Reef Discussion

[TunaBlue]

hey guys
thinking of getting a maxspect gyre for my fluval edge. have a few questions.
would this be over kill and end up turning it into a sandstorm on the lowest setting?
does it come with the end cap so i can only use one side?
Has anyone had any issues with the flow not being randomised like a vortech?
Are there any batterie backup options?
cheers

 

[Ziggy]

I'm wondering if it would be overkill really. It doesn't come with an end cap so you have to use both sides. The flow is not randomised. It has three options. One is constant, one is pulsing on and off and the last is forward then backward. Regardless of which option of those three you use, none is random.
I've had mine for a week or so now and I'm happy with the low profile and the water flow but I'm not sure it would be a wise addition to a small tank.

 

[n0rk]

The benefits of 'randomised flow' are a product of the old guard and the technology they had to work with – until relatively recently, unless you spent a lot of time attempting to achieve pseudorandom flow, you'd develop dead spots and in turn serious detritus traps.

This isn't really a major issue anymore given the advent of powerplants that can move the entire water body uniformly and can be positioned in a way that prohibits these dead spots fairly easily. In this case, a Vortech probably isn't going to be a particularly useful addition – the angle that water exits the propeller housing and the relatively small diameter of the flowfront aren't going to give you full penetration in the length of an Edge. The Gyre, however, theoretically would because it has a much greater surface area at work.

That said, I'm not sure either is an ideal water mover for such a container. What are you attempting to keep with it?

 

[TunaBlue]

The benefits of 'randomised flow' are a product of the old guard and the technology they had to work with – until relatively recently, unless you spent a lot of time attempting to achieve pseudorandom flow, you'd develop dead spots and in turn serious detritus traps.

This isn't really a major issue anymore given the advent of powerplants that can move the entire water body uniformly and can be positioned in a way that prohibits these dead spots fairly easily. In this case, a Vortech probably isn't going to be a particularly useful addition – the angle that water exits the propeller housing and the relatively small diameter of the flowfront aren't going to give you full penetration in the length of an Edge. The Gyre, however, theoretically would because it has a much greater surface area at work.

That said, I'm not sure either is an ideal water mover for such a container. What are you attempting to keep with it?

Thanks n0rk for your contribution.
Well the plan in my head is
2-3 SPS well placed high placement
LPS mid range
Zoa and ric garden in the lower flow area.
A sweet carpet nem or mini maxi would be great.
That list probs doesn't help answer the question.

 

[n0rk]

Thanks n0rk for your contribution.
Well the plan in my head is
2-3 SPS well placed high placement
LPS mid range
Zoa and ric garden in the lower flow area.
A sweet carpet nem or mini maxi would be great.
That list probs doesn't help answer the question.

Honestly, trying to achieve such a mix of specialist biomes in such a small volume will be difficult. For the most part, most of them have very disparate requirements, which while it's achievable in a bigger volume, will present you serious problems in a smaller one in my experience.

There's not really many good options for moving water in a small tank. I guess it'd be a matter of experimentation and seeing what works best for you.

 

[TunaBlue]

Honestly, trying to achieve such a mix of specialist biomes in such a small volume will be difficult. For the most part, most of them have very disparate requirements, which while it's achievable in a bigger volume, will present you serious problems in a smaller one in my experience.

There's not really many good options for moving water in a small tank. I guess it'd be a matter of experimentation and seeing what works best for you.

Possibly a Tunze Nanostream 6040? as i can direct the flow. just worried its lowest setting might be too high?