View Full Version : What size air pump/powerhead
Heidyth
05-17-2003, 2:08 PM
Hello all,
I am doing research before getting and setting up a tank. I have been reading several websites and their zillions of forums. So much helpful information out there! I have decided to post my questions here. In all my research including the product websites I have seen nothing that recommends what size air pump and how to judge which powerhead. I am getting a 55 gallon tank. I know the air pump needs to be powerful due to size/depth of tank. But how powerful? The biggest one in the catalog? Or would that be for a 125 gal tank? I plan on using a powerhead for the undergravel filter so the pump will be for added aeration. (I want a bubble wall:)) What recommendations for a powerhead?
Thanks in advance.
Heidyth
Skittyfish
05-17-2003, 2:14 PM
Why are you going to have an Undergravel Filter? are you going to have plants? What type of fish are you going to have?
Most powerheads have a description that tells how many gallons they are recommended for.
It all depends on what you will have.
Oh, and welcome, I am sure you'll get a ton of answers.
And it's good to research first;) .
Heidyth
05-17-2003, 2:27 PM
I plan on having the ugf with a powerhead (All I have seen is exchanges per hour.) Plus an Emperor 400. I want really good filtration. I am not planning live plants. I've done a little research on them and get all lost in the co2 infussers and such. I think I'll learn about the fish for now. As for fish I want 3 clown loaches some dwarf gourami's (not sure on if I should get 2 or 3 yet still need to research them more. I also want a Boseman Rainbowfish and some black widow tetras. I am still researching the fish and their needs. So far they seem compatable with each other and water conditions. I will be asking more questions as time progresses.
brianfl
05-17-2003, 2:43 PM
With an Emperor 400, you shouldn't need a ugf especially with the stocking you plan to do. Also, with a 55 and an Emperor, you won't need an airpump, your current caused by the power filter whould give you plenty of aeration. If you want a bubble wand because you like the way the bubbles look, a small air pump will run that no problem. All those fish are compatible. You should get more than one bosemani rainbowfish, they are much happier in a group. I would recommend minimum of 4. The ugf will cause problems unless cleaned regularly and that is a difficult process at best. Dwarf gouramis will work with 2 or 3 without any problem.
Heidyth
05-17-2003, 2:59 PM
Brian,
Thanks for the info on the fish. Of course I would like other fish but don't know what and don't want to over crowd the tank. I keep going back and forth about the ugf. I have concluded that their are many differnt opinons. My thought is that you can't get to much filtration. I plan or getting a python to clean the gravel. The only concern I have had so far is that I have heard that if fry are born sometimes they make their way underneath the ugf. (I wondered how the fish I had years ago in a 10 gal got in the uptake tubes:D )
Skittyfish
05-17-2003, 6:00 PM
I had a UGF in the first 55 I had about 10 years ago. Mainly because it came with the set up. When we moved and I took it down, I couldn't believe all of the junk under the plates, and it stunk...badly. I was always good with vaccuuming and water changes, but it was still nasty!
I don't know about the Emperor 400 as I have an Eheim 2026 running on my 72g. I also have a penguin mini on my 10 g.
I say go with whatever you are comfotable with. I would invest in another Emperor instead of the UGF though.
OrionGirl
05-17-2003, 6:09 PM
A better option than running a standard UGF is to set one up with a reverse flow--the water is pushed up through the gravel, rather than down into it. This means the solid waste are kept in the water column until the power filter can suck it up. So you still get the benefits of a huge surface to the bacteria to grow on, but it's not as much trouble to maintain the gravel bed.
I'd go with 2 small powerheads for the UGF. If you don't go with the reverse flow option, you don't want huge powerheads, since that just means the solid waste is pulled deeper into the gravel bed, where it's harder for you to get in there and remove it.
Keep in mind that if you want to add plants later, the UGF will complicate it, and restrict what kind of plants you can easily keep.
Heidyth
05-18-2003, 5:15 PM
Ok I am getting back to the thought of NOT getting a ugf for all the reasons I came to this conclusion before. (Gee imagine, it was the lfs guy that had me thinking to get one.) So without a ugf do I need a powerhead? What kind of air pump.
Heidyth
05-18-2003, 5:23 PM
Ok I am getting back to the thought of NOT getting a ugf for all the reasons I came to this conclusion before. (Gee imagine, it was the lfs guy that had me thinking to get one.) So without a ugf do I need a powerhead? What kind of air pump.
Skittyfish
05-18-2003, 5:27 PM
If all you want the air pump for is a bubble curtain, then get whatever fits your budget. Go for a quiet one. You really only need a powerhead if you want a lot of water movement..ie. fish that like a lot of current. I have a small strictly to move the water around because my plants pretty much deaden the water from the spraybar, causing one side of the tank to have very very little current at all. My Kribs surf the water along with my Bristlenose pleco (she really likes it!).
I would just get what you are comfortable with right now. You can always pick up more later...get the main filter first, then worry about the rest after you get it all up and running.
Heidyth
06-18-2003, 1:29 PM
I have decided to go ugf less. I talked to a husbandry expert at the Newport aquarium where I will be volunteering and she was strong against them for all the smelly bad bacteria build up that has been discussed. So I wiil be going with either the emp 400 or maybe a fluval 304. I am just starting to learn about the cannisters but it will make it easier from what I have read if I want live plants later. So I am back to studying LOL.
brianfl
06-18-2003, 5:39 PM
I think you are doing great! Either a cannister or an Emp should satisfy your needs. I am glad you decided against the ugf as they can do more damage than good, ime. Have a great time with the fish, that is what it's all about.
125gJoe
06-20-2003, 4:23 AM
Originally posted by Skittyfish
I had a UGF.... ....., I couldn't believe all of the junk under the plates, and it stunk...badly. I was always good with vaccuuming and water changes, but it was still nasty!...... Exactly the problem I had with UGF's.. Even with good vacuuming - later on when time came to check under the plates - Ughhh :eek: ..What a 'crud storing device' it was... ! Never again, there are much better filters. (again...just my opinion - and some others' too.. :D )
Joe and others, I run a RFUGF (Reverse Flow Under Gravel Filter) which has been running about 9 months now. It has a sponge prefilter, but I am still concerned about the crud you mentioned.
Did any of you that switched from under gravel filters have a RFUGF? How old were your UGF's when you cleaned them out?
brianfl
06-20-2003, 6:56 AM
One of my ugfs was only 2 months old at most and I vaccuum weekly. I filter that tank with two Emp 400s. That was on a lightly stocked 120 (6-med gouramis, 1-7" plec, 1-6 "black shark). When I removed it, it was a complete mess.
Here is an interesting article. You should make your own decision but it does bring up some good points.
UGF Controversy (http://www.bestfish.com/ugfdlr.html)
Well, according to that excellent article, I am doing everything right, but I think I might move up to a canister in time.
125gJoe
06-23-2003, 9:59 AM
As much as I despise UGF's, I painstakingly 'skimmed' the article and found this statement, which to me, shows more proof of the bad side of UGF's...: "...They also release less crud back into the water column than the old fashioned method of stirring by hand while siphoning."
This 'crud release' would not happen if proper filtration is used in the first place...
:eek: