Is Flow KILLING Your Corals?

We've been getting many questions about how to add flow to an aquarium. A wave maker can easily cause stress and even kill the corals inside of your reef tank if not done correctly. Josh explains everything you need to know about flow. How to know which wave maker is best for your tank and how to correctly use them.
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[@davidmcnabb3300]

I like how you go into detail but you still keep it in terms that newbies can understand

[@Ryles83]

This is the best video I’ve ever seen on flow. Very detailed.

[@martinward7239]

This is the best explanation of water flow I have seen. Thank you.

[@prophetessoftroy]

Exactly what I was hoping for. Thank you so much, Josh. The visual references are SO helpful. Loving the mix of the educational videos with the tank tours and installation updates. Keep it all coming! WWC is such a great resource, and your knowledge and expertise are very much appreciated, especially by those of us still relatively new to the hobby.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you for the feedback! We're glad the information was helpful

[@dannymcelroy]

Man, love these videos from Josh!!! Keep em coming!!!

[@angrysackmagic4633]

Always a reliable source! Impressive dude!

[@jeffreyrex8232]

Super informative!, this is one of the clearest explanations I’ve seen into flow directions. Thank you for taking the time to make and share 🙌🏻

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you for watching!

[@FishNDive121]

Man, you have been killing it! You’re videos have been extremely helpful and it’s great to hear your perspective with respect to how much time you have mastering your craft!

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you so much!

[@crumptonfamily9022]

It’s good to hear somebody that’s a pro that doesn’t just say it needs X number of turnover. Or just point the powerhead towards the coral. Can’t get enough of those videos. Keep them coming. I’ll keep watching for them. I wonder if you could talk about why some tanks do well at the same perimeters and some don’t and what to look for or be seasoned on for visual cues when a tank wants to go office beauty mark.??

[@Jonnyuk365]

What a fantastic video, exactly what the inexperienced is looking for, hats off to you

[@Moondoggy1941]

Great video, very informative, Josh is the perfect person to explain it.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed the video!!

[@juliel6223]

absolutely loved this video. best one i have seen on this subject. super informative, I feel i have a tangible and a solid understanding of what i should and can do to support my coral in terms of providing adequate flow. Thank you for walking through it so clearly and concisely. Subscribing and looking forward to watching more videos 🤗

[@WorldWideCorals]

Glad it was helpful! Are there other topics you would like to see us cover?

[@adamschaafsma5839]

Great video, this backed up some observations I have made. I appreciate the longer informative video. The many examples were great to help get some understanding of the principals you are teaching here.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thats awesome, we really appreciate the feedback!

[@Fragcorals]

Thanks for the info!!! Very helpful!!!

[@judithyoungquist8409]

Great presentation, thank you

[@atkinsnatureaquariums3552]

These are kind of videos i like, reminds me of Jake Adams studio, showcasing different styles of flow in different tanks. I do enjoy seeing the high end tanks but this was a great change of topic, and i hope to see more.

[@WorldWideCorals]

We appreciate it!! Hope to inspire and educate the viewers with our videos :)

[@shawnhendricks4345]

Great video Josh!!

[@AleAvari]

Amazing video!!! Tks 4 sharing!!! ❤

[@BamBamm681]

Most informative video and explanation I have heard on water flow

[@Fish_Ventura]

Thank you this was great!

[@mattlanghoff9020]

Thank you for this information. The best video you’ve made. I appreciate learning how to do things better.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Glad this video could help! Thank you for watching!!

[@philbredehoft9232]

Really enjoy hearing Josh discuss husbandry, thank you!

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you for watching! Let us know what educational videos you'd like to see!

