Ways Of Lowering Filter Current?

[dwarfgourami]

The filter in my Rena 25 ltr hospital tank blew the day before yesterday. Shop that sold it to me has since closed, and their next store is difficult to get to. So I went to Creature Comforts in Totton and they sold me the Fluval 1 underwater filter (suitable for up to 45 ltrs). No doubt a better make than what I had, looks sturdier, but the current is far too strong for my little hex-my poor guppy is rocking in the swell (and she is in with an injured tail, poor thing) and my plants are blown about in the breeze. As far as I can work out, this thing is non-adjustable and the Totton store don't sell the Rena filter.
So are there any clever tricks I could use to break the current? I have placed it so it faces the width of the tank rather than the length- but of course there isn't much length OR width in a 25 ltr hex. And my poor girl needs access to the whole of the tank. Any suggestions? Or do I hop on that bus and go travelling?

 

[SamUK]

hmmm, dont kno if i can explain this.

ill try.


get something like an old can or bottle and cut it so you have a piece thats like a half pipe or quarter pipe.


stick that to the top of the filter so the half pipe curves round the filters output.


should stop your guppy flying from one side to the other.


i made a pic to better explain but im not sure i succeded lol.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Thanks, that's a great idea! Any thoughts on how I could fix it to the filter top - it's a smooth top? As you may have guessed, I am totally technologically challenged.

 

[SamUK]

havent actually done this myself im jus making it up as i go lol.


lookin at my fluval (it is the 4 tho) the output is quite low down so you could have the top of the filter out of the water and jus use tape if its strong enough.



only other thing i can think of is silicone.

 

[dwarfgourami]

havent actually done this myself im jus making it up as i go lol.


lookin at my fluval (it is the 4 tho) the output is quite low down so you could have the top of the filter out of the water and jus use tape if its strong enough.



only other thing i can think of is silicone.

You are obviously a much more creative person than I am Looking at my fluval1 the output is right at the top, so I doubt you could tape it.

 

[dgwebster]

silicon would be your best bet - buut im not so sure about the reducing the current, it would only redirect it. I recommend doing the same (use a plastic bottle and a good chunk of silicon) but filling the bit here the water goes into with one of those breeding trap nets (you know the type thats like a box that you pull the net over.) the net causes a multi-layer breaking and slow down. I actually have a net sitting over the output of my Stingray filter in the betta corner tank for this exact same thing, poor guy was all over the place.

 

[mike_nofx]

Can you aim the flow at the glass of the side of the tank or something?

Or what about putting a filter pad over the outlet, and rubber-banding it on?

Prob wont work, but just some suggestions.

 

[rosebud280282]

I have a filter in my fry tank that was blowing them away, so I used some of the sponge that was around the bottom of some plants I'd recently got and stuffed a bit in the outlet and then covered it with some more and put a rubber band around it. This has reduced the flow but the filter is still working enough for the small tank.

 

[dwarfgourami]

I have a filter in my fry tank that was blowing them away, so I used some of the sponge that was around the bottom of some plants I'd recently got and stuffed a bit in the outlet and then covered it with some more and put a rubber band around it. This has reduced the flow but the filter is still working enough for the small tank.

Thanks all you wonderful and creative people. I'm going to print out your suggestions and save them for when I have a fry tank. For this time, thankfully, the danger is over and I won't have to do any DIY. I rang the shop and they were happy to replace the filter with the Stingray instead which is better suited to the tank (they said) and where the current can be directed upwards (with the one I got you are stuck in one position).