Fish and fast flowing water

[TaraJ]

Hi there....Am new to this forum and have just started up my 3 foot tank again....I want to keep community type tropicals in it and am wondering if anyone knows what type of fish i could keep in it as i have gone a little overboard on the filter i think....i currently have an internal filter that is rated at 1200 litres per hour and the current seems to be quite fast in the tank...i have a couple fake plants in there and they are moving around a fair bit....just wondering if anyone could suggest some types of fish i could stock it with?? I would like to get platies and/or molllies and some phantom tetras and am a little worried they might get blown around the tank.... thank you for any replies.Sorry if i sound a little confusing.:confused:

[joz]

Hi Tara,
Too much current isn't a really good idea.Most fish usually come from slow moving waters.Also the poor things would never be able to settle for a rest.

If possible try to split the one outlet into either multiple outlets around the tank or by adding a large spray bar so that the water is distributed over large area which should help reduce any current.

[TaraJ]

Hi and thanks Joz. I will try to get a t-piece or a spray bar for it. Or i will try to get creative and make something for it. Is hard to tell at moment if the current is too much without fish. The surface is swirling around and the plants are moving. The filter i have is an Aqua One 103f rated at 1200 litres per hour. At first i had the 500 litres per hour one and after reading info i decided for some reason it may not have been big enough so i took it back and swapped for this one.Now im thinking i should have just left it at the smaller one.

[wombat1100]

you can never have too much filtration, too much current though isn't great, plenty of hiding spots for the fish to rest and as Joz said disperse the water in some way. In one of my tanks i have directed the water outlet thought the under gravel filter so as to stop the current being too great.

[TaraJ]

Thank you also wombat. Im going to take the outlet piece that plugs into the filter to one of the local pet supply shops near where i live to see if maybe they have something i can buy to split the flow into 2 or something. Thank you all for your help so far. Has been much appreciated for some ideas on what to do. Hopefully can get something to fix this problem. I could make my own spraybar with some hose but would also need something to block off the other end. That is still an option also.

[wombat1100]

Just a hint, its a LOT cheaper to head to bunnings and buy clear hose, the fittings you will find in the garden sprinkler section of bunnings also, just get some "T"s and elbows and clear hose and go nuts until you find a happy result.
I have also seen people use the flow to "sweep the bottom of their tanks towards the pickup of the filter by placing various outlets around the tank pointed towards the pickup.

[TaraJ]

Thanks for that wombat....might head to bunnings this morning to see what i can find.....Thank you heaps for all your help :)...will let you know how i go.

[TaraJ]

Well i have ended up making my own spray bar to try and slow the flow a little....I havent attatched it yet but will be tomorrow...Hope this works....Thank you to everyone for thier suggestions on this problem.:)

[wombat1100]

Let us know how you go Tara :)

[TaraJ]

Well the spraybar is in....Might have slowed the flow too much now....Still have some more tubing so going to make a longer one to spread it towards other end of the tank more to try and get rid of a dead spot down one end now....I only made this one about 30 cms long or even shorter...didnt measure it.So thinking a longer one may be the go.:biggrin:

[joz]

Don't worry about it, it's not a problem.But if you really want to,why not?