Guppy Launch!

[Vengified]

As the title suggests, my guppies are swimming in the current, and getting launched across the length of the tank, as appears in video below. Please note however, they appear to do this by choice! There are SEVERAL areas of the tank, that have very very little flow, and I have seen the guppies in those locations.

Over by the plants, Roney (the red tail) sleeps there at night, or I think it's sleeping, as it barely moves, and sort of hovers. Sophie (the gold one), sleeps in Spongebobs pineapple, and also just hangs out there sometimes as well, Roney joins him occasionally.

Pretty much, the current is only as strong as it appears in the video, on that North wall of the tank, and the upper half of the West wall. Most of the rest of the tank is less than half that strong, with some locations maybe 5-15% of that.

So my question is, are they safe and happy? Do they "play" like that? I have no flow control on the Powerhead (Maxi-jet 600, 160gph in powerhead mode), just a venturi to add bubbles. My only solution would be to somehow attach a sponge to the outlet, to diffuse the flow if it's too strong. But again, they aren't always in that side, they seem to be able to get out whenever they want, and they have been resting at night in low flow areas.

Thanks in advance for your input! See attached video:

 

[Vengified]

Also, forgot to add, the water level is low in the video, as I was doing a water change, and ran out of temp match water, currently have filtered water, in a pitcher, surrounded by hot water in the sink, to bring it to temp, and finish filling.

 

[mikey11]

Please note however, they appear to do this by choice! There are SEVERAL areas of the tank, that have very very little flow

they are not doing it by choice.....fish are not that smart, they don't know enough to stay out of that current

remove the powerhead....there is no need for it anyway....just use an air pump to power your under gravel filter...it will be just as effective, but it won't turn your tank into a whirlpool

those fish are not happy....they are stressed out fighting that constant flow

 

[King puff]

Just get a small filter to replace the powerhead.

 

[Vengified]

I believe you guys, but I wonder exactly why they go over there? I get that they aren't as intelligent as humans, but any living creature has a natural instinct to survive. Plants will even lean over to reach sunlight. So if the current hurts the fish, what possesses them to swim into the strongest part of the current, and launch themselves?

I don't see how an air pump would circulate the water, and pull it through the substrate, to filter it? I know how to make a sponge filter with an air pump, but not how to turn an air pump into an undergravel filter? The other filter I do have, I'm not sure if it would achieve enough filtration if I added more fish, as it was a small one for a 3 gallon tank.

I did notice, that when I shut the filter off, for the water change for about a half hour, they did not go to that wall once, but instead, rode the bubbles from the bubbler, or just swam around after each other as usual. I know its 2 males, and they need more company, possibly even females, but I want to wait to make sure that the tank is indeed fully cycled, and that the fish aren't sick.

Anyways, as I said before, I am more than willing to change what I can, for the health and benefit of the fish, it just seemed like they had fun with the current. Even the red cherry shrimp comes out, and runs through it, and in the old tank, he was in constant hiding. I would really prefer some way to diffuse or slow the output from the power head, rather than discard the power head altogether.

Thank you guys for your help! I appreciate any advice!

 

[Vengified]

So, I have been doing a LOT of reading, and although I haven't had these fish long, I believe I was correct, in stating that they are enjoying the current. I'm not sure of the rules about links to other fish forums, but I have seen dozens of other guppy owners, stating how their fish enjoy currents, as mine seem to do as well.

Also, I believe fish are much smarter than the general population gives them credit for. They do display avoidance behaviors, and do learn when stuff is bad or good. In fact, here is just one of several excerpts I found on model organisms, homology between species, and behavioural sciences:

"Goldfish were trained in an active avoidance paradigm similar to that proposed by Portavella and colleagues (Vargas et al., 2012). Escape responses were defined as shuttling made after the onset of both the light signal and the electric shock, while avoidance responses were made after onset of light signal but before the electric shock. The injection of D-AP5, an antagonist at glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, before training did not alter the performance of escape responses, but significantly impaired the acquisition of avoidance responses (Xu et al., 2003). When this drug was injected after training, no amnesic effect was observed, suggesting a participation of this receptor in the acquisition phase, but not in the consolidation of the aversive memory."

I do still appreciate the response, and will be vigilant in my observation of them, watching for fin tearing, colors fading, or other signs of exhaustion and stress, and if needed, I will certainly find a resolution to the current issue. But for now, I will just watch, and if the behavior continues with no adverse effect on the guppies, I will assume they are not in pain, stress, or any danger.

