Powerhead currents too much for fish?

[anthonynyc]

I recently installed 2 powerheads in my 72 gallon tank. I currently have only a few fishes.
2 Percula Clowns
2 Yellow Tail Damsels
1 Striped Black and White Damsel (still very small and not aggressive)
I have a Fluval 404 and the larger Emperor with the 2 Bio wheels. I have one piece of Live Rock that is about 10lbs and going to get some more.
I've noticed with the powerheads on, the fishes swim less. When I take the powerheads off, the fishes, especially the clowns will swim around more which leads me to believe they might not like that much movement.
In order not to suck any fish in, I have a sponge filter on one of the powerheads.
With a fish only tank, do I need that much water movement?
Thanks,
Anthony
Below is a pic of what the tank looks like at the moment. It's a recent setup and my first saltwater tank.

 

[pasafire]

How many gallons per hour are they pushing. From everything I've read and heard for FOWLR tanks you need about 10x water movement so total should be around 720 gallons for just the fish

 

[fishmamma]

I have found that doing one or both of these thngs helps make the flow more natural and tolerable:
- position powerhead so that the output is directed towards a glass wall of the aquarium, the flwo will hit this and then be redirected in multiple directions.
-Install a FLO Roatating Deflector (this attaches to the output of most powerheads and is powered by the water itself).
It is also possible you just have too much flow in there, but I would try the above before changing out any powerheads. Good luck!!

 

[anthonynyc]

Originally Posted by Pasafire
How many gallons per hour are they pushing. From everything I've read and heard for FOWLR tanks you need about 10x water movement so total should be around 720 gallons for just the fish
I have two Powerhead 402's that pumps up to 270 gph in forward and 125 gph in reverse.
That's 540 gph so I should be ok and not overstressing the fish.
Thanks,
Anthony

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by AnthonyNYC
I have two Powerhead 402's that pumps up to 270 gph in forward and 125 gph in reverse.
That's 540 gph so I should be ok and not overstressing the fish.
Thanks,
Anthony
Clowns loves the currents. You should be fine....My fishes LOVES the currents, they swim towards it....So does my corals, they love the currents, some anyway.... :happyfish