there have been threads on "mystery deaths" a genus of killifish called Nothobranchius which have suggested that power filters and those small, but beautiful jewels - almost always from small, temporary ponds or shallow little lakes - will just wear themselves out fighting the current and die much earlier than they should. A New Jersey aquarist by the handle of "R.J." has argued fairly persuasively that those fishes will die in tanks with power filters in a matter of days or a few weeks at most.
Design of fishes will often tell us what their preferred habitats are. Long slim fish with large caudal peduncles (the tail where it meets the body) are cruisers and often revel in currents. Take a look at tetras, rainbowfish and some minnows in that context. The ultimate oceanic cruiser is the tuna.
Guppies, especially fancy males who have to work just to keep their veil tales up, aren't built that way. Maybe they can simply get battered by the current if the gallons per hour ratio on the pump are too great.
This is probably a part of the hobby folklore but...
Once heard of a guy who spent "mucho dinero" on a pair of guppies he had long coveted. While watching them adjust to their new home, just after being placed there, that person saw the male guppy shudder, struggle and roll over dead. As near as he could guess, the guppy had a heart attack. Maybe just a fishy campfire story, but it sure does define a born loser. ;)
I wonder, what would be a safe gph would be for a power filter? If power filters are a problem, what would powerheads do?
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