Increasing Flow With A Powerhead - Best Positioning?

[UKSPEED]

I've recently added a powerhead to my aquarium as my plants we struggling, mainly vallis and swords. At the moment I have a spray bar from the filter, coming from front to back.

I'm wondering what the best position is for the powerhead. Pointing directly at plants? Similar position to the current spray bar? Or somewhere else?

Thanks.

 

[Chad]

I really does kind of depend on a number of factors. Size of tank, GPH of the powerhead, and what fish are in the tank. I have found with fish like tetra they seem to do well if the flow goes from end to end but with molly I find they do better with a back to front flow. With swords and vallis I would say an end to end flow slightly above center pointing slightly up. But, then again, that's just based on my tanks. What you have in your tank will drastically alter the flow. Decorations, rocks, wood, etc will all act on the hydrodynamics. 

 

[UKSPEED]

Thanks for your reply

The tank is 250L, quite a tall tank. The power head is turning over 650l/h.

I'm housing Angels, festives, tetras and Corys.

I know Angels won't like a strong flow so pointing it down towards the plants wouldn't seem like a good idea? If I have it pointing towards the surface do you think it will benefit the plants well?

 

[Chad]

Can you post a photo of where it currently is?

 

[UKSPEED]

Currently got it pointing down, but it's not been in long. Hopefully you can see the picture?

 

[Chad]

Since you just put it there I think you should observe it for a few days and see how things go. If you don't like the result then move it down and point it up. 

 

[UKSPEED]

I'll see how it gets on! Thanks

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Just as a side note... my tetras used to take great delight (or seemed to anyway) jumping into the current created by the powerhead, and would really shoal up to get a good stretching of their fins in... it seemed like a trip to the gym for them.  One or two would head over to there, and then the rest would eventually join in and they'd have a good go of it.  
 
 
Incidentally, that was a group of 20+ neons in a 6 foot long tank, with a 750 gph circulation pump.  I wouldn't advise that much flow with angels, but mentioned it only as a reference point to how much current some tetras can handle and/or enjoy.   This tank also housed cories which were completely unfazed by the current.