 

[mikey11]

But for now, I will just watch, and if the behavior continues with no adverse effect on the guppies, I will assume they are not in pain, stress, or any danger.

great strategy.....wait till one dies to correct the problem

 

[fozziebear]

Just find a way to chill out the flow a bit, because as it stands now, those guppies are getting thrown into the far end glass at a very high speed, it could lead to issues such as spinal damage, hole in the head disease and internal bleeding.

all for the sake of just turning the filter speed down or adding an airstone to your UGF instead.

 

[Vengified]

Just find a way to chill out the flow a bit, because as it stands now, those guppies are getting thrown into the far end glass at a very high speed, it could lead to issues such as spinal damage, hole in the head disease and internal bleeding.

all for the sake of just turning the filter speed down or adding an airstone to your UGF instead.

As stated, the filter does not have a "speed" it has a venturi. It's a maxi-jet 600 powerhead. In its current mode as undergravel filter, it flows 160 gph.

I currently have the flap cap pointed straight up at the lid. The fish cannot physically get directly in front of the flow. It no longer launches them across the tank. They continue to look for that flow though, and try to get in front of it. The strongest current they have to face, is on the North side, where it creates a small whirlpool, but in no way traps or flings them in any direction.

I will say, that since I have changed the flow, the fish fight more. I believe it was a way to burn energy for them, and they enjoyed it, despite members believing I simply didn't care for them, or that they are "too dumb to know better." I find it strange, that while advocating for the fishes health, claiming I would "just wait until they are dead to fix the problem" you also state how they are pretty much brainless. In no way do I wish for any adverse effects on ANY creatures, especially so, for my 4 year old sons first pets, which is why I've read countless hours of boring biological information on the Poecilia, and even quoted some of that text, yet you assume I'm a mindless, heartless fish killer, and my fish are mindless.

Kind of backwards thinking in my opinion...

 

[mikey11]

As stated, the filter does not have a "speed" it has a venturi. It's a maxi-jet 600 powerhead. In its current mode as undergravel filter, it flows 160 gph.

there is no need for that flow in your small sized aquarium.....you CAN lower the speed and i already told you how.....remove the power head and use an air stone.....

if i put you in a small room with a fan at one end that was strong enough to literally THROW YOU against the other wall, you would probably survive, but would you enjoy yourself in that room?....would you feel comfortable in that room?.....enough said

there is absolutely ZERO LOGIC or reason to keep that power head active in that tank

 

[fozziebear]

I will say, that since I have changed the flow, the fish fight more. I believe it was a way to burn energy for them, and they enjoyed it, despite members believing I simply didn't care for them, or that they are "too dumb to know better." I find it strange, that while advocating for the fishes health, claiming I would "just wait until they are dead to fix the problem" you also state how they are pretty much brainless. In no way do I wish for any adverse effects on ANY creatures, especially so, for my 4 year old sons first pets, which is why I've read countless hours of boring biological information on the Poecilia, and even quoted some of that text, yet you assume I'm a mindless, heartless fish killer, and my fish are mindless.

Kind of backwards thinking in my opinion...

Right this is not referring to my comment when you bring up the fact that they are "too dumb to know better" but fish are a simple creature lets face it, they have a certain level of intelligence to seek out the best conditions for themselves and their offspring.

Onto the issue at hand, and bear in mind here i am merely commenting on the video you posted, your guppy absolutely slams into the glass at the far end of the tank, this IS enough to cause lasting and permanent damage to your fish, the fact that it hasnt already is more luck than judgement.

If you have already toned down the flow of the filter then all should be well and good, but if they are still being flung into the glass i would change things, most fish like some level of high flow or high flow areas in the tank, but you also have to give them the ability to rest, and in a tank with flow such as this video, the fish are always "drawn" to the current by convection and pulling flow towards the filter unit.

As stated, the filter does not have a "speed" it has a venturi. It's a maxi-jet 600 powerhead. In its current mode as undergravel filter, it flows 160 gph

Whilst the filter doesn't have a "speed" your fish does, and the "flow" is what is propelling it, a venturi is merely an air line connected to the filter to aerate the water, a maxi-jet600 is an oversized powerhead for that under gravel filter on that size tank in my opinion, i would use a maxi-jet 600 on my 130Litre planted tank yes.. but not on this size tank, all you need is an airstone and pump in the pipe for the undergravel filter, it will draw the water down through the gravel and up through the pipe due to the fact that the air bubbles "lift" water out of the pipe.

I am sorry if my comments came across as offensive or annoyed you in any way, i am merely trying to give the best advice i can for the situation whilst trying to help people care for their fishes welfare properly.

Regards, Gus.