Surface Agitation

[bmonki]

I may be worrying about nothing here, but our filter (aqua internal xl from ma) only seems to ripple the surface to just over half way across the tank... I have thespray bar angled slightly upwards as the filter is submerged and can't seem to get it to agitate the surface all the way across even on the max setting. It's the filter just not powerful enough? The other half of the tank is moving, just not rippling iykwim. Will half the surface rippling provide enough oxygen on a 48" tank? What else can I do?

 

[coolie]

If you drop say a leaf or something at the far end, I'll bet you it is slowly cycling round.

 

[bmonki]

yeah the water is moving that end - the flake moves still when i feed them that end, it just looks still rather than moving a lot..

im more worried about the o2 getting in there

 

[Livewire88]

I am sure your fish will be fine, My ARC tank has hardly any movement on the surface of the water + I am injecting Co2 into the tank and my fish are fine.

As long as your fish arnt gasping for air you have nothing to worry about

 

[ColR1948]

I've read some fish don't like a lot of aggitation and some people aim the water flow at the side of the tank to deflect it so the water flow isn't too strong, then again other fish do like a fast water flow.

 

[Aquascaper]

o2 'absorption' has nothing to do with breaking the surface (such as with bubbles) but more the constant replenishment of fresh water at the surface (where o2 exchange takes place) and the removal of surface scum. As long as there's no 'film' on the water it will be fine.

 

[bmonki]

cool! thankyou

 

[raptorrex]

I've read some fish don't like a lot of aggitation and some people aim the water flow at the side of the tank to deflect it so the water flow isn't too strong, then again other fish do like a fast water flow.

that's interesting. river fish (well most) have vastly faster moving water, in nature, than most of us have in our tanks.
directing the flow to the back of the tank, does not reduce flow. its mealy slowing the water speed (there is a difference) at the outlet side.

I know Discus and Betas are suited to "still pond conditions". but am aware of few others.

you can have a 1200lph filter with fast outputted water. or a 1200lph filter with slow outputted water.
it all depends on the venturi size/sizes.
but at all times, the flow remains the same.