What are people's thoughts on keeping ATF in a tank with average current/water flow? Say turnover 3-4 times per hour with no additional power heads etc? I've read numerous threads with people keeping ATF in tanks with flow that seems fairly extreme to me. Am I missing something? Is there a belief these fish need high flow for health reasons etc?
Current with atf
- Thread starter KNH
- Start date
I do it for a couple of reasons. One is it's closer to their conditions in the wild. The videos I've seen of where GATF hunt in the Congo are mainly super high flow river areas. Two, I have most of the current pointed at the top of the water level disturbing the surface, so it increases the amount of oxygen in the water. Three (in my experience at least), they tend to spaz out less when there's a ton of current and/or bubbles in the water.
I don't know if any of it is truly necessary, but those are the reasons I have mine set up this way. For what it's worth, my goliath is growing a heck of a lot quicker than my TATF did. This might just be attributable to different growth rates, but my TATF definitely had a good amount less current in his tank.
I don't know if any of it is truly necessary, but those are the reasons I have mine set up this way. For what it's worth, my goliath is growing a heck of a lot quicker than my TATF did. This might just be attributable to different growth rates, but my TATF definitely had a good amount less current in his tank.
Good info rampage. I'd guess even the fastest flowing rivers have plenty of dead spots that lack current. I'm not sure I'm convinced about the idea that they need higher oxygenated water than other fish at this point. Thanks for your input.
They can get by in a calm water tank. ATF live in both the rapids and wide open stretches of rivers where their speed can really shine.
The main reason to run a ridiculous amount of current is that it reduces the necessary tank size. If you give an ATF an extremely powerful 'treadmill' of current to swim against, you dramatically reduce their need for space. If you don't give them their treadmill, you need a MUCH larger tank to give them room. You can effectively reduce their tank needs to what would be required by a comparably sized fish that's not nearly as athletic. Plus, in my experience, they seem calmer and happier in rough current. Tons of micro bubbles in the water column combined with crashing whitewater at the surface seem to help, too.
You're fine to keep a tiger in a calm water tank if you want, just be prepared to get an obscenely large(er) tank if that's the route you want to go.
The main reason to run a ridiculous amount of current is that it reduces the necessary tank size. If you give an ATF an extremely powerful 'treadmill' of current to swim against, you dramatically reduce their need for space. If you don't give them their treadmill, you need a MUCH larger tank to give them room. You can effectively reduce their tank needs to what would be required by a comparably sized fish that's not nearly as athletic. Plus, in my experience, they seem calmer and happier in rough current. Tons of micro bubbles in the water column combined with crashing whitewater at the surface seem to help, too.
You're fine to keep a tiger in a calm water tank if you want, just be prepared to get an obscenely large(er) tank if that's the route you want to go.
I run Hydor wave makers that give me over 4000 gph. My tiger Tony loves it. Also have an industrial air pump supplying air to 3 sponge filters and a few air stone.
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