Filter Too Strong?! Help!

[Psingh]

Hi, i have 2 convict cichlids they seem to be healthy. They have a 180ltr/40 gallon tank i previosly had a juwel filter and it done 600 litres per hour. that broke down so i had to get a new one... i brought another one which is 1600 lites per hour.. the only problem is its very powerfull it doesnt send my fish flying around the tank but i dont think they like it... it doesnt have a power setting to put low or high either... should i return this filter? is it too powerfull? its only been a day since i got it maybe there just getting used to it..
ohhh.. and i forgot to tell you size of fish ... the male is about 3 and a half inchs and the female is around 2 inchs. Thanks for looking

 

[waterdrop]

Hi Psingh, Sorry to hear about your troubles. Your new filter is moving water at about a 10x turnover rate (1600L/H divided by 151L is roughly 10 full tanks of water per hour.) This is not unheard of. In fact it is fairly common among "planted tank" enthusiasts (a category of the hobby where plants are more the focus than fish.) Usually though in those planted tanks you're more likely to see a large shoal or two of tetras, not usually bit cichlids.

The problem you present is just a pretty hard one to give advice on, since it's a matter of personal goals and taste.

I've heard sometimes that people will turn the openings of their spraybar back toward the back tank wall as a way to stop the immediate force of the output. I think the idea is to point the output down the back wall. I guess this is something you could try.

Hopefully somebody with a better idea or experience will come along!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Psingh]

Hi Psingh, Sorry to hear about your troubles. Your new filter is moving water at about a 10x turnover rate (1600L/H divided by 151L is roughly 10 full tanks of water per hour.) This is not unheard of. In fact it is fairly common among "planted tank" enthusiasts (a category of the hobby where plants are more the focus than fish.) Usually though in those planted tanks you're more likely to see a large shoal or two of tetras, not usually bit cichlids.

The problem you present is just a pretty hard one to give advice on, since it's a matter of personal goals and taste.

I've heard sometimes that people will turn the openings of their spraybar back toward the back tank wall as a way to stop the immediate force of the output. I think the idea is to point the output down the back wall. I guess this is something you could try.

Hopefully somebody with a better idea or experience will come along!

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks for the help i do have some add ons with it to change the flow to diffrent directions, And its not planted btw. I was thinking if i put the output going towards the wall of the tank then will it still do its job properly? like clean all the tank? might not clean one side? Thanks for there quick reply , also i dont really mind about my taste aslong as the fish are ok and arnt under stress from this new filter, and when i checked an hour ago they do move around the tank but prefer to stay under the filter as there is gap under it they stand under it its quiet a big gap tho.

 

[Geoff-]

You want a diffuse water outlet, not a jet.. a focussed jet or stream of water will set up strong currents, if you diffuse it eg with a spray bar that has lots of small holes in it then the current will be a lot less

 

[Psingh]

You want a diffuse water outlet, not a jet.. a focussed jet or stream of water will set up strong currents, if you diffuse it eg with a spray bar that has lots of small holes in it then the current will be a lot less

Thanks for the reply, Erm i cant spend on a diffuser atm because i had to replace filter and get other items to set up my smaller tank, However i do have this, http/www.koicarp.net/Aquatic_Section/images/85145.jpg just the black curved thing goes on the output and i then face it to my wall and then it bouces off wall insted of strait impact.

 

[waterdrop]

Are you not using a spraybar??

 

[Psingh]

Are you not using a spraybar??

Nope its the strait filter powerhead attached to the filter box just recived today.

 

[waterdrop]

You might see whether a spraybar could be rigged and see if that makes things better. WD

 

[Psingh]

You might see whether a spraybar could be rigged and see if that makes things better. WD

Will that black thing work that i have from before? its fits and i can change the direction of the flow.

 

[OldMan47]

If you can arrange things to spread the flow of your filter so that it is not all focused in one place, you will do far better.

 

[Psingh]

If you can arrange things to spread the flow of your filter so that it is not all focused in one place, you will do far better.

Thanks for the reply, i dont think i will be able to find one that fits it ? at the moment i got an little attachement that sends water anyway i want i sent that to the wall, But i removed it yesterday and just let water flow strait out. The fish seem to be handling it ok they come out but you can see they are swimming against a force. Maybe this will make them stronger? and they will get used to it? I think they also might spawn again... this is far to much danger for the babys i think... it will be too much work for them.. i only have like 3 medium size pots in there.. the fry will get thrown around and maybe pearents might fight?.

 

[moochy13]

just an idea, and not something ive ever tried, but could you put a section of old tights or something over the outlet to reduce the flow? as i said, not sure it would work. at least until you can afford a spraybar or something.

 

[Psingh]

just an idea, and not something ive ever tried, but could you put a section of old tights or something over the outlet to reduce the flow? as i said, not sure it would work. at least until you can afford a spraybar or something.

Thanks for the suggestion, But i dont think tights are really going to effect it to be honest lol.. Its very powerfull.. if pushed my hand kind of if i put it infront of it lol..., Erm i am trying to get a spray bar but i cant find one on ebay What do i search to get one?