Flow rate for rainbow darters

I'm cycling a 50G cube (24" x 24" x 20") set up as a biotope for rainbow darters. I'm planning to get a powerhead to provide current for them, since the output from the filter (Aquaclear 500) isn't very strong. How vigorous should the current in the tank be?

I'll be getting a Sicce Voyager--either a 2 (rated at 800 gallons per hour) or a 3 (1200 gallons per hour). It provides a broad, gentle flow rather than a narrowly focused one, which I think will be ideal for replicating river conditions. I'm inclined to go with the higher-rated powerhead, but I'm open to advice. Thanks!

Finally got my 125 river tank to cycle...getting ready to put several species of darter/shiner in it...I've got tw 500gph power heads on a river manifold, 1 850 gph for directional broad current, and the main pump return at 1250gph, all on one end....right now the sole occupant (sacrificial bluegill) seems happy and appears to love feeding in the current, I assume the darters will as well...in your shoes, I'd go with more, not less current...just my 2 cents...

Rich

I don't know the ideal current flow rate needed for rainbow darters. In New York I seen them in swift current. In Ohio I saw them in any current from swift to almost still. One convention speaker even mentioned a lake in Minnesota has them. Rainbows seem quite adaptable to various flow rates.

I would guess ideal is whatever conditions you capture them from. In my 29 gallon I have a 425 gph powerhead and it provides a pretty decent current for the shiners I have in there. Its kind of focused but it pretty much identically replicates the slower moving stream where they came from. I have it going down the length of the tank, which is 30''.

The 1200 may be overkill for your dimensions unless the fish are coming from a rapidly moving water source.

Edited by clemsons2k, 04 July 2013 - 11:24 AM.