Is it possible to have too much flow???

Hey Everyone,

Right now in my 120 I am running a 1200 Mag for my Return but I just installed two Vortech MP40w's, one at each end of the tank. Right now I have these things at about half power but Man are they moving some water.. My poor Xenia looks like it is getting beat around quite a bit. The fish seem ok and actually my Blue Hippo has been out more.. My Naso may be a little more on the reserved side to where before he was always out in front..

Could I have too much flow????

 

I'm not sure what all that equates to but, yes there can be too much flow.

My Xenia don't like much flow. ..and they don't pulse with higher flow. (or atleast you can't see it).

 

One of the Vortechs was all you needed on a 120.. and then placed about middle way of a end panel and rnaybe ran at 3/4 full open would have moved all the water you needed thats why they cost 400.00

 

I debated over getting just one but after some posts on here and talking to the guy at my LFS (even though he was the one selling it.) I decided to go with two. So if the jury says one at 3/4 I would think I would be ok with two of them set up at under half.. Sure I could have saved 400 but I can't change that now!

 

Yes, you can have too much flow. At a point fish and inverts will start to get pushed around and hide. Corals will get beat around and may look worn or unhappy. If you notice these things you may have too much flow.

 

Yes, their is such a thing as too much water flow and will more often than not be evident in the health and look of your corals. Retracted polyps and tissue recession are just a couple of the potential problems that can arise with too much water flow.
Take the time to look and your corals will let you know about the water flow issue. It may just be the repositioning of the powerheads or other wave devices.

 

for LPS yes you can have to much flow, but for sps there is never to much flow. I run around a 48 times a hour turnover (mag 18, and 4- k4's) in my 5 foot 125 ish gallon with no probs and I have both SPS and LPS (including Xienas). There are others I've talked to that have over 130 times a hour turnover. In the end it comes down to ph placement in regard to the corals. As you already know don't have the phs blasting your corals, and for corals that like less flow place them in areas of your rockwork that deflect some of the flow.

 

I honestly think that is the issue with my Xenia. It is up too high in the tank and is getting blasted. I would like to move it but it has spread to larger rocks in the tank and is currently stuck to two rock as one time by a stalk about the size of a piece of spaggetti. Do you think I can cut this without harming the coral? If I can then I could move the larget piece to an area of the tank with less flow.