How to Choose the Best Flow Mode for Your Aquarium Wave Pumps
I’m going to give you some advice on how to choose the appropriate flow mode for your Reef Aquarium’s wave pumps. DC wave pumps provide a number of advantages over most types of AC wave pumps, including the ability to be altered and controlled. Not only can you change the flow rate, but you can also change the frequency of the pulses.
This allows for the creation of bespoke flow patterns and the replication of real coral reef water currents. By simulating natural water currents, you’ll not only provide a better habitat for your corals. But you’ll also offer your tank tremendous movement, which will improve your overall aquarium experience.
The majority of hobbyists alter their flow speed and pulse frequency to generate three different water flow modes: Wave Mode, Surge Mode, and a Steady Stream Mode. So, what is the optimal flow mode for your aquarium? Every tank is different, so you’ll have to figure out what the best flow mode is for you. However, there are a few pointers we can provide to assist you in determining which flow mode is appropriate for your reef tank. The wave Short Pulse Mode is the most popular flow mode among reef hobbyists.
Wave mode creates a very moderate back-and-forth motion in your aquarium. Simulating the wave-like water current activity found on shallow coral reefs. You’ll want to design your pump to switch on, off in a very small time span. Perhaps less than a few seconds, to mimic these natural waves.
The more frequent the waves, the shorter the time period. You’ll want to play around with the flow rate and pulse frequency of your wave pump before settling on the perfect setting for your Reef Aquarium. You should be cautious with this setting since you should never underestimate the power of a wave.
Always double-check that your aquarium can withstand the wave mode setting you’ve selected for it and that no water is splashing out. So, when is the optimum time to use wave Flow Mode in your reef aquarium? This is definitely your best choice for a flow mode if you have a lot of SPS, LPS, or bigger soft corals. Water flows throughout the entire coral due of the continual pulsating wave movement. This gives them nutrients and food while also assisting in waste removal.
Sweeper tentacles are found on many LPS corals, including torch corals, and can sting other corals at night. Maintaining a pulsating wave style in your water flow mode keeps the tentacles concentrated. Makes it more difficult for them to sweep and attack nearby corals.
Surge Mode and Wave Pulse Mode are quite similar. The main difference is that the duration between pulses is significantly longer, lasting up to a minute. This permits your aquarium’s pumps to pump water deeper into the tank.
So, when should you use Surge Flow mode in your reef aquarium? Surge Flow mode will operate better in a larger, longer aquarium than the short pulsing Wave Mode. Surge Mode gives the water current adequate time to move away from the wave pump while still simulating the intense wave action. You may also anti-synchronize your wave pumps by placing them in each corner of the aquarium. And putting them in a primary-secondary mode. Gyro Flow is a term used by enthusiasts to describe a pattern that alternates between clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation.
Surge Mode is also quite popular among anemone keepers. Especially if you’re maintaining larger anemones like carpet anemones or long tentacle anemones.
