Filter causes high currents...

**Blazinjake** · 11-08-2008, 10:43 PM

I've gotten my tank started up good now I think. My problem now is I've got some sort of live plant's to go in it, however their in the seed stage still and my new spunky filtering (out of tank) is pushing soo much water that it's causing large currents in the tank... enought that the fish can't sit still... they are constantly having to swim to keep in the same place...
I thought about getting some plants that float on the top and try to anchor them somehow under where the filter drops the water back into the tank.. it this a good idea or no? if so what kind of plant should i be looking for.. also any better ideas???

**NickFish** · 11-08-2008, 11:35 PM

What kind of filter do you have and what size tank?

**Blazinjake** · 11-08-2008, 11:40 PM

aquatech 20-40 and it's a 20 gallon tank (atleast i think, it's 24 inches across the front, 16 inches high and 12 inches from front to back...)

**Northernguy** · 11-08-2008, 11:53 PM

Try placing a filter sponge over the intake.It may slow it down.
Is there no flow control on top of the filter?

**wolf_eyes** · 11-09-2008, 12:09 AM

This is a cheap way to do it that I use on my tank

You take a clear plastic cup (some people have done it with a soda can bottle) and cut the bottom off. Now measure the plastic cup to your outflow part on the filter and cut the top part off;make sure the the middle part(the part you will use) is just a little smaller then the outflow part of the filter. Lastly cut one time down the length of the middle part so you end up with a strip of plastic. Then all you have to do is one part behind your filter so it will stay and let the rest hang into the water. The part that is being blocked will allow there to be less current and the fish will be able to rest. If they want to go for a swim they will hop into the current area.

I made a horrible image that will hopefully help you visualize the cuts. It's not my greatest piece of art so don't judge me for it

EDIT: oh yea if you use a plastic cup one end will be wider than the other. I let the wider end face the longer side of my tank .

**Blazinjake** · 11-09-2008, 03:24 AM

Originally Posted by northernguy

Try placing a filter sponge over the intake.It may slow it down.
Is there no flow control on top of the filter?

I didn't see anything that might would be one... I might try the sponge idea, I just don't want to lose some of my filtration..

and I'm not quite understanding the cup idea.. maybe a pic?