How to encourage fish to relocate?

[Daenion]

I have mentioned this in my build thread.

Right now almost my entire stock is on one side of the tank. To be precise right in front of a large rock. So they are using roughly 1/5 of the tank and the yellow tang is not very happy everyone is there now.

The fish were introduced roughly 10 day apart and they are all relatively small size wise. What can I do to encourage some of them to relocate to the other side or anywhere really?

The lights are still off and everyone eating fine. I turned them on briefly to take a few pictures.

Everyone, as can be seen, is just stuck to the big rock on the left. Tang sleeps between the pukani but hangs around the left rock throughout the day.

That rocks side gets ambient light could this be the driving factor? Is it flow?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Geebs19]

How long have they been in the tank overall? Seems to me they are still getting acclimated and somewhat hiding.

 

[Mical]

Most folks paint or put a backdrop on their tanks. Yours appears to be open on all sides and fish have basically nowhere to hide. As mentioned above, tank looks new also...

 

[BlueDamselReef]

How much flow in the tank? Sometimes if there is too much flow, fish will pick the spot that has the least amount and hide out there. Try to lower it a little and see if that helps.

 

[BlueDamselReef]

How much flow in the tank? Sometimes if there is too much flow, fish will pick the spot that has the least amount and hide out there. Try to lower it a little and see if that helps.

 

[Daenion]

How long have they been in the tank overall? Seems to me they are still getting acclimated and somewhat hiding.

Royal gramma, yellow tang and clowns for 2 weeks. Hippo and foxface about 4 days.

My concern was they don’t even swim to the other side.

 

[Daenion]

Most folks paint or put a backdrop on their tanks. Yours appears to be open on all sides and fish have basically nowhere to hide. As mentioned above, tank looks new also...

It is a Red Sea 625. The entire back is black.

The tank is definitely new (1 month) so are the fish.

 

[Daenion]

How much flow in the tank? Sometimes if there is too much flow, fish will pick the spot that has the least amount and hide out there. Try to lower it a little and see if that helps.

Currently it has 2 mp40s running at half speed or less and the normal return pump.

There are definitely places with lower flow but maybe those do not have enough hiding places.

 

[Geebs19]

I would say they are just figuring things out. Once they get more acclimated they will start to explore.

 

[Lavey29]

Send in an eel.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Increase water flow in the area you do not want them to be or add hiding areas to area you want them to inhabit. Fish have a mind of their own and desire certain zones in a tank based on temperature, hiding, currents and lighting.

 

[Daenion]

Increase water flow in the area you do not want them to be or add hiding areas to area you want them to inhabit. Fish have a mind of their own and desire certain zones in a tank based on temperature, hiding, currents and lighting.

Thank you.

Would it make more sense to adjust the mp40s or return pump? My return pump is doing about 740gph without the piping loss for 160g tank. So I presume it does about 3-3.5 times of the total volume in an hour with all the losses.

Also the fish are juvenile and I presume I will be able to up the flow down the line or is that not the case. We wanted to introduce corals start of next year and from all I read I assume I will need half decent flow for them.

 

[Graemesreef]

Keep your flow where its best for the tank not the fish. Mother nature doesn't turn down the flow. Our fish from time to time gather on one side. Try feeding on the opposite side and dont forget fish are social too and like company specially when young and in a new environment. They should find their way with time.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you.

Would it make more sense to adjust the mp40s or return pump? My return pump is doing about 740gph without the piping loss for 160g tank. So I presume it does about 3-3.5 times of the total volume in an hour with all the losses.

Also the fish are juvenile and I presume I will be able to up the flow down the line or is that not the case. We wanted to introduce corals start of next year and from all I read I assume I will need half decent flow for them.

Focus on areas to hide

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Just IMO, I would turn off wavemakers and give them time to explore, you can keep normal filtration going. , Give them a day or two or 3, then start with wavemakers on low, let them get used to surroundings

 

[Daenion]

For people who might stumble here through google here is an update.

All the fish are out and about and using most of the tank now.

When 3 months were up I turned on the lights. This did encourage a bit more activity but not too much. During this time I even increased flow however did add one more rock to the unused side but that did not make a difference.

I added two wrasses and their presence and overall high activity levels convinced the rest to come out. I has been a month now since the introduction and everyone is out and about during daytime and using the entire tank.

 

[Hermie]

First you take your Sword of Omens... XD

 

[Daenion]

First you take your Sword of Omens... XD

Obviously. If you don’t have one at home then store bought is fine.

 

[dstockwell]

Why no lights with fish. I understand cycling and that, but I didn’t add fish until cycle was done.

 

[Hermie]

Obviously. If you don’t have one at home then store bought is fine.

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO