“Testing” for flow

Shawn_epicurious

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I am curious... how do you know if you have the right flow? I honestly do not know...

What I have been doing is this. 2 things really... maybe 3

I watch floating particles for movement across and around my tank. I look fo particles that don’t move. I don’t mind if I see them caught in an eddy... swirling around... they are moving.

I watch food distribution when I feed. ...are their empty spots that don’t get food... (Not in my tank: )

I have been doing a “net test” I have a small net I used for feeding (draining off liquids when the frozen foods thaw). When it is empty, it shows me how the water is moving... and how well. I put it next to each of the places I have an SPS species to see if the net stays “full” It is a good indication of water moving well near a coral.

Am I on the right track here?

(I started. 2nd tread,... I screwed up the title and coins not edit it)
 

Hydrored

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I look at the polyps and as long as they are always moving and not constant in one direction I call the flow good. Also is how much detritus builds up on the bottom of the tank. I use 2 MP40’s at the back bottom corners to keep it all suspended. Bare bottom helps and I would never do sand again. Tank just stays so much cleaner
 
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Shawn_epicurious

Shawn_epicurious

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I look at the polyps and as long as they are always moving and not constant in one direction I call the flow good. Also is how much detritus builds up on the bottom of the tank. I use 2 MP40’s at the back bottom corners to keep it all suspended. Bare bottom helps and I would never do sand again. Tank just stays so much cleaner
I like my sand : ) I get it... it’s really is just aesthetic... sort of.... conches, elephant snail.... my goby... they like it. Sand offers species, “no sand doesn’t offer...”

...”not constantly the same direction“... I hadn’t thought of that : )

Thank you!
 

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