Too much flow for fish?

crichard6069 · 05/02/2008, 12:35 PM

This is a strange question... I've setup my first "high flow" Tank.. I've got 2 koralia 4's, a modded MJ 1200 (pumping around 1600gph with a sureflow).. The tank has been cycling for about 6 weeks and I just added my first fish - six green chromis. They look insanely frantic trying to swim against the currents.... do I have TOO MUCH flow??

Oddly enough, I'm sure I have dead spots down in the rocks and under them, yet they are not swimming into the rockwork.... I'm guessing if they didn't like it, they'd be sheltered from it down in the rocks...

Thoughts?

crichard6069 · 05/02/2008, 12:37 PM

Forgot to mention.. it's a 75g tank.

acrodave · 05/02/2008, 12:38 PM

i have a 25gal and i use a seio 620 and a mj 900 and 1200 and my fish do fine

vanmo92 · 05/02/2008, 01:02 PM

I was wondering the same thing about my tank a while back, I really dont think that it is a big problem, but I do think it is a good idea to have a spot in the tank with lower flow they can retreat to for the night and such.

sirreal63 · 05/02/2008, 01:04 PM

Ocean currents are much greater than what you can create in your tank. My fish like to play in the current in my tank.

Michael · 05/02/2008, 01:40 PM

green chromis love strong currents, i often watch them in my lfs, they normally swim in the direction towards the flow and sit high up in the tank, well the ones at the lfs do, i dont think it will be a problem for them, hope im right

crichard6069 · 05/02/2008, 01:41 PM

They seem pretty good after a few hours... I was just nervous cause it's my first time with this extreme amount of flow in a tank. lol... after 6 weeks of being empty, it sure is nice to see some life in there.

weluvfish54 · 05/02/2008, 01:46 PM

two 4's!
im using two 3's on my 200 gallon and think thats enough..just mess with the angles and find where u like...shouldnt bother the fish, will to the coral though if u have any.

crichard6069 · 05/02/2008, 01:51 PM

I was thinking the opposite actually... I'm heading for SPS so I planned to have that kind of flow.. just hadn't thought about the fish. lol

weluvfish54 · 05/02/2008, 02:05 PM

oh true well i just do softies.
kills mine if theirs too much flow.
like ^^ said, its not comparable to the flow in the ocean though. (for the fish)

Toddrtrex · 05/02/2008, 03:38 PM

In my 75 I have 2 sureflow 1600s and two SIEOs 1100, plus about 550 GPH return.

Though I have it set up that one sureflow and one SEIO is on one end of the tank, and the others are on the other. They are on a wavemaker so that one side "blows" for 15 minutes, and then the other.

05/02/2008, 12:35 PM	#1
crichard6069 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 591	Too much flow for fish? This is a strange question... I've setup my first "high flow" Tank.. I've got 2 koralia 4's, a modded MJ 1200 (pumping around 1600gph with a sureflow).. The tank has been cycling for about 6 weeks and I just added my first fish - six green chromis. They look insanely frantic trying to swim against the currents.... do I have TOO MUCH flow?? Oddly enough, I'm sure I have dead spots down in the rocks and under them, yet they are not swimming into the rockwork.... I'm guessing if they didn't like it, they'd be sheltered from it down in the rocks... Thoughts?

05/02/2008, 12:38 PM	#3
acrodave REEF NERD Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: maryville tn-- work in knoxville Posts: 4,187	i have a 25gal and i use a seio 620 and a mj 900 and 1200 and my fish do fine __________________ Peace,Dave Superman puts on Tim Tebow pajamas when he goes to bed The Heisman as a sophomore nuff said Less technology more biology Tattoos are the only art you can take to the grave Current Tank Info: 26gal bow,20gal mantis tank/fuge150wHQI,20k AB Seio 620 maxijet1200x's 2 on a wave maker. all sps

05/02/2008, 01:02 PM	#4
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	I was wondering the same thing about my tank a while back, I really dont think that it is a big problem, but I do think it is a good idea to have a spot in the tank with lower flow they can retreat to for the night and such. __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

05/02/2008, 01:04 PM	#5
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Ocean currents are much greater than what you can create in your tank. My fish like to play in the current in my tank. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

05/02/2008, 01:40 PM	#6
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	green chromis green chromis love strong currents, i often watch them in my lfs, they normally swim in the direction towards the flow and sit high up in the tank, well the ones at the lfs do, i dont think it will be a problem for them, hope im right __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

05/02/2008, 12:37 PM	#2
crichard6069 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 591	Forgot to mention.. it's a 75g tank.

05/02/2008, 01:41 PM	#7
crichard6069 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 591	They seem pretty good after a few hours... I was just nervous cause it's my first time with this extreme amount of flow in a tank. lol... after 6 weeks of being empty, it sure is nice to see some life in there.

05/02/2008, 01:46 PM	#8
weluvfish54 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: inland empire Posts: 771	two 4's! im using two 3's on my 200 gallon and think thats enough..just mess with the angles and find where u like...shouldnt bother the fish, will to the coral though if u have any.

05/02/2008, 01:51 PM	#9
crichard6069 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 591	I was thinking the opposite actually... I'm heading for SPS so I planned to have that kind of flow.. just hadn't thought about the fish. lol

05/02/2008, 02:05 PM	#10
weluvfish54 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: inland empire Posts: 771	oh true well i just do softies. kills mine if theirs too much flow. like ^^ said, its not comparable to the flow in the ocean though. (for the fish)

05/02/2008, 03:38 PM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	In my 75 I have 2 sureflow 1600s and two SIEOs 1100, plus about 550 GPH return. Though I have it set up that one sureflow and one SEIO is on one end of the tank, and the others are on the other. They are on a wavemaker so that one side "blows" for 15 minutes, and then the other. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef