Penguin Bio Wheel Filters - Too Much Current?

I have a 55 gallon with two penguin bio wheels. A 350 and a 250. I just put in some Cardinals and cherry barbs as my first fish and it seems like they are swimming against current? I also don't know what normal looks like so maybe I'm just crazy? There's also an airstone in an ornament and an air bar in back.

 

HI there,

When fish swim against a filter current/any current in general it is normal. My fish do it all the time. As long as the current doesn't interfere in their eating habits or they don't display signs of stress you should be fine.

Just a side note, I think a 350 and 250 might generate a bit of excessive current?

 

I went with both because people said you should have 8x your tank volume in flow. I turned my air Stone and strip off and that seemed to help maybe? If I turn everything off they chill in place just fine. Just seems weird that even with only the 350 running they are struggling in my opinion. I know I'm not the only one with a 55 gallon and a 350 biowheel. So it's not like I'm doing something crazy. Or should I give my fish more than just two hours in the new home before I worry too much? The cherry Barb's actually huddled in corner where I'm guessing there's no flow.

Could my water level being high not allowing the filter to have a "waterfall" effect cause more current then normal? The direction of current doesn't make sense either. It flows from middle sideways to each side.

 

Hello. I have 2 Marineland Penguin 350 filter's on my 55 and my fish don't ave any problems. I have a couple of small female Swordtails in there and they are doing fine.

 

In our 55 we have a school of neons and glowlights. Filtration is 710 GPH. A 350 Penguin and a 360 Magnaflow canister. I shoot for 10x or more of the water column. All fish are fat and happy.

 

You guys think I'm just over reacting on what fighting current looks like? I did take video that I can post to YouTube.

 

You should be fine, as I said before as long as the fish don't display signs of stress everything is okay.

 

You guys think I'm just over reacting on what fighting current looks like? I did take video that I can post to YouTube.

Yes. In the wild there is current.

Your fish look normal to me.

This is the center of the 55.

 

You should be fine, as I said before as long as the fish don't display signs of stress everything is okay.

I am brand new to fish. What are some popular signs of stress?

 

I am brand new to fish. What are some popular signs of stress?

Loss of color, not eating, erratic swimming, always hiding.

 

I am brand new to fish. What are some popular signs of stress?

Some common signs of stress include(but are not limited too)

Lethargic behavior - aka they don't eat
Discoloration
[Excessive] Hiding
Strange swimming - if they frantically swim up and down and side to side and rub themselves on everything


I can't think of all of them immediately off the top of my head but those are some common signs.

Glancing at the pictures you posted your fish look really healthy! Good luck on this fun adventure called 'fish keeping' it will take your money and your time

 

You could place the filters one at each end of the aquarium

 

You could place the filters one at each end of the aquarium

That's what I have done in my 55. All the fish are fine.

 

They are both on back and one on each side. Any one watch the video? That look normal?

 

They look normal to me.

 

I see what you mean by it looking like they are struggling and they might be a little bit. If you just got them then they most likely aren’t used to a strong current so they have to just get used to it. Or they think it’s awesome because they’ve never had that much fun and they’ll eventually do something else. Whenever I first put a fish in one of my tanks they have to learn to adjust.

Some of mine still do that on purpose to ride the current and even try to swim the strongest current that comes out of the filter. I think of it as the fish version of a treadmill. If they can get around ok and eat you are fine but keep an eye on them.

On my 60 and 55 I have two aquaclear 70s (300 GPH each) and two double sided sponges and my baby corys love it (they are about a neon tetra size but wider).

On my 75 I have two aquaclear 110s (500 GPH each) and two double sided sponges. I have forktail blue eyed rainbow fish in there (which are about the same size as a large neon tetra) and they are fine as well. Here is a picture of my 75 with my rainbows staring at me.

 

Ok thank you all. It just seemed like they were struggling to sit still. Granted I don't know what normal looks like besides what I see in fish store

PS I think I severlys overfeed my first time feeding while trying to make sure I didn't overfeed lol