Power head as sump/fuge return pump???

[barnsaw]

Okay, here's the deal, I've been toying with the idea of setting up a planted sump/fuge for 29g community tank in the underside of the cabinet. From what I'm gathering water flow out of the tank would be overflow down to the HEAVILY planted 10g and I was wondering if a powerhead would suffice to act as a return pump. I know that the specs rate it at 145 gph however I am unsure what the head rating is. <see I've been reading before hand :)>. Anyways, anybody have any experience along these lines I would most definately appreciate and bow to any wisdom you may be able to share.

Thanks

[TEL]

I use a 2000 l/hr power head in my sump at a 1m return to tank and it also runs the uv.

[Ajordan]

before I had a python I would use a power head as a pump to help move water from the bucket back to the tank. In my experience, they lose a lot of flow with much head at all. One of those high volume/low pressure situations (again, based on my experience and some light reading).

[Quartermain]

Hi Barnsaw. Yes, you can most certainly use a powerhead as a pump. I have on many occasions since I own more powerheads than pumps.. sometimes you just have no chioce. Unfortunately there's really no way to tell what the max. head will be by the gph rating (which is measured with zero head) as each manufacturer and model will vary. All you can do is put it in a bucket plug it in and test it.