Ultra low flow during daylight?

[burtbollinger]

This guy runs almost no flow during the day. I had no idea this was safe or acceptable for softies and LPS.

 

Please watch, very interested in feedback.

 

He discusses at 3:30. Looks very cool.

[ABC]

I seen this the other day, with the controllability of the DC pumps ideas like this would be fun to try.

[Nano sapiens]

Seen this in Palau in the back-waters when the tide goes slack for hours before coming back in, or going back out. Mostly LPS in the relatively high nutrient, variable lower flow environment and some softies. Just as terrestrial zones have distinct micro-climates, a coral reef can have distinct micro-niches where certain coral types thrive...and others don't.

 

In this tank scenrio, relaively high oxygen levels are maintained due to zooxanthellae and algae photosynthesis during the day. Higher flow at night provides the needed oxygen (and other atmospheric gases) which help the organisms survive as well as flush waste their products away (decreased boundary layer). Would be interesting to see the pH level variation over a 24hr period, but it's obviously within the tolerance of the organisms present.

 

Strange to see Jake talk about virtually no flow in a reef tank for extended periods as he has been a great proponent of high flow gyre systems.