Current help!

mjbn

Well i have a 10 Gallon tank. I put a newer marineland penguin 150B rated for up to 30 gallons. It produces a pretty strong current, but i'm wondering if it's too strong for my fish. I have a couple kuhli loaches and neon tetras. As far as i've observed, the loaches kinda like it because they keep coming back to it and fighting against it. Any other thoughts?

Byron

I would suggest reducing the current as much as possible. Both fish mentioned occur in quite slow-moving streams.

Kuhli loaches are found around huge clumps of aquatic vegetation in the streams of Indonesia. Neon Tetra occur in slow-flowing blackwater and clearwater streams in the Peruvian Amazon and the Rio Ucayali areas. We have info on habitats in our fish profiles, second tab from the left in the blue bar at the top.

In an aquarium, fish have little choice but to "stand" in the filter flow; since they cannot swim backwards, they must face into the current. They also expect from their natural instincts that food is more likely to come past in the current. This should not be taken as "acceptance" of the current; fish that prefer slow moving water can be stressed by continually having to battle a current--and it is day and night, as if you were having to walk uphill continuously even when trying to sleep.

I am not familiar with this type of filter, but if you can't somehow minimize the current, I would recommend a simple sponge filter for a 10g. You don't mention live plants, but both fish would love the cover of live plants. Dry leaves (suitable for an aquarium obviously) on the substrate would also be appreciated especially by the loaches that have been observed in their habitat continually sifting through and under leaves.

Byron.

lorax84

I wouldn't worry about it. Unless your tank looks like a whirlpool it shouldn't be a problem, the flow will probably go down a little as time goes on anyway.

mjbn

What kind of dry leaves do you recommend? I changed the filter back to my old quietflow 10 and it's much calmer. Also i've noticed that 3 of my loaches have very red gills. I haven't added salt and there is no ammonia or nitrites. I'm kinda surprised because I thought that neons were more sensitive to water params than my kuhlis, so i'm surprised to see that their gills are perfectly normal colored. I'm kinda worried about it. Any advice?

Byron

There are several possible causes for inflamed gills, and my knowledge of disease is so limited I wouldn't begin to suggest something. Others may have suggestions, but in the meantime, are there any other indications of problems, such as flashing, gasping, heavy respiration?

On the leaves, you can buy dry almond leaves from aquarium places; AuntKymmie uses these, she may comment if she sees this thread. Oak leaves also work, and you can collect these if oak trees grow in your area. I have an oak tree in my yard. Collect the leaves well after they fall, and let them thoroughly dry (lay them out) for a few weeks--they must be completely dead.

redchigh

If you get a nice sponge prefilter for the intake it should slow the water flow down a bit by providing resistance...

mjbn

Well they seem to be doing okay. SOMETIMES they do have quick breathing, but it goes away. Idk what's happening to them):

Christople

what kind of substrate do you have? What do you use dry leafs for... I have heard about it in the tfh magazine but it made no sense to me.

mjbn

Sand substrate. I thought it was a mini cycle because i changed the substrate a week 1/2 ago fully, but all readings are 0 except nitrate. and i do not use the leaves, but i may begin to.