a huge growth rate now that I have put in my 8 way wavemaker, as well as the polyps are extended very far. I believe it is extremely important to have good strong/random flow in a SPS tank.
I have a surge (50 gallon) and the wavemaker and the wavemaker seem's to give a better/random flow to the tank. The 8 way has 24 outlets in the tank all at different degree's/angles in the tank rotating 45 degrees every minute. I have also noticed the branches are growing very rapid now.
Just my .02....
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Travis
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Posted: March 30 2004 at 9:42am |
I think no matter the type of sps (branching or encrusting) the requirements stay the same... strong random flow seems to be the most recommended... and lots of it... around 20x an hour turnover rate is what I keep reading.
Personally mine has a mag 9.5 in the sump, 5- 900 Maxi Jet PH w/ wavemaker... which gives around 17.5x an hour. Soon to replace the 5- PHs with a closed loop system.
8 way wavemaker... what's this? I haven't heard of it before but it sounds interesting. Any links to some info?
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: March 30 2004 at 10:01am |
PC Pond Builder started a thread about a month ago with this ingenious device.
Travis, does water flow all the same direction all the time on that yellow SPS? If so, and my understanding is correct, if water around it was always changing direction, it would have grown more "branchy" rather than the "lumpy-bumpy" appearance it has currently. No offense intended. 
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: March 30 2004 at 10:14am |
 Mark Peterson wrote:
I am wondering what kind of flow SPS keepers are finding useful for attaining the branching type of growth typically seen in the wild. |
Who said they grow in branching patterns in the wild? Remember Borneman's lecture where he showed pics of the exact same coral in all different growth patterns? And Shimek was big believer in unilateral flow.
For some reason I cringe when I hear discussions on mimicing natural coral growth. I don't think many of us are trying to achieve that. If we are, we probably aren't that successful. But I will say that I still think that constant and random water motion (surge, wavemaker) is best.
Adam
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Travis
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Posted: March 30 2004 at 10:21am |
Mark Peterson wrote:
No offense intended. |
None taken. I guess I can't really answer you question. It appears to me it has grown the base in and now is starting to branch. Currently it's only 1 1/2" tall.
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Travis
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Posted: March 30 2004 at 10:28am |
Adam Blundell wrote:
For some reason I cringe when I hear discussions on mimicing natural coral growth. I don't think many of us are trying to achieve that. If we are, we probably aren't that successful. |
I agree 110%.
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P.C Pond buildr
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Posted: March 30 2004 at 10:50am |
Ok This is the numbers that my tank make with the 8 way from www.oceansmotions.com : 1 8 way unit = 8 inlets to the tank each inlet has a revolution on it with a 3 way nozzle = 24 outlets. Each oulet has a different angle/degree (1 at 15 degee's 1 at 30 degree's and 1 at 45 degree's per revolution) each revolution revolve's 45 degree's with each time that port get's water to it (22 1/2 degree's down and 22 1/2 degree's up) so it takes 8 cycles to make the revolution turn 360 degree's over a 8 minute period. This means: 8 revolutions with 3 nozzle's each = 24 inlets x each one having 8 movments for a grand total of 192 different flow directions in the tank. How it that for random flow?
If you are interested in a 8 or 4 way from oceans motions, I will give anyone from the wmas board a free revolution with each 8 or 4 way ordered....
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: March 31 2004 at 12:07am |
Adam said, For some reason I cringe when I hear discussions on mimicing natural coral growth. I don't think many of us are trying to achieve that.... But I will say that I still think that constant and random water motion (surge, wavemaker) is best.
I think we are both looking at it the same way, except that I don't cringe
Trying to create optimal conditions, so that the coral can acheive its full potential in our tank
Adam, is this a reasonable way to say it.
What do y'all think?
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timlaw
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Posted: March 31 2004 at 6:26am |
I don't have a wave maker in my 150 gallon tank, yet my observation is that the water flow is very random. If I watch some xenia for an extended period of time, there seems to be no distinguishable pattern. There are times it is getting blown over with the flow while at other times it is peacefully pulsing, right, left, forward and backward. I have a closed loop with five outputs and the return from my sump with two outputs. The closed loop is providing about 1200 gph while the sump is providing around 600 gph.
Back to the original question, I don't have any large sps yet but I hope to see it branch as it grows.
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: March 31 2004 at 7:35am |
Mark,
That sounds good. I like that. There is a list of about 5 things that just drive me nuts. Obviously you all know a few of them.... clownfish, grape algae, Carl, and some other stuff. This just fell into that category as well.
Adam
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Carl
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Posted: March 31 2004 at 9:14am |
Adam Blundell wrote:
There is a list of about 5 things that just drive me nuts. Obviously you all know a few of them.... clownfish, grape algae, Carl, and some other stuff. |
 I love you too Man!
Edited by Carl
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In Syracuse
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Travis
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Posted: March 31 2004 at 9:16am |
Mark Peterson wrote:
Trying to create optimal conditions, so that the coral can acheive its full potential in our tank |
To add to this... although flow is very important to sps corals, lighting and water quality is equally important. Phosphates are very BAD for sps corals, calcium and alk needs to be maitained at NSW levels or more, nitrates need to be very low, etc.
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: March 31 2004 at 11:07am |
Travis- very well said.
Carl- love ya' man
Adam
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tom-
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Posted: April 01 2004 at 11:55pm |
I have noticed that if you have 2 much flow the sps will not grow up very quickly. it will just start plating over the rock. randem water flow is a must in an sps tank. atleast to get the most natural growth. most peices of sps in my tank grows about 1/2 and inch per tip per month. I have over 100+ peices of sps in my 125. my reactor must hate me at the amount of calcium I need. but I still maintain around 440ppm. and my ph at night is around 8.25 and day 8.45
between Danny L, Marcus, and I there is alot of info on sps feel free to contact me for anything on the subject.
I am off all day tomorow if any one wants to come and check out my tank. mabye I can get some new ideas or give some. thanks WMAS
Ryan 897-2000
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Marcus
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Posted: April 02 2004 at 7:38am |
Tom- 's tank is a must see for SPS... Danny's is as well, but there are many pics on this board of Danny's tank. Both tanks have Sea Swirls and turn water at least 8-10x and hour. There is a difference between current and flow and both must be attainable. In Tom-'s tank, his sps would plate like crazy and before they would turn upwards. Since the addition of his Sea Swirls, the sps has started tips have turned upwards.
I, for one, am trying to mimic nature's growth of sps. I don't know why anyone would not. In Fiji, cuttings can grow to he size of softballs in less than six months. Why wouldn't you want that?
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: April 04 2004 at 6:17pm |
At Marcus' suggestion I visited Tom-. He is certain that the 2 SeaSwirls are the reason for the omni-directional branching growth of his SPS. Prior to the SeaSwirls, SPS were plating over the rock with little branching or with branches following the linear flow of each powerhead. He has not tried a Surge device, which would be dirt cheap compared to SeaSwirls, but requires a container placed above the tank.
This is a pic of the left side of Tom-'s tank with 50+ SPS. The other 50+ are in the pic of the right side 
Should I post some other pics?
Edited by Mark Peterson
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Weimers
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Posted: April 04 2004 at 6:36pm |
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Yes, please! Gorgeous!!
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Renee and Damon Weimer
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tom-
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Posted: April 05 2004 at 1:35am |
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thanks for visiting mark, hope to see others.
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tom-
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Posted: April 05 2004 at 1:38am |
here is a pick of the same veiw 8 months ago,I pulled some and went with sps. 
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