High water flow = dead fish

[mr.r8rfan]

I have a small 5.5 nano that has been running for months now and all my corals are doing excellent with no casualties. There is plenty of new growth on all of them. Temp is kept stable between 77-79 F and have plenty of light. I also have plenty of strong water flow provided by a hang on filter rated for a 10 gallon on one end on the back and a rio nano skimmer on the other end also in the back. Water flow is towards the front glass and causes some sporadic patterns which my corals seem to love and thrive in. Well my problem is I want to keep at least one fish but have not been able to. Everything I add is small and seems to have a hard time with the constant strong water movement. I tried damsels at first and they both hid in the rock never to be seen again. I was advised to add a small yellow clown goby and I did and it lasted over month and died too. I recently added a small fire fish and the same result, about a month. My question is, what type of fish can I add to my system if any with this size tank and amount of water flow if any?

 

[ellio]

FWIW I have a Clown Fish and a Purple Dottyback in a NC 12 with a MJ 900. Nothing compared to the flow in your tank but I have noticed that the Clown Fish appears to have trouble negotiating the current but the Dottyback is rock solid, as if there is no current at all. Attractive fish also.

 

[Illuminati]

How is evaporation on that tank? I would guess salinity swings might be the culprit........

 

[mr.r8rfan]

Well after I completed my cycle but before adding my corals I had a purple dottyback that did awesome. However I forgot to mention that I also have a skunk cleaner shrimp in my tank. I think the dottyback is much to aggressive to keep together.

 

[mr.r8rfan]

Evaporation is actually not too bad. I top off daily and to 1 to 2 water changes a week anywhere between 1/2-1 full gallon and keep a close eye on salinity.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

I seriously doubt that you have too much flow for the fish. I mean after all...i have a filter rated to a 20g tank on my 3g pico which has a yellow watchman goby and he's fine. But then again they burrow and stay on the bottom so maybe thats why, but i just doubt it is your flow.

Have you checked all of your parameters? Altho your corals are all fine, which is what stumps me...

 

[mr.r8rfan]

Parameters seem fine and stable. You can actually see the fish fighting the current. It's stronger towards the top and there is a small cave at the bottom and center of the tank where they tend to hang out but when they attempt to swim they get caught up.

 

[Mark426]

If you want fish and the flow is too much...why not reduce the flow?

 

[cherubfish pair]

How many pounds of liverock do you have per gallon of water?
Fish need to get out of the current ocasionally, ie. liverock.

 

[mr.r8rfan]

Well it's a 5.5 and I probably have about 8 - 10 lbs of live rock and rubble all together.

 

[cherubfish pair]

That should be enough rock work for the fish to get out of the current occasionally. I don't think your flow is the problem.

 

[N_V_S]

mr.r8rfan,

I asked the same question and got many different answers. I am not an expert or have any advise, but listed below is my link and HTH. Maybe with all the answers you can find a solution.


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1076774

Good luck

 

[dastratt]

You may want to wait 6 weeks in case the tank has ich.

Its also possible you have a hitchiker that has caused the deaths.

Just a couple of thoughts.

 

[cherubfish pair]

mr.r8rfan,

can you update us on your tank?