enough flow?

[benpoole28]

My tank is a 48", 100 gallon. I'm currently running 3 hydor evo 1050's on the hydor wavemaker. I have mostly zoas, palys, lps and a few sticks. I'm achieving, what I consider great growth out of everything currently, including the sps. I just wonder if i could get more growth just by adding more/better flow. I dont want to spend the money on ecotechs or gyres. The upgrade would either be jaebo wp40's or rw-15's. Do I need these, or is my my current setup good enough? I know "good enough" is a matter of opinion which would be different for everyone. I guess my question is, would I see noticeable increases in growth with these upgrades? Thanks for any input.

 

[jbdreefs]

I am guessing that a possible investment somewhere else would provide more bang for the buck.

What lighting are you using?

What skimmer are you using?

Using a doser, ATO, or any reactors?

Flow is just one component to achieve good growth.

 

[benpoole28]

I run 2 250w halides, along with 2 value reefbreeder led's, so i think lighting is ok. skimmer is an octopus nw150, along with dual reactor which i mostly just run carbon. No other reactors. No dosing pump, but i do dose aquavitro fuel and ions weekly. I used gravity fed drip method for ATO.

 

[benpoole28]

How much sps can a mixed reef sustain with just adding nutrients through water changes? When dose a need for dosing present itself? I think i get good growth now, but being that this is the only tank i watch on a regular basis, i have nothing to compare to. everything is growing, at different rates of course.

 

[jbdreefs]

Ca, Alk, and other element consumption is totally dependent upon you tank and its inhabitants. Dosing is required, IMHO, when water changes are not enough to sustain acceptable levels.

 

[camellia]

benpoole28;1019989 wrote: How much sps can a mixed reef sustain with just adding nutrients through water changes? When dose a need for dosing present itself? I think i get good growth now, but being that this is the only tank i watch on a regular basis, i have nothing to compare to. everything is growing, at different rates of course.

A lot of this would depend on what salt mix your using, how much/often your doing water changes and how many SPS you have.
IMHO when your tests shows Calc is being depleted lower than optimum (380-450 per Randy HF) you would need to look at dosing at least a two part (Calc/Alk).