Turbulent In Tub Options

[moomooteo]

Hi All:
I have been using a 1200l/h power head to circulate water in my 3x2x1 tub. but i have being advise that the turbulent is too strong for the fish. But my fish seem to like to play with the jets and they purposely swim against the current, and then stop to be be blown away by the waves. They also like to get near the power head. My power head is placed at one corner of the tub and i am also using it to dissolve oxygen. I don use any air pump. For filteration, i am using a Jebao 915.

1. Is my power head too strong and any recommended flow rate.
2. If we don circulate water, the water is very still. Is such still water good for goldfish. As i know, if we make them exercise , it is good for thier development

[HappyBuddha]

...  But my fish seem to like to play with the jets and they purposely swim against the current, and then stop to be be blown away by the waves. They also like to get near the power head. ...

I have a feeling most fishes has an innate behaviour to swim towards (strong) current. They are not attracted by the current per se but have to swim towards it to gain proper composure. Prolong swimming against the current is probably stressful, and getting blown away is definitely not something comfortable.

1. Is my power head too strong and any recommended flow rate.
2. If we don circulate water, the water is very still. Is such still water good for goldfish. As i know, if we make them exercise , it is good for thier development

The flow rate of a canister filter has a direct effect on the filter's efficiency. Check the specification of your canister filter to find out whether it's engineered for your tub's volume of water. You can always disperse the output with a rainbar but never to reduce the output by restricting the input, or your filter's efficiency will change.

There's never still water in a good goldfish environment. At the minimum, there's a sponge filter bubbling away to aerate the water and break the surface tension. AFAIK, all goldfish thrive in relatively calm water. If you observe, most goldfish will hang around areas in your tank that is relatively calm and avoid passage way with strong current.

I think there's an article somewhere on the net that showed a bubbling airstone does a better job to aerate the water than a powered pump that circulate the water. Best of all, the airstone creates little current and the current only moves upward from a surrouding area.