Water Filter

[deogan]

I have a small concern here. The water filter creates strong currents in the tank. It forces the fishes to keep paddling more forcefully than is normal or they get swayed with the current. Does it have any stress factor on the fishes. I had earlier placed the filter so that the current goes length wise in the tank. Now considering that it covered a larger area, I have placed it breadth wise. Now the current gets subdued when it hits the opposite wall of the tank. But still the fishes have to keep paddling a little harder than normal (of course that is what I feel ). Tank is 2 ft * 1 ft * 1.25 ft.

 

[Boxermom]

What kind of filter do you have? If its an HOB, you can do this: http/www.petfish.net/kb/entry/13/347/

 

[deogan]

I don't have HOB. I have submersible filter that sucks water from bottom and lets out clean water from a nozel at the top.

 

[Boxermom]

I hate those, know too many people who have had their fish caught in them and chopped up. I'd get an HOB if I were you.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

ok, odds are good that whatever fish you have naturally inhabit a river or similarly flowing body of water. moving bodies of water have currents. thus a strong current in an aquarium frequently simulates a fish's natural environment and is therefore not a bad thing. of course, if you have a betta or other fish which evolved to live in stagnant (unmoving) water, then the heavy current isn't so great. really, it depends on what kinds of fish you have.

 

[deogan]

ok, odds are good that whatever fish you have naturally inhabit a river or similarly flowing body of water. moving bodies of water have currents. thus a strong current in an aquarium frequently simulates a fish's natural environment and is therefore not a bad thing. of course, if you have a betta or other fish which evolved to live in stagnant (unmoving) water, then the heavy current isn't so great. really, it depends on what kinds of fish you have.

Very logical and relieving reply indeed. Thanks. I have following fish:

2 signal sharks
2 Red sword tails
4 mollies (2 black 2 dalmatian)
2 albino
2 tetras
2 tiger barbs
2 paradise blue

Please guide if any of these evolves in stagnant water. If none, I am too happy with my filter.

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

Follow this link

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=85297

By doing a bit DIY you can make a filter wery cheaply that will keep your stats right without having a fast flow in the tank. It's ideal for a nursery tank (lost 25 fry over 0.5cm to filter flow but with diy version none of my v-small fry & they went in to the tank at 10 days).

 

[Flunter]

hmmmm, i've had my wrist slapped for less than this....

That's a heck of a lot of fish for such a small tank!
By my calculations, you should have no more than a total of 10 inches of fish in your 15.5 gallon tank.
You have at least 12 inches just in your mollies!

How long has it been running?

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

Sorry for delay in replying.

The tank has been running for approx. 8 weeks but filter was seeded prior to use & started with 30 fry adding more every 2 weeks ( 2 mums). Keep checking stats & all is ok but needs regular cleaning & water changes to be sure. Never lost a fish other than to the filter but home made one has a more gentle flow so no probs with it.

I know it is overstocked now (and will get worse as they grow) so am preparing a second tank & home made filter to transfer the lager ones into. It will take a couple of days to start seeding filter than transfer will start.

Hope that some will be big enough to pass to lfs soon as I have a breeding pair of convicts that (fingers crossed) will provide me with eggs within 3 weeks.

Don't have room for another tank but I have a 3 ft tank with a few corys in but would have to sort out filter as that on got some of the fry .

 

[hoarp001]

You could alwas install a spraybar to distrubute the water accross the surface. I have two external filters running on two spray bars (one above the other) and whilst it dosnt compelatly erradicate the current, it has turned it from what was a seemingly swirly random current into a nice O shaped one. If you watch bits of food you can see them coming accross the top, down the front, dragging along the gravel then going back up again. my fish seem to like this.

You can always aim the spraybars straight down or point them back at the glass abit to break the current up...

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

You could alwas install a spraybar to distrubute the water accross the surface. I have two external filters running on two spray bars (one above the other) and whilst it dosnt compelatly erradicate the current, it has turned it from what was a seemingly swirly random current into a nice O shaped one. If you watch bits of food you can see them coming accross the top, down the front, dragging along the gravel then going back up again. my fish seem to like this.

You can always aim the spraybars straight down or point them back at the glass abit to break the current up...

It's not so much the current as the fact the fry are sucked into the filter & can't get back out. They seem to swin up to the inlet, turn & try to swim away. If they succeed then they do it again, if not then whoooosh and there they go. Must be adrenaline junkies, don't know where they get that from 'cause Snap is too action packed for me

 

[hoarp001]

lol, well maybe you could get a bigish fish net and put it over the filter so they cant get sucked into it....