[@jimmyrecard5761]

the longer the beard the wiser the man ;) Love to see this content and enjoy the mix of seeing displays being shown off and the technical break down. I think its very educational and helps fellow reefers to see how some one else is having success. Not only will it also make happy successful reefers but in turn will also assist you guys long term knowing reefers are not bailing on the hobby because its too hard or have had lack of success. A successful reefer with the correct knowledge will be coming back buying corals vs some one with poor knowledge and failing. I find this hobby to be very challenging at the start especially when you think reading forums are good and you realise it does more damage then good and learning from your vendor or successful LFS is were the knowledge is at! keep up the awesome work and keep on keeping it real! I love reefing! thank you WWC all the way from Aus :)

[@WorldWideCorals]

We want every reefer and customer to be successful Long-Term reefers. Spreading the right knowledge and creating healthy tanks helps us long term as well!

[@richishere82]

Great info bro . Helps me our so much .

[@duckdogusa]

Great information well done video, more please.

[@dcoausg]

Awesome! Always learning something new in videos like this

[@WorldWideCorals]

Glad to hear it!

[@paullinn1405]

Great content!

[@ryanboone731]

Awesome video great info! Casper is under the rick work starting at 22 seconds

[@m6h3r]

thank you for the videos

[@McFarts]

Great video! I appreciated the explanation of how to identify the right amount of flow, the part about the torches was especially interesting and I think the issues I’ve had in the past were due to high flow since I watched the white portion slowly raise up and then the polyp bailed. Thank you!

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you! We are glad it was able to help you

[@thomasdirocco]

Great video Josh! A lot of people don't realize how little flow Euphyllia truly get in the wild. They're often in murky, lower energy areas vs. other small polyped corals.

[@jdearel1]

This is very true. I often see the tanks though, catered to euphyllia and the rest of the tank suffers from too subtle of an environment. Leading to hair algae and cyano and just simply dying corals. So it is definitely a balance that matters most. Thanks for your support.

[@saltwaterandlime]

Thanks for this Josh!! After we talked after your last video on the 100.3 I reduced the flow in mine and the corals have definitely been happier

[@jdearel1]

Just be careful too low is bad too. High variance of peak intensity is important as well. Glad to hear the video was helpful

[@cainchand5134]

Extremely good video. The hobby needed this one

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you! Are there other topics you think we should cover?

[@cainchand5134]

@@WorldWideCorals I have taken what I learned from this video and I have already seen a positive change in my reef tank. I would say a video on long term ownership of a nano tank (sub 100ltrs) for long term easy success for people starting out in the hobby. Maintaining nutrients and the potential big fluctuations in parameters can make the hobby challenging with a small tank. And I think an easy to understand video such as the likes of this one would be beneficial for new hobbyists to help keep them in the hobby.

[@estonianreefer2851]

Very nice informative video with a great presentation with a very good presenter. Thank you ❤

[@WorldWideCorals]

We appreciate it!!

[@Fragcorals]

Thanks. You really explained it perfectly!!!

[@WorldWideCorals]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lionelmarlier3151]

Great video on a topic rarely discussed. Thank you !

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you! Any other topics, in the hobby, you think do not get the attention they should?

[@lionelmarlier3151]

​@@WorldWideCorals Looking for experience with acrylic tanks (versus glass)

[@kevinwadiak6654]

Thank you for this!

[@WorldWideCorals]

Hope the video helps! Thank you for watching!

[@raffaelefeniello23]

Great information Thank you so much

[@WorldWideCorals]

Appreciate you watching, happy to hear you enjoyed the video :)

[@ProducerReef]

This was the video I needed. I’m trying to figure out my flow now and I’m so glad this gave me a better perspective of what to do. Thank you.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Glad to hear that, if you have any questions please let us know!

[@anthonynovello7759]

@ worldwidecorals what setting do you use on mp 40s. In a lps / softie tank with few easy SPS ?

