How can I make my tank surface calmer?

I have a 20 gallon long with cory catfish, zebra danios, and guppies. My honey gouramis will be done with quarantine Friday and they are going to the 20 gallon as well. I am worried now that the surface will be too strong and will stress them out. I know I cannot make my bubbler less powerful as there is so many fish in there that need it. I've turned down my filters a bit as I have two 20 gallon ones, and I'm not worried about them being a bit less strong. Thanks!

 

I've been struggling with this myself. Can you put sponges over the outlet or put pieces of sponge in the outflow tube?

Of course, this lessens your filtration. I'm trying to reduce the current while maintaining filtration.

 

Your tank surface is probably fine, as it does grow muscles in your fish, but if you needed to turn it down I would slightly lesson the bubbler or add more decor that the fish can 'rest' in or that will make the current less strong.

 

I've been struggling with this myself. Can you put sponges over the outlet or put pieces of sponge in the outflow tube?

Of course, this lessens your filtration. I'm trying to reduce the current while maintaining filtration.

I have two sponge filters and they are not very strong themselves, it is they beubblrr that's the problem.

Your tank surface is probably fine, as it does grow muscles in your fish, but if you needed to turn it down I would slightly lesson the bubbler or add more decor that the fish can 'rest' in or that will make the current less strong.

Would putting a tall plant or two in the back help? If so are there any tall plants that don't need ferts? Thanks!

 

I have a tall piece of driftwood I aI'm the outflow at.

 

I have a tall piece of driftwood I aI'm the outflow at.

Thanx! Do you think a plant would work the same? Driftwood doesn't go in my tank unfortunately .

 

I don't know, I'm new to this hobby. My first two tanks are currently planted and waiting for fish.

Is there LFS with staff that knows what they're talking about? Mine was very helpful at steering me to plants that are easy to grow. Maybe they could tell you what plants do well in current, or maybe a post on the plant forum would get you some info.

 

I don't know, I'm new to this hobby. My first two tanks are currently planted and waiting for fish.

Is there LFS with staff that knows what they're talking about? Mine was very helpful at steering me to plants that are easy to grow. Maybe they could tell you what plants do well in current, or maybe a post on the plant forum would get you some info.

Ill post of the plant forum, thanx!

 

I wasn't happy with the amount of current in my 10 gallon shrimp tank after adding an air stone, but I finally moved it in the corner behind the sponge filter. That seemed to help.

Now that I've said that, if you already have two sponge filters in a 20 gallon tank do you really need the air stone?

 

I wasn't happy with the amount of current in my 10 gallon shrimp tank after adding an air stone, but I finally moved it in the corner behind the sponge filter. That seemed to help.

Now that I've said that, if you already have two sponge filters in a 20 gallon tank do you really need the air stone?

Yes, after one of my air stones went out in Novermber, three if my fish died. Now I have 13 that need air pumps. I have a bubbler that goes along the back of the tank. Thanx!

 

I'm a little confused. What is this bubbler that is providing so much flow? Is it just a foam filter? I do not know guppies or gouramis but cories are river fish and danios are real good at swimming fast.
If the bubbler is just a foam did you put a right angle PVC pipe on the end to get some flow? My problem with out of box foams is their lack of flow.

 

I'm a little confused. What is this bubbler that is providing so much flow? Is it just a foam filter? I do not know guppies or gouramis but cories are river fish and danios are real good at swimming fast.
If the bubbler is just a foam did you put a right angle PVC pipe on the end to get some flow? My problem with out of box foams is their lack of flow.

The danios, Cory's, and guppies are fine. It's the honeys I'm worried about. My bubbler goes along the back of my tank, thanx!

 

I cut up a water bottle and put it over the outflow of my filter. It disperses the flow without having to turn down the filtration. I got the idea on Youtube. Worked great for my Hatchetfish.

 

Hi, my mass of duckweed makes very stagnant water in my tanks

 

The danios, Cory's, and guppies are fine. It's the honeys I'm worried about. My bubbler goes along the back of my tank, thanx!

So it is one of those super long air stones that makes the pretty curtain of air bubbles?
If you are feeding many things off the airpump through a gang valve the solution is easy. If it is the only thing connected to the output I wouldn't run a valve.

Are you worried about the flow across the top of the tank where the air bubbles go or about the fish swimming into the flow of bubbles?
Surface plants can completely deaden surface flow. If it is swimming into the air curtain, remove it or place it vertical?

 

I have two sponge filters and they are not very strong themselves, it is they beubblrr that's the problem.

Would putting a tall plant or two in the back help? If so are there any tall plants that don't need ferts? Thanks!

Tall plants could help decline the flow in your aquarium, and based off on the size of your aquarium I would get either java fern or amazon swords. Amazon swords can grow much larger but in my opinion need at least a 29g, but you might be able to work a single sword in there.

 

I found a couple floating plants that I'm going to put there to make the water calm. Would that stop air from getting everywhere? Thanx!