From my experience with fish, powerheads are excellent to move and oxygenate water, and move debris that lies on the substrate. SO I have recently added these to my shrimp tanks, attached to hydro sponge filters. I also use HOB filters and air driven hydro sponge filters. There is a moderate amount of current in the tank, and the shrimp seem to like it- there are plenty of objects such as driftwood, rocks, and plants, so the shrimp can get away from the current, so I don't think it is hurting them. However, I would like to know if anyone else has tried this? Is it a good idea to have a moderate amount of movement in the shrimp tank, or is it a 'not so good' idea? Do shrimp prefer a 'still water' environment? I have shrimp specific tanks, each with only one species of shrimp- I have tigers, caradina babaulti green, red cherry, and CRS- would all these types of shrimp be similar in their preference to water current?
I have one 20 gallon tank with an Undergravel filter running off a powerhead at one end of the tank. Critters that like flow go to one end of the tank, ones that don't go to the other end. Most, except the bamboo shrimp, stay away from the flow.
Dwarf shrimp don't really care much for powerheads, but Macros and other Palaemonid shrimp would appreciate a small (really small) powerhead so the shrimp can locate their food more effiently. The powerhead helps distribute the smell of the food in the aquarium.
Dwarf shrimp that live in rivers and creeks usually try to stay in areas where there is not much to no current. After all they are not streamlined and don't want to waste much energy holding on or swimming against the current. Macros usually live in rocky areas, so they can always retreat either behind or under a rock if they want to get out of the current.
