How Important Is Circulation?

[Mr.Tan]

Coming from the reef world, I know overall watercirulation and surface aggitation are very important for the tank not only for the fish but also for corals. I had 2 powerheads making about 30x over water movement within the tank so i had a good amount of flow. Now, my big question is how important is this with freshwater planted tanks? I have kept them in the past and never used a powerhead for circulation and the tanks thrived and fish lived healthy and long. BUt now coming back to freshwater and using powerheads in reef tanks, i am wondering if it is needed in a freshwater planted tank? Like i said, i never used one before and didn't have a problem. Do i really need one? I get some surface aggitation with my HOB aquaclear 50 filter (50g filter working on a 29g tank), so oxygen is always flowing in (can see the bubbles) and my fish are breating normally, not big gulbs like they are gasping for air and are playing and swimming normally.

 

[This Old Spouse]

You should be fine with what you have. I used a powerhead in my 55g when I had a pleco, so all the poo would get moved toward the filter intake. Cory love the current and I'm sure some other fast river-dwelling species would as well. But it gets a bit strong in a 29g. I had one in mine and it was just a bit too much.

 

[Mr.Tan]

You should be fine with what you have. I used a powerhead in my 55g when I had a pleco, so all the poo would get moved toward the filter intake. Cory love the current and I'm sure some other fast river-dwelling species would as well. But it gets a bit strong in a 29g. I had one in mine and it was just a bit too much.

I was thinking it might be a bit strong for some of the fish in the tank, I cleaned up the smaller 450gph koralia nano and put it in for a bit and my killi fish were struggling at the surface and I feel like my gouramis only stayed near bottom because they didn't like the flow. As soon as I unplugged it and left it off for a day they were swimming freely. I have since taken it out, but have been concerned and wondering if I really actually needed it or not. I plan on getting some corys for the bottom, do you think i should reset it up and aim it at the bottom? or should it be ok without?

Its interesting how it was perfect flow in my reef tank but it seems to much for the freshwater lol (and this was just with one 450, i had a 450 and 750 in the reef tank)

thanks for the help!

 

[This Old Spouse]

I think if you only had cory in your tank, a powerhead would delight them. But with a community tank I think you're best off without the powerhead.