Quote:
Originally Posted by
saxman http:///t/395851/is-my-water-flow-too-strong-for-seahorses#post_3525528
The trouble with Koralias is that they have exposed propellers that actually have been responsible for amputating SH tails, so most peeps use the nano model as they come with a guard.
As for SH and flow, I can't add anything more than they can handle quite a bit more flow than previously thought, and in fact, sometimes seek out areas of higher flow. The key is to add the flow creatively, and to have areas where the SH can rest if they choose to do so.
Microbubbles are more of an annoyance for the aquarist, but sometimes, when males flush their pouches with water, bubbles may become trapped, and if so, a pouch evac may be needed. It's better not to have microbubbles in your DT if you can avoid it.
Just FYI, the newer Koralia Evolutions all have a decent screen on them. I would say that the only way a seahorse is going to chop his tail is if he actively tries to worm his tail WAY back to the back. And even then I seriously doubt an adult horse could fit much of his tail through the screen. For my tank, Koralias are still the best option. They offer a good price point for my wallet, good flow that's not as strongly laminar as most impeller-based powerheads, and with the new models the risk of tail amputation is almost nil.**
Now, let me share something else about flow that I've learned from my tanks. My horses like a decent flow, yes, but they seem to be happier in a CONSTANT flow. That is, they did NOT appreciate the timer-wavemaker I once tried out. I had two Koralia-ones on here (the old models at the time) and I was looking to "upgrade" with the new Evolutions. I thought, "Well, they like the flow of two 400gph Koralias, so why don't I try 2 Koralia-Evolution 750gph pumps and put them on a timer so only one is firing at a time?" My reasoning here was that the flow at any given moment was comparable to the existing flow, and having the alternating current would help with detritus filtering.
It sounded like a good idea at a time. My horses, however, HATED it. They would swim in a current, the current would change, and they would get knocked all over. They wound up staying hitched to the rock and gorgonians more often than not. I tried moving the powerheads, but they were just unhappy horses. I wound up giving those 750 koralias to a friend, and I bought 2 of the 55gph Koralia evolutions instead. These are the ones I have now. They're both constant on, and everyone was happy from that point on. So (for my tank, anyway), no alternating wavelike flows for me. I get grouchy horses if I try.
**just my opinion here, but based on observation from my animals.