new 37G - how to stock with strong current

janderson

janderson

certified geek
Jul 18, 2005
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Colorado Springs
Well, here I am again - I hope you guys aren't sick of my questions yet. ;)
I certainly have contracted a confirmed case of MTS. Last week I drove by someone's yard sale and couldn't resist a $30 37G setup with Eclipse3 hood at a garage sale.

The whole thing has been cleaned, tested for water retention and after resolving some issues with the stand is now aquascaped and cycling (fishless) as of last night. I added some established filter media and gravel, so it shouldn't take too long before I can add fish.

However, I noticed that there's actually quite a bit of current being created by the pump, so I'm a little worried about a possible stocking list. Since it's a tall tank, I had originally envisioned something like 1 or 2 angels, a BN pleco, a school of maybe rasboras or cardinals - but I don't think that the angels would appreciate the current. :confused:

In the end I guess it will come downn to either artificially decreasing the flow (sponge over intake?) or getting fish that are happy with it. Any ideas? I'd like a comunity tank, but a calm, peaceful one. I love my kid's cories, but those guys are a bit hyper for my taste - I get dizzy watching them wiggle up and down and around...
 
What kinda of pump is it? Is it the Eclipse 3 making so much current? Do you know the specified throughput for the pump in question?

As far as stocking goes, sleek fish like danios would make a good start. You could also go with tiger barbs or other such boisterous fish. Fish like angels, loaches, bettas, small gouramis, and other more timid fish wouldn't be so suited to a high-current, high-energy setup. From what I understand, many Melanotaenia rainbowfish like high current too.

Maybe there's a way to direct the filter output into one of the sides...? Or maybe get some tubing and make a 'spray-bar' for underwater to distribute the current more evenly over the length of the tank.

Hope this helps.
 
I have that set up and we just changed the outflow angles. There is current in the tank but it's not a strong one, it's more like a flow throughout. We have guppies, loaches, otos, a bristlenose pleco and soon some nerite snails in there and they all do fine. Have fun stocking it :)
 
there are no markings on the pump

so I assume it is the stock pump the eclipse came with. And I do remember reading about strong current associated with this system somewhere on AC. I can hear it! It sounds like one of those little plug-in indoor fountains. Nice sound, but probably not desireable. I don't have enough experience to judge if the current is too strong: I'm still very much a noob, 6 weeks ago I new practically nothing about aquarium fish and yet here I am cycling tank #3... :D I simply noticed that 37G's current seems to be very much stronger than the one in my 5G eclipse. And the 3rd tank has an UGF, so of course there's not much observable flow there, either.

Positioning the two output chutes towards the rear (closest wall) seems to create even stronger flow, judging from how much the plants move in the current. In fact, I've just spent the last 15 minutes tinkering will all sorts of output angles - without much luck at noticeably decreasing the current. (Increasing it is easier...). Any suggestions on just how to set the chutes? When seen from above, mine are currently set at approximately 260 (left) and 210 (right) degrees.
 
another suggestion, and im not familiar with eclipse hoods, but you could maybe opt for a smaller impeller or cutting the imeller down to weaken the flow, this method is comanly used for refugiums in saltwater hob filters
 
I'm suprised your Eclipse is making so much flow....Seems like mine never makes enough because of the stupid Bio-Wheel. ANYWAY...

Cyprinids (Barbs, Loaches, Danios) and most Characins (Tetras) will do fine for you, along with any other sleek, fast moving fish.
 
We have one outflow pointed toward the back of the tank and the other toward the front but the two black things are parallel to one another // so it creates a nice circular current throughout the tank. I would say if you were looking down at them like the face of a clock, the back one is pointing at 1 and the front one is pointing at 7. Do you have the media in there?
 
the bio-wheel is brand new,

so it turns rather fast right now. But even when it gets more mature and starts slowing down, I don't see how that would change the flow rate of the pump.

Thanks to everyone for species suggestion, I guess now it's back to the species profiles - I'll let you know what I come up with and then you can pick my new wish list apart :D
 
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