Strength of water flow

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Gill
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I’ve changed my internal filter today, saving the media and putting it in the new one. The old one had no means of regulating the water flow and I think was a bit sluggish, the new one seems quite powerful and can be regulated.
I have dwarf rainbows, glow light tetras, and platys, can anyone please advise on generally how strong a water flow would be most suitable.
Thanks.
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Gingerlove05
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If you have plants its generally advised that they sway gently, but otherwise you just need it to ripple the surface to generate oxygen exchange.
The flow also depends on the species you keep, longer streamlined fish (like the tetras, rainbows and platys) should be ok with a medium flow, whereas bettas would need a low flow because of pulling around their finnage, high flow fish would be the likes of hillstream loaches.
As long as your fish aren’t being blown around the tank (like a washing machine) and they’re not struggling to swim around they should be fine.
Hope that helps :)
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Gill
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Many thanks, I think I’ll turn it way back to make them more comfortable.
Redpanda
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I always worried the water flow in my tank is too strong 🙈 but then was watching fish and they are fine, love occasional play in the current, and filter also slightly slowed down especially before it needs cleaning . So I don’t think stronger flow is too much problem, as long as fish aren’t hiding or struggling to swim..
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Andys temperate tank
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I've got a lot of water moving in my big tank.

The Angel's breed like clock work and everything else is happy. Nothing wrong with extra flow.

It will help clean the platy poo up. :D
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Redpanda wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 20:26 pm I always worried the water flow in my tank is too strong 🙈 but then was watching fish and they are fine, love occasional play in the current, and filter also slightly slowed down especially before it needs cleaning . So I don’t think stronger flow is too much problem, as long as fish aren’t hiding or struggling to swim..
I agree. When arranging the outlets I was concerned that the fish might get buffeted too much, but they seem to move between slow and high flow areas as they fancy.
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