Question: Currents in tank

[S and S]

Hi. I have a sick axie who is currently in the fridge. While he is in there, I am trying to sort out his tank and fix the issues we had. I just have a question: how do we decrease the current in the tank from the filter??

Thanks

 

[tran]

Hi,

It depends on what filter you have. If it's an newer external canister filter you can just push a lever (like mine), turn a knob, etc. so that the flow setting is much less than what is "recommended" in the manual.

But if your filter doesn't have settings you can change, then your best bet is to try to diffuse the flow with a long spray bar that you can buy or make (from tubing with holes poked in), turn the outward jet of water towards the wall, or do both. You can also block the flow by obstructing it with tank ornaments (for waterfall types). Then again, you can also have a part of your tank be sectioned off where the filter output is.

Hope that helps and is not too confusing :happy:

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi S and S,

Just another note that as a guide, look at any aquatic plants in your tank, and observe if they sway to the macarena. If fully submerged aquatic plants (live or synthetic) are seen to sway, it means your water currents are still too high.

On another point, it is ok to have slight ripples on the water surface. The gentle ripples can prevent a film of 'skin' developing over the water surface. The water film could be a combination of surface dust, stirred up material from the substrate as well as organic debris such as proteins. It generally is not harmful but aesthetically unpleasant.

If you worry about it, i strongly recommend having chemical filtration in your tank, get a good zeolite/activated carbon filter sheet or granules. They help remove ammonia as well as organic debris and even toxins.

Cheers.

 

[S and S]

Thank-you both for the help. On further investigation, I think the current is mainly at the top of the tank. I might invest in a spray bar to help with any excess current. :happy:

 

[ratticon]

I bought two of the Fluval spray bar kits and combined them to create a metre long spray bar - worked pretty well!

If you can find some reasonably sized PVC pipe that will fit over the output of your filter then you can make you own spray bar for next to nothing, just drill 2-3mm holes every inch or so along the pipe and you're good to go!

 

[S and S]

Great idea! We found a decorative artificial piece that seems to be doing the trick. If it doesn't work out then i'll give the pvc pipe idea ago