Alligator Pipefish and flow?

[JustinReef]

I have two Alligator pipes in my 34G solana...the flow is quite gentle now with just the "return" pump and a Koralia 1 but I want to up it a little because my sps colonies are starting to get quite big.

The Pipes are obviously not the best swimmers but they seem to handle more flow than some of the smaller species. They are always out and about swimming while the lights are on. They never hide. Very active fish.

How much flow do you think they can handle? Is it the kind of thing where I will just know by how they can or cannot handle it?

Oh and they are about 11" and 8" long. Eat frozen food if anyone is wondering.

 

[vaporize]

frozen mysis?

 

[JustinReef]

frozen mysis?

Mysis, brine and cyclopeeze, all soaked in vitamins.

 

[JustinReef]

Anyone? I am finding a hard time getting much info on these guys. Are they generally one of the weaker or stronger swimmers? Can they handle a decent amount of flow?

My experience so far is that they are decent swimmers but I haven't had any other pipes in the past.

These guys are always out and swimming, never really hide at all or care to hang out in the rocks. When they do stop swimming, one latches onto some macro and other other loves to lay right on top of the koralia powerhead. I used to worry about this but he seems to like it. Quite often he wraps his tail into the grate on the side of the powerhead and then his body and head kind of flail (sorry couldn't think of a better word lol) around in the flow from the powerhead. Its quite rough on him it would seem but he keeps doing it and can release himself anytime he wants.

Just looking for advice on how much flow they can handle which I know is a difficult question to answer

 

[Elysia]

Its true that seahorses are the most flight-of-fin creatures, although it is generally believed that we (hobbyists) don't give them enough credit in the swimming category (better to be safe than real, real sorry.) Pipefish are generally better swimmers than seahorses, and it would seem as though Alligator Pipes have the best of both worlds, in that they swim horizontally and can use their tails to achieve a modified hitch.

That said, alligators aren't really reef pipes -- they are more sea grass pipes. Their shape and coloring helps them blend into the sea grass biotope. I can't say that I think of sea grass beds as being high flow areas, but then again, I'm not a diver so I can't say for sure. Alligators are rather big fish (as you posted), so I really wonder if a SPS dominated Solana is the best set up for them.

I know that I have done little to clear the muddy waters on this issue for you...

 

[jiriki]

I have mine in low flow tank as well. However, my alligator has gotten itself sucked to the side of a K1 before. But it will also wrap its take around the outtake grates and surf the output of the K1 for hours. Let's go and comes back and does it again.

You can try having at least one calm spot .. though it's only 34g. Or a Vortec might good.. I think they even come with foam covers to protect them. You can control fine tune the flow or vary the flow, etc. pricey though

 

[JustinReef]

Thanks guys...

I had a vortech but got rid of it for safety. Mine are both too big and strong to get stuck on the K1. They swim right beside it often and never get sucked toward it. One of them lays on it all the time and easily swims off when he wants to.

As for the tank size, yeah its not the biggest tank but I don't know that its that bad considering how active they are (or are not). Although I guess they do swim around a lot. Being sps dominated...I don't see how this can be a problem for the pipes other than flow but that's what I am trying to address. And I can just keep flow as is if needed. I think you would be hard pressed to find a tank with better water quality and that is fed the crazy amount I feed these guys, 4 times a day.

Not trying to get all defensive but I am really just more interested in flow.

 

[JustinReef]

I have mine in low flow tank as well. However, my alligator has gotten itself sucked to the side of a K1 before. But it will also wrap its take around the outtake grates and surf the output of the K1 for hours. Let's go and comes back and does it again.

You can try having at least one calm spot .. though it's only 34g. Or a Vortec might good.. I think they even come with foam covers to protect them. You can control fine tune the flow or vary the flow, etc. pricey though

How big is yours?