Tank Current

F

Fishy101

AC Members
Mar 16, 2007
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This is my first tank, and I have question about current. How do I have decrease the current in my tank? I currently have a bunch of plastic plants and a few pots for the Rams to hide in. My power filter is located on the left side of the tank, and all my fish seem to hang out on the right. The Rams are pretty territorial so they all bicker for the right corner of the tank. The gouramis also hang out on the left top, but the male chases the female across the tank, so she mostly hangs by herself in the plastic plants beneath the power filter outflow, struggling against the current.

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29G All-Glass Aquarium (30X12X18) - Heavily decorated along the back with plastic plants, and a few floating across the top.
Penguin 200 Filter
4 Bolivian Rams
2 Pearl Gouramis
 
I have a similar problem in my 10 gallon, and was also curious if there was a way to decrease the current. They all seem to hang out in the right corner opposite the HOB filter
 
A Penguin 200 should not produce excessive current in a 29, you could put a tall plastic plant in the current path to cut it down, we have a Penguin 200 in our 20, no problems....
 
Ok. Thanks. I have some extra plants that I couldn't fit in the tank. I will cut off the base and float them right in front of the outflow.
 
I have my outflow angled to hit the back wall at a 45 degree (I like the max flow setting, but not the river it creates).

In my 75G I cannot angle the outflow, but i have plants and a tall rock in front ;)
 
I did something a little DIY for my HOB on my 10. Kinda hard to explain, but... All I did was take 2 pieces of tape put a bit of paper between them to give it some height. Then I put it between the intake and the cover of the HOB. This way instead of just falling back down when I lift the intake so the flow isn't so high, it stays where I put it. May take you a while to figure out the right height that you want to use. Here's some pics to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. It works for me anyway.:dance2:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s239/Sammie777_2007/HPIM1192.jpg?t=1178296177
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s239/Sammie777_2007/HPIM1191.jpg?t=1178296212
I also keep my water level really high, so as not to disturb my plants right in front of the filter. It helps by making the flow aim a bit higher instead of dropping straight down on them.
 
Thanks, CT & Sammie. I can't really tell what's going in your photo, Sammie7, but from what I can make out, that's for the intake, which for the Penguin isn't really the problem. There's a ramp where the water goes back into the tank, and the outflow pushes the water across and down, creating a swirling effect in the left side of my tank, and also a strong current against the front wall of the tank.
 
looks like sammie set the intake up a bit this will decrease the amount/volume of water the intake picks up out of the tank..in essence reducing the output.

AC uses a method where the intake tube can be placed slightly off center of the intake pump..decreasing the intake.

I have several powerheads in my tanks..I use driftwood in the tank to deflect the water creating pockets of still water.

you can also use a foam diffuser on the output ramps like a sponge where the water falls into the sponge as it comes off the ramp.

but generally the flow is disrupted enough by structure n the tank.
 
Oh. Thanks, star_rider. I gotchya. Unfortunately, the Penguin intake tube connects to the bottom of the unit, so I'd have to lift the whole filter, or cut off part of the intake tube.

The sponge is a great idea. I've seen small ones in the LFS for filtration. I can jerry-rig it to stay right at the ramp to slow down the flow. Wouldn't that also add to the biofilter? I'll try that if the extra plants and driftwood don't do the job. Thanks for the idea!
 
the tape used in the picture is used to raise the tube up from the impellar housing.in essence disconnecting the seat from the impellar..this void will slow uptake of wwater..
I've used the foam with good success I found some clips and clipped it on the the lowest part of the ramp.

yes it will act as a biosponge.
 
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