Any verdict on the Jake Adams gyre flow method?

[ScottyD]

Its been some months now and I have been using his method since the meeting. For me it seemed to have stimulated growth in lots of my corals. More noticeably at the beginning. I like the movement on the top specially since I don't have a top skimmer or overflow.

Who switched over? Has anyone gotten results pos or neg? Anyone switch back to previous flow method?

 

[HuuTa]

I switch over and then back to facing each other again.His way would be great in a frag tank but in our DT,there is to much things in the way that it acttaully gave me more dead spot

 

[Andy V]

Is there a video of the talk anywhere? I have read the article but I am still not entirely clear on how to go about it and what he means exactly.

 

[Flame Angel]

I have found that I have less algae build up on the glass and crushed coral. But I do turn on a second koralia a few times a week to stir things up more.

 

[HuuTa]

Is there a video of the talk anywhere? I have read the article but I am still not entirely clear on how to go about it and what he means exactly.

basicly put your ph to one side and point it up toward the surface

 

[dz6t]

Do you need a pump at the bottom to complete the gyro?

 

[MrX]

Do you need a pump at the bottom to complete the gyro?

Not necessarily. I have my powerheads about 6" from the top, one on the left and the other on the right. Both are aimed slightly upwards toward the surface. I say slightly because I had to find the sweet spot for flow vs. kicking sand everywhere.

I have them alternate every 6 hours; originally I was doing 15 minutes. The idea is to let the powerhead have enough time to get the gyre going before switching. I changed from 15 mins to 6 hrs just because I thought 15 mins was too short and the fish/etc. were always trying to find a place to "relax".

The reason to alternate was that the corals get their food/whatever from the opposite side of the flow, so changing the direction "feeds" both sides.

 

[dz6t]

I still find the wave motion is the best for corals and fish. But open to see what gyro does in long run.

 

[ScottyD]

I'm not aware of any videos of the talk. Would have been a good idea if there arent any.

Although its been explained some ill put it together maybe add some stuff. A gyre is a vortex of water or air but for the ocean it's rotating ocean currents. Jake was explaining all the benefits of creating this same natural occurrence in our tank. The way the current is pushed over the rocks and corals and that it all works together rather than against. There was more but it was a while ago. Like explained you place your powerheads on one side slightly facing up. This breaks the water surface up and also helps create the gyre. For a proper gyre dont aim at the sides you want to make a circle top water current ---->, bottom opposite <---- to complete the gyre. No bottom powerheads is needed just make sure you have powerful powerheads.

 

[dannyp02908]

Ive always had my heads set up that way simply to break surface tension. Glad to hear there is another benefit to it. I do get one nice undertow on the bottom of the tank,

 

[dz6t]

In an empty tank, pointing the powerhead slightly up may create a gyro, but will a fully stocked tank (rocks etc), how is that possilbe? Did he show a video that his method could create a gyro in stocked reef tank?
thanks

 

[ScottyD]

He didn't show any video. His prestentation had tech issue. He showed it on an empty tank.

I used two powerheads on my 75 with tons of rock and corals and it does create a gyre. When I feed I can watch the flakes float in the current. I just switched to a 40 gal and it's way more apparent. I think I needed stronger powerheads for the 75 after comparing.

 

[Matt L.]

I use this method on my 120, and I found my corals on whole have been doing much better since employing it.

When you think about it, it is really impractical to implement wave action in any reef tank, and it rarely coincides with what we see in the ocean.

Matt

 

[mchartier]

Here's an article that he did on water movement http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/1/aafeature

 

[ScottyD]

I skimmed the article and it touches upon the point I was going to make. Currents and waves all move naturally in a circular motion. That is only broken or slowed down when it comes into contact with something. By using powerful powerheads and creating a strong gyre we are creating chaotic movement when it comes into contact with corals and rocks.

I like the idea of alternating or changing the gyre every once in awhile. I would think it would have to be hours because of the time it takes to create a good strong gyre.

 

[dz6t]

When you think about it, it is really impractical to implement wave action in any reef tank, and it rarely coincides with what we see in the ocean.

Matt

It has been done for a long time, the draw back is the ultra expensive equipment to do that.