High flow for argenteus - did I overdo it?

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Sinister-Kisses

Sinister-Kisses

Aimara
MFK Member
Jan 19, 2022
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After some recent suggestions, I've added three large air stones and two wave makers to Kismet's tank to increase flow and oxygen and replicate their natural environment better. I originally added the one (smaller) wave maker and it didn't seem to do enough in the 6ft, 135gal tank, so I bought a second significantly larger one and added it a couple days ago. But...did I overdo it now? Lol. Kismet gets pushed around in the flow a bit now if he heads over to that end of the tank in front of the pumps, but I haven't really been able to determine if the flow actually deters him from that side of the tank or not. Should I scale it back?

https://flic.kr/p/2oT9DiZ
 
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Looks fine, I'd call that about medium flow? If you have both on one side, I'd try moving one to the other side of the tank. I like to put one in the front corner, one in the back corner and try to get a bit of a swirl going for a continuous current going.
 
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As long as there is a quiet place where he can go to rest and relax especially at night, looks good.
You just don’t want it so much that he can never take it easy and has to fight the current continually.
 
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TwoHedWlf said:
Looks fine, I'd call that about medium flow? If you have both on one side, I'd try moving one to the other side of the tank. I like to put one in the front corner, one in the back corner and try to get a bit of a swirl going for a continuous current going.
Click to expand...

I deliberately put both on one end because I didn't want to create an environment where the flows are pushing towards each other and having him need to "fight" to move around his tank in most of the space. So he has a side that isn't pushing him around where he doesn't have to swim hard all the time.
 
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BIG-G said:
As long as there is a quiet place where he can go to rest and relax especially at night, looks good.
You just don’t want it so much that he can never take it easy and has to fight the current continually.
Click to expand...

That was exactly my thought when I put them both on the same end. He's able to sit stationary if he chooses to on the left, which is the side I always see him in anyway and the side he gets fed at, and not get blown around. But I also don't want the other side so strong that he just doesn't ever use that side, otherwise seems like a waste of 6ft of space if he only uses half lol. I'll give him some time to adjust and try to figure out if he uses that right side still with the flow.
 
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Thanks for the feedback :)
 
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BIG-G said:
As long as there is a quiet place where he can go to rest and relax especially at night, looks good.
You just don’t want it so much that he can never take it easy and has to fight the current continually.
Click to expand...
A lot of the wavemakers have light sensors, so when the lights go out they drop down to minimum power.
 
This is the typical type flow I find where I collect rheophillos Central American species.
IMG_6846.jpeg
Rio Mamoni near Chepo flowbd82fbde 3c92 4ba1 89c7 1c6bb4853d7a
The flow above is like an even wall of water,
and that said, some wave makers produce a concentrated, narrow plume like a fire hose that can push fish around, so care in choosing one with a more dispersed flow may need to be considered.
The video below (even though aimed at reef keepers) has a great analysis of different flows, from different type wave makers
Pump Angle: The Right Powerhead for the Right Flow, Used the Right Way – BRStv Investigates Flow.
 
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