Power Head

[Cirean]

I would like to introduce more water moverment in my tank (150 gallons). My question is can power heads be fully submersible (sp) I would like to hide the unit in the back somewhere, any suggestions on brands and types would be helpful. thx

[C'Man]

Sure. Power heads are made to be submersed. That's a good use for one.

[JSchmidt]

I've got several Penguin powerheads that are highly reliable.

I have a Rio that is junk -- it constantly is stopping for no apparent reason. I've heard similar reports on Rios from others, too.

I have a ZooMed Power Sweep (the nozzle automatically sweeps back and forth to distribute the circulation. The powerhead has been pretty reliable, but the sweep function will often stop for days at a time, then start working again for no reason.

If I were to buy a powerhead now, I'd either get a Penguin or try one of the new Eheim Aquaballs. I'm sure there are other good (and bad) powerheads out there, but these are one I've used.

Jim

[AikidoGuy]

Maxi jet power heads are tough enough to stay in the reefers tanks for years, so freshwater should be a vacation for them. and they are cheapest at www.marinedepot.com

[NJ Devils Fan]

I also have a maxi jet and I have absolutly no problems.

[Dr. Fishenstein]

I would suggest an Undergravel Jet system to provide water movement throughout the tank instead of from just one spot.

[JSchmidt]

An undergravel jet system may be a fun DIY project, but it is pretty much overkill if simple water circulation or something to power a UGF is all that's wanted. Probably rates right up there with a UV sterilizer in terms of actual necessity.

Jim

[goldfish freak]

Check out this thread, I am quite sure this is what he is talking about. http://64.191.28.50/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2532

[goldfish freak]

It looks like you found it already.

[superstein61]

I would also recommend the Maxi-jets - all the saltwater folks at wetwebmedia love them



Originally posted by JSchmidt
An undergravel jet system may be a fun DIY project, but it is pretty much overkill if simple water circulation or something to power a UGF is all that's wanted. Probably rates right up there with a UV sterilizer in terms of actual necessity.

Jim

Actually Jim, having built one - I disagree. First, you can make one of these things pretty simple (mine cost less than $5 and took about 15 minutes to make) - and second, rather than having one powerhead pushing flow in a certain area, the undergravel jet can help disperse it to 