Today I went to a pet store and bought some gouramis. I bought 4 pearl gouramis and my mom got my little brother 2 opaline gouramis (but they are living in my tank). They seem to be happy in my 50 gallon. I noticed they will stick out a feeler or two if there is something in front of them. They also stick out a feeler whenever another fish passes by. My tank has a moderate current in some parts (the water is pretty still in the back and on the sides) and I hope they do better than my brothers bettas. Last year my mom insisted we keep the 1 male and 2 female betta fish in my tank. However, they got stressed from the current and got fungus and died. The gouramis seem to be better swimmers and can probably cope with the water movement better.

I observed the same problem with strong current in a tank at work. The pump was way too strong for the tank.

What I did was cut a disk the same diameter as the inlet pipe. I put a hole through the disk. I placed the disk against the end of the inlet pipe, and then slid on the fish guard, this holds the disk in place.

The disk reduces the water flow through the pump & filter. I actually cut three disks with different size holes, to allow adjustment of the flow.

That is an ineresting idea. The gouramis seem to be doing fine. They are probably better off in the current than bettas since they are better swimmers.

I've noticed that Betta's don't seem to swim much at all. I don't know if this has anything to do with the way they're kept (the Males in little prison cells). Most I've seen in homes, or at work, are in still water (air stone only, no pump). They generally just 'hover'.

When I set up my large tank, we took Guppies from the small tank. The small tank has a little Fluval 2 that often is full of gunk, and there never was much current.

When they were placed in the large tank, with an Ehiem 2217, they didn't know what hit them. They were being swept around the tank for the full circle.

But after they'd learnt to swim again, and wriggle those tails, they were ok.

Nice choice with the pearls, they're one of my favourite gourami's and I'm going to treat myself to a pair again when my angels get moved on to breeding tanks. People often overlook them for being boring but if you catch a male in full breeding colours it really is a fantastic display of deep firey orange through its belly and dorsal fin. Opalines are nice too but the males can be agressive especially if they want to spawn and theres no female around who's willing.

Gourami's and betta's don't like a lot of flow in their tanks your right, if it becomes a problem for them (if they start hiding behind an internal filter is the normal sign) you could also try fitting a spray bar and instead of directing the flow across the tank either make it bounce off the horizontal strengthner glass above it or back on the aquarium panal you stuck it to.

this isnt exactly the right post to say this but in reply to what has already said i'd like to voice my opinion on betas.

1stly, i hate the way most people keep betas. just becasue they can survive in cramped and badly looked after tanks and bowls doesnt mean that they should be kept this way.

my betas, male and female swim about lots. during the day they will explore almost every single inch of my 40g tanks. occasionaly they rest on the bottom or next to or in between plants.

it is true i believe that they come from mostly still ponds and that they probaby dont like strong currents. my tank has varied current. near the input the current can be quite strong, but most of the tank the current is slow to almost still. i have seen my betas swim in the strong current occasionaly, so they can do it, but most of the time they stick to the stiller parts.

to finish i think a lot of people lose their betas sooner than they should because the beta is depressed and probably stressed and thus prone to disease. if betas are kept in bigger tanks, 10g upwards and provided with nice clean water and an interresting enviroment then they are much happier and will live a lot longer and look a lot nicer.

sorry to jump on my soap box but it is only becasue i care about the well being of captive fish