Perfect Waterflow in your tank

[jigsaw1982]

How do I know exactly how to fine tune the water flow in my tank. I always see the peoples tanks in youtube videos with all of their coral happily moving around all the time. Whats the secret to getting the perfect water flow in your tank? I have a 42 Gallon long. Do you have to have a wavemaker or is it more about having the most powerful powerheads you can get your hands on?

 

[kirkplunkett]

I'm tagging along here... Haven't asked the question yet, but always wondered how. I think that it probably has to do with the Cyano forming only on the RIGHT side of my tank.

 

[kirkplunkett]

Just to play Devil's Advocate...

If that is need what's causing it, how come my my friends Seahorse tank AND the Seahorse tank at my LSF (neither of which have ANY power-heads) have no Cyano or diatoms?

 

[jigsaw1982]

Arringar;790745 wrote: This is just a matter of knowing your corals and their likes. Some species like very strong flow, some like it a little slower. It isn't necessary to have a wavemaker by any means, but broad turbulent flow is best so most people opt for prop style powerheads like Vortech, Tunze Turbelle, or Seio prop pumps. There are a lot of opinions on this... what type of corals are you planning to keep?

I mostly have soft corals... polyps, mushrooms, cotton candy, leather toadstool, sea anemone. I have no hard corals although I do want some.

Edit:

Jigsaw1982;790945 wrote: I mostly have soft corals... polyps, mushrooms, cotton candy, leather toadstool, sea anemone. I have no hard corals although I do want some.

There are pics of my corals at this link:

 

[frantz]

The simple answer Arringar gave is dead on. Additional features could include powerful pumps as part of filtration. Powerheads are to make up the lack of flow from filtration.