[@RomseyReef]

Very educational 👍 I enjoy WWC videos the team is great keep it going please you can never put to many great advice out there to us the people. Hello from 🇬🇧 👋

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you for watching! We hope to inspire and educate everyone with our videos :)

[@JG-ds6qs]

Terrific video

[@thereefaholic]

I would add one thing that I found incredibly important. Have heads that are controllable. I did a video on how this changed my reef tank. My 60 cube has about 10,000 GPH if all the heads are cranked. But having controllable heads that are programmed to do something different than the other heads (inverse is my favorite) as well as changing flow rate depending on the time of day have a massive impact. I would have gentle random flow at night with low to medium wave lapping at sun rise and strong random flow all day and then have it settle back down. My growth took off to the point where I had issues fitting my hand in the tank. Unfortunately this leads you to incompatible pumps. If your an apex reefer than compatibility is a must.

[@TXREEF]

This is such an excellent, no BS guide to flow. I love the phrase you always use, "acropora vs everything else" - you absolutely don't need to murder a mixed reef with thousands of gallons per hour!

[@WorldWideCorals]

Glad you liked it! Maybe we should title these videos No BS with Josh 😅

[@richardhudson1543]

Brilliant 👏

[@3qssmokedribsbbq588]

Great video! It helps me how to now readjust my flow! Can ya do a video for smaller tanks? Red Sea 20 gallon.

[@ryanlewis4919]

Great video, very informative

[@WorldWideCorals]

Appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@danlahrman5395]

"Reading the coral" That's what I was looking for. I think many of us could benefit from a lot more "reading the coral" education.

[@Cycnoches2012]

Excellent, thank you!

[@WorldWideCorals]

You're very welcome!

[@ruffaccord]

Great video. Thank you

[@WorldWideCorals]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SunOfficial]

I think this was one of the best reefing videos I've seen in a while. Probably just saved my torch too as I noticed it had the symptoms of too high flow you described.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thats great to hear, glad this video could help!

[@thereefinrican]

Awesome video and information.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you for your support, you rock!!

[@bluerider0988]

Great video. Thanks.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you for watching!

[@ColoDano78]

Super helpful video, I definitely had a couple of my powerheads turned up too high!

[@WorldWideCorals]

Glad it helped!

[@ou812reefing]

An absolutely great way to explain flow for corals great video and perhaps you could explain proper water turn over with a sump what is too much and what might not be enough

[@WorldWideCorals]

That's a great topic!! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@RankinsReef1980]

Awesome video!

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thanks!

[@paulsmith744]

Great informative video❤

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you!

[@Thresher555]

This is a great video. I have a custom tank 2metres long about 46cm wide and 60cm high and am running two Red Sea 45s but both vertical. I am going to switch one to horizontal after watching this and the other one point to blast the back of the tank. Question for the horizontal one do you point it deliberately up towards the surface, say mid tank aim, or just straight across the tank at the level the power head is mounted, in your case 2.5 inches into the water ?

[@sunnygoold9449]

by far the best video on flow for LPS (Abe's is similar level for acros)

[@WorldWideCorals]

We appreciate you!! Thank you for watching!

[@dusk1947]

Great Video Sir. I think this is the best video I've watched from both WWC and Mr. Earel. You did three thing outstandingly: 1. You didn't lump "coral" into one big topic and skew the conversation towards any one group, instead you gave great advice by genus. 2. You didn't show favoritism towards one brand or even one type of application, you showed an array of pumps and highlighted where their differences are applicable and most effective. 3. You gave effective visual example after visual example. Flow is a slightly esoteric and convoluted concept. What is the "right flow", what do you mean, I see my coral moving? Answering that question only comes from years of keeping a specific genus of coral and having a calibrated eye for that animals husbandry. Bridging that gap for everyone else requires multiple specific examples either in person, or on video. And you delivered that is spades here. Great video, and great examples. Thank you

[@jdearel1]

Thank you for your kind words

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you so much!! This is great feedback for us as well. We appreciate your support!

[@ROTTERtube]

Great video! What gyre do you recommend for a 6' long tank. 125 gallon?

[@filterdecay]

this is good information

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thank you so much!!

[@mikewilliamson7164]

Thank you very much for your video. I have qty 2 300 gallon reef tanks. They are doing fairly well but I feel i have too much flow.. I have 4 maxspec 350. set at about 70 % max flow and 25& minimum flow for a 30 second square wave. My acros are dong well but the Torch is not out tht much and pulled in. I am asuming too much flow.

[@RaulsAquaticsandReptiles]

Very informative 💯

[@WorldWideCorals]

Appreciate that

[@edwardownen]

Great video Josh Would also love to see one about lighting - PAR vs photoperiod Can you make up for less PAR with higher photoperiod? Will longer photoperiod at 'safe PAR' bleach out your low light corals?

[@WorldWideCorals]

Thats a great idea!! Thank you for the suggestion!

[@ryan_sweeney]

Great video! In your opinion, is a Maxspect XF-350 Gyre too much for a mixed reef 120g tank that's 48x24x24?

[@kF-mj9uz]

Very cool video what type of sand do you use it looks dark blue or black or is it lighting it looks cool … what type ?

[@sanpietroprogettista9887]

Thank you

[@WorldWideCorals]

You're welcome😊

[@ou812reefing]

World Wide Corals great information very inspiring never a disappointment

[@WorldWideCorals]

Much appreciated

[@user-ei8hu4yd2l]

Supper bro ❤❤

[@saltwaterandlime]

@worldwidecorals Can yall do a video on the tank that sits to the left of this one in the store? I love the carpet anemone in that one!!

[@ivetteechevarria9720]

Hi, could you please tell me where should I psoition my wave makers in a 92 galon corner tank. Thank you, I would really appreciate it.

[@AvengX22]

Wow Great video Josh, what would you recommend for a 170max E mixed reef. Rock structure in middle more so to the back of the tank.

[@jdearel1]

There are options. This is a relatively small aquarium so it's easy to accomplish. Nero's are a great option, mp10's another great option, as well as the small gyre. These can easily go on the back wall to hide the look but you would need 2 to do it well. If you only want to make 1 purchase then just add any of the above to the left or right in the path of least resistance generally more toward the front.

[@fearisreligion]

I have two reefwave 25's in my tank. It's a 75 gallon mixed reef and one gyre is put on each side. My question is, do you have the gyre heads pointing up to the surface or do you have them pointed in different directions?

[@MrKea009]

Very good video, good explanation of all the corals and the flow. 1 question: I have a red sea Max nano where I use the standard filter and a tunze turbelle e jet powerhead, because I had to many problems with detritius. I find my flow to high, but when I remove the powerhead it’s so a big change in the little nano that I have other problems again. I can not adapt the powerhead by putting it on 25% because there is no option on it. What suggestions do you have? Because I can’t keep mushrooms, scolly, lobos and fungia anymore. Please can someone help me

[@jdearel1]

It sounds like the powerhead that you are using is not a great fit for your scenario. What may be another option would be to run the pump more intermittently with either a slower or a faster frequency of cycle. "to give the corals a break" so to speak. But you may also be fighting the fact that the equipment isn't right for the scenario.

[@PhiCongDoan7587]

I think I spotted Casper at 19:56. I would like to see more videos of coral care specific kinds too. I just can't seem to keep Zoas. They start to recess and die. But my Palys are fine. My zoas are sitting just alittle higher than the Palys next to them but they aren't doing too good. So I will try to turn down the flow and see what happens.

[@JtTaylor-mx3tm]

I plan on building a nano with a 6 gallon betta tank. I plan on putting a bit bigger filter inside than what it comes with. To be specific, it will be a HOB filter. I wonder if i could achieve good filtering and flow with a HOB filter

[@_Wake_Up_If_U_Can]

Thanks for the video. Recommendation: Your in between scene music is way louder then your speaking volume. Your music made me jump. My Kef Q100s and my 12" ported down firing Infinity 1262W powered off a Crown XLS1002 was blasting my room. Recently learned how to use Davinci Resolve. In the audio portion there is a visualizer to see easily when the audio is uneven. You can literally lower the loud parts and even raise the quiet parts.

[@rickgordon6243]

I have a proclear 60 cube and I am trying to get good flow any good suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[@wilsonchang3742]

I've got a small Marine tank 50x40x30. which power head should I buy?

[@Mstgkillr]

I’m planning to reboot by mixed reef (SPS dominant) Red Sea S1000 (83”x27”x26”). I currently have (4) MP60s and after watching this video, it appears I have way too much flow. I’m looking for the ideal powerhead setup for now and the future. Should I keep any of the MP60s, go with (4) MP40s, or a couple of XF350 gyres?

[@c.j.macmahon8714]

best damn video I have seen on flow.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Nice!! We appreciate the kind words!!

[@johnbogart1973]

do u have your flow at a constant or off and on ?

[@TheRobTuber]

What would you recommend for a 6 foot peninsula if you didn’t want powerheads on one side? Would two gyres would’ve vertically work to remove stuff to the sump enough?

[@capt16c]

Great description of a happy coral vs a pissed off coral and why!

[@avnerbelisha1457]

Thanks , What will you recommend use for RedSea 750 and where to locate them? Mixed Reef

[@jdearel1]

Mp40's-Gyres-Hydro Wizards are all great choices. Appeal and budget I'm sure will be your ultimate deciding factor. As far as placement as mentioned in the video, your truck will hold the key to that answer. I always start in the clear path of least resistance.

[@zachary_smith1]

I’m in love with that first tank. How do I aim the return with power head direction or opposing it? My tank is just like your first one you showed. Same size too. 3’ long. Also should I aim them up to move waste toward overflows?

[@WorldWideCorals]

If you have gyres, you should aim at least one of the heads up towards the water surface to get some surface skimming action. Just make sure it is not splashing water.

[@pandalover5678]

On your 400 gallon tank, you said one gyre is on random setting. What is a the other gyre set on?

[@user-uh1lk2qy1l]

Do you leave the same blue light all the time or what is the cycle

[@jakehiggs9354]

Great video on flow. Would love to see a video about tank parameter stability. IE how to have that stable alk, cal, mag and nitrate/phos for happy coral growth.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Great suggestion!! Thank you for watching!

[@JohntheHalloweenguy]

Think I need to change my flow with my new setup can anyone help recommend how I could set it up. ?

[@thomasmiller2089]

Casper 749 on bottom right of screen

[@PowerStrokeHer]

7:56 casper

[@warzoneearth1]

in my 100.3 I use 2 sicce sdc. chefs kiss perfect

[@WorldWideCorals]

Great to hear!!! Sicce makes great products!

[@Achromatics]

What kind of substrate is that? I notice a lot of you guys prefer that substrate in your displays I love it!

[@WorldWideCorals]

It's calcium reactor media! Its perfect for soft corals to latch on to!

[@xisotopex]

having such problems with flow in my 20 gallon.... it seems the corals are either getting blasted or not, in any case the sand either has all kinds of crap, or a huge bald spot gets scoured away, and this is using two power heads at 40% with a slow sine wave setting...

[@jameswithers3066]

Great video, in what cases would you use the pulse function over the reef crest? Or doesnt it matter? Fantastic videos WWC.

[@jdearel1]

To me they are about the same. However I tend to use them pulse more when I want to lift waist from the bottom in a tank that doesn't handle the flow well.

[@jameswithers3066]

@@jdearel1 thanks for the reply Josh.

[@micahschmidt8839]

What is that you're using for the substrate in those tanks? Looks like some sort of gravel (crushed coral?) almost.

[@hynos323]

Looks like reborn calcium reactor media

[@MrKea009]

When everybody is happy we are 😊

[@WorldWideCorals]

Gotta make everyone happy!

[@marioblaauw5760]

Hi, Anyone can help with RedSea 650 Penisula Tank Flow. I have 2 Gyre`s, with a high rock structure in the middel. Cant seem to get the placement and settings correct.I or blow corals to hard or get dead spots.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Send photos of your tank to our customer service e-mail (link in the description) and we will take a look

[@mohamedashfan3874]

Update video on those sps lps coner systems.

[@WorldWideCorals]

Great suggestion!!