Question On Filter Output Flow

[190MPH]

Hi all! Another query . I've noticed that alot of times, many of my fish stay in the bottom third of the tank. Granted, I knew the bleeding hearts would stay in that area, and obviously the cories. But my rainbows seem to spend most of the time there as well. Even the danios are there occasionally, although they do spend time at the top. Could it be that I don't have enough friends for the rainbows? I have 2 right now, and I plan on adding 3 or 4 more. I was thinking that maybe the current from the filters was too much for them. I have tried moving the output of the cannister in a couple of different directions with no change in habits. The biowheel creates some, but not that of the cannister. What are your thoughts on this and how do you handle the flow directions? Thanks again.

 

[The Village Idiot]

I don't know that the output on your filter has all that much to do with your issue. What model is the filter and what size is the aquarium? Unless you are severly over-filtering, I can't imagine that's your problem. While fish tend to stay in certain regions, there is certainly no invisible fence keeping them where we may want them. I haven't any experience with rainbows, so I can't speak to their swimming habits, but I do know they prefer groups of their own kind. As to the danios, I have about 9 of them in my 40 gallon aquarium and they spend a great deal of time in the lower portions of the tank, despite being "mid-top-dwellers."

Do the fish appear to be sick, shy, hiding, breathing heavily, etc? If not, I would say that's just where they prefer to be.

 

[VespertineStar]

Mmm same here, my danios very rarely swim solely at the top of the tank for very long; much of the time they cruise around the bottom.

 

[minxfishy]

Rainbows are mid swimmers anyway, mine rarely go to the top, only when food is put in the tank. They are good swimmers and the current wouldnt bother them at all, my tank has two filters running with quite a lot of current and they actively enjoy it.