Hi all. At the moment i have a Juwel Rio 180ltr tank with a large piece of bogwood and several clay pots and plastic pipes for hiding places. Also a few anubius and 2 silk plants. The stock are 2x l168, 5x l201, 4x l205, 1x l206, 2x l340 and 2x l183.Filtration is 2 ext filters, 1 of 900 lph and the other of 1300 lph.The inlet pipes are situated at the back of the tank at each end, with the inlets at the opposite ends and pointed downwards so that the returning water produces a current going down the side of the tank and(hopefully) along the bottom towards the opposite side.I know the filters will not be giving out what they are rated at, so i was thinking of installing a wavemaker to produce more current along the back of the tank about 1/3 of the way up the side.Do you think the fish i have will benefit from this ?. I would be grateful for any input anyone may have on this matter. Thanks Chris.
Wavemaker??
- Thread starter chris52
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Current on its own won't do much, it's the additional aeration that is often associated with it that is the true benefit. Current can help distribute oxygenated water better and keep stagnant spots from forming but it's the aeration that's the true benefit.
I don't think a wave maker is necessary a simple powerhead could suffice for additional current.
I don't think a wave maker is necessary a simple powerhead could suffice for additional current.
Thanks for the reply. I was looking at powerheads too, but having never used 1 before, i thought it would be better with a wavemaker. There is plenty of aeration via the air stone, and i was thinking if i had some form of powered current just above the substrate, i could turn the filter outlets to point along the surface. Cheers Chris.
agree with Lornek. The only thing the wavemaker will achive is water movement. If you have an external caanister filter, look at some air diffusers. These you attach to the out valve and produce oxygen when the water mixes on return to the tank. cheers jk :thumbup:
Maybe its a language thing but in the US a wave maker is a separate unit or used in conjunction with powerheads to achieve flow in an alternate or random fashion. Originated in reef tanks to make waves which in nature are rather random and churning. Much more complicated than required. A powerhead, similar to a recirculation pump, simply pumps water in a straight line (where ever the outlet is pointed).
Hi all,
I like the venturi devices that "bigbird" mentions. The ones I use are: EHEIM POWER DIFFUSOR - part 4004651.
You have a tank with a lot of valuable L numbers and relatively few live plants and I'd strongly recommend reading our article:
"Aeration and dissolved oxygenation in the aquarium":
<http://plecoplanet.com/?page_id=829>
cheers Darrel
I like the venturi devices that "bigbird" mentions. The ones I use are: EHEIM POWER DIFFUSOR - part 4004651.
It is probably just me, but when-ever I read that in a post, alarm bells start ringing.
You have a tank with a lot of valuable L numbers and relatively few live plants and I'd strongly recommend reading our article:
"Aeration and dissolved oxygenation in the aquarium":
<http://plecoplanet.com/?page_id=829>
cheers Darrel
OK. Let me simplify the question. Would the fish i have benefit from a slightly stronger flow around the lower areas of the tank?. I know about gaseous exchange and surface agitation, unless this has changed during the 30 years i have spent keeping and breeding fish ( mostly Malawi Cichlids). I am asking this question because i want the fish to live in as close as possible natural environment as i can replicate in the unnatural environment of an aquarium. I know my fish originate from flowing waters that are rich in oxygen, but will they be happy with the limited flow i am already giving them or would they benefit from more flow?.If i install a wavemaker/powerhehead, then i can direct the filter outlets at the surface to agitate it more, hence, more dissolved oxygen. Cheers Chris.
This was where I was going with my previous post. There is no need to add current for the sake of current. Current does nothing for the fish. Any fish can live perfectly well without current provided their aeration needs are met. If you can get aeration without current then the fish would be perfectly happy with the living arrangement. As aeration in the aquarium is typically tied to current if you feel that the aeration is lacking then the addition of current would be beneficial. If you feel the aeration is adequate then the addition of current would probably do little for you unless you simply want to create a particular flow pattern to control where debris collects.
Looking at the fish you keep, their needs and habitat vary greatly between the species. For instance L183 is a Blackwater species which come from areas and water conditions at one extreme of the Amazonian habitat. The hypancistrus are more from whitewater habitats that appear more related to Malawai tanks than the image of the Amazon. Trying to replicate the habitat of these plecs in the same tank without segregating as species is impossible.
Thanks for the reply. I agree about the differing habotats of the fish, but that is in hand with other tanks on the way. After the last reply, i dont think i will spend on a wavemaker/powerhead. As i said in a previous post, never had 1 before and just thought i would try to find out if they would be beneficial. Thanks for clarifying and saving me a few hard earned quid. Cheers Chris.