N70SJ Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 I was SHOCKED at some of the things I learned about Hydrodynamics (Water Currents in our Reef Aquariums). .............My 10 year experiment with Hydrodynamics and how if effects life in our Reef Aquariums.............. This post will try and share with you beneficial things which can have a huge impact on the success of your reef aquarium. There are SO many other things to be concerned with, which can make Hydrodynamics, easy to over look. Such as: Protein skimmers Calcium Reactors Lighting Dosing UV lights Stable water Temps Water Chemistry ie: PH, ORP, Specific Gravity Trying to eliminate or limit Nitrates, Phosphates etc Fighting Fish Etc. etc......... MY TEN (10) YEAR EXPERIMENT: Over a 10 year period I looped into my 620 gallon system six (6) forty-gallon "TEST" aquariums. My 500 gallon sump and 120 gallon display tank and these six tanks were all using the exact same water over the 10 year period. I had the following in the 6 "TEST" aquariums: Tank 1: Sand, SPS corals glued to golf-ball sized rock and some Macro Algae. Tank 2: Same as above. Tank 3: Bare-bottom, SPS corals glued to golf-ball sized rock. Tank 4: Bare-bottom, LPS corals. Tank 5: Baseball sized rock with Soft corals attached. Tank 6: EMPTY All the tanks were used Power-Compact lights. One Actinic, One White. Got to go to work.......I'll continue later. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 I love people's experience, share away! Not everyone will agree of course, that is just the nature of reefing. Takes some thick skin to share ideas for sure. Ready to soak up data and experiments, so bring it on! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremevans Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 I'm interested to hear more and perhaps see some pictures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N70SJ Posted January 28, 2017 Author Share Posted January 28, 2017 Will do Jeremevans. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N70SJ Posted January 29, 2017 Author Share Posted January 29, 2017 So, The thing that was most interesting is: 1. All the tanks shared the same 620 gallons of water which constantly had virtually undetected Nitrates & Phosphates. 2. The main 120 Gallon Display Tank was filled with Soft, LPS & SPS and had no nuisance algae at all. This is a video of the main 120 gallon display tank: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N70SJ Posted January 29, 2017 Author Share Posted January 29, 2017 In the two 40 gallon tanks with SPS corals I slowed down the water flow. Within a few months: 1. Red cyanobacteria began to grow. 2. Different types of hair algae began to grow. 3. The SPS corals began to bleach out. 4. Within a year all the SPS corals died a slow death in both 40 gallon tanks while the display tank thrived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge Posted January 29, 2017 Share Posted January 29, 2017 In the two 40 gallon tanks with SPS corals I slowed down the water flow. Within a few months: 1. Red cyanobacteria began to grow. 2. Different types of hair algae began to grow. 3. The SPS corals began to bleach out. 4. Within a year all the SPS corals died a slow death in both 40 gallon tanks while the display tank thrived. What would you say the turnover rate was in those tanks? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N70SJ Posted January 29, 2017 Author Share Posted January 29, 2017 To make sure we are on the "same page" I understand "turnover rate" to be" 1. How many times the water in the "Display Tank" pass through the systems filtration system. 2. In my case the "Display Tank" and the six 40 gallon experimental tanks all had the same "turnover rate" of nine (9) times per hour. 3. The main Display tank had an additional 6,000 GPH being blown around by two (2) Tunze power heads. 4. The base-rock in the 40 gallon tanks were placed as rubble on TOP of the gravel and all power heads removed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N70SJ Posted January 29, 2017 Author Share Posted January 29, 2017 The corals in the main 120 gallon display tank were growing off of 2 large 50-60 pound base rocks with the bottoms cut flat and placed directly on the glass bottom with no gravel under them. There were 2 other smaller 6-7 pound base rocks placed in the tank in the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0lin Posted January 29, 2017 Share Posted January 29, 2017 I keep fighting both cyano and hair algae. I definitely think I need more flow, but I just don't want to harm my LPS's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N70SJ Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 Good luck getting rid of the hair algae! I feel Cyano is partially caused by low flow[emoji15] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 Any difference in the lighting between systems? Same equipment, same intensity, same photoperiod? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AcanLord Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 I keep fighting both cyano and hair algae. I definitely think I need more flow, but I just don't want to harm my LPS's.Have you tested your RO water? My parents battled both of those for years, then I got into the hobby and suggested they do more frequent water changes and get new RODI filters and less than a month later they had no nuisance algae and haven't had any since. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AcanLord Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 So, The thing that was most interesting is: 1. All the tanks shared the same 620 gallons of water which constantly had virtually undetected Nitrates & Phosphates. 2. The main 120 Gallon Display Tank was filled with Soft, LPS & SPS and had no nuisance algae at all. This is a video of the main 120 gallon display tank: https://youtu.be/Gsvdj6KGvIE Man that's pretty. My lfs has a gorgeous basketball sized colony of strawberry shortcake and it's literally getting blasted by a huge powerhead and it's polyps are just waiving in the breeze. I couldn't believe the flow it was not only handling, but thriving. It's Jodi from TECO in Medford Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N70SJ Posted February 10, 2017 Author Share Posted February 10, 2017 Any difference in the lighting between systems? Same equipment, same intensity, same photoperiod?Yes lighting was different ie: 120 DT had 2 - 400W MH & 2 - Power Compacts 97 W each The six 40 gal tanks had two 48" T5's each. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N70SJ Posted February 11, 2017 Author Share Posted February 11, 2017 Flow-on brother Acan! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0lin Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Have you tested your RO water? My parents battled both of those for years, then I got into the hobby and suggested they do more frequent water changes and get new RODI filters and less than a month later they had no nuisance algae and haven't had any since. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I recently had my water tested and the phosphates were through the roof! I'm definitely gonna be buying water from something other than the crappy RO unit I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N70SJ Posted February 11, 2017 Author Share Posted February 11, 2017 I have WS acct with Spectra Pure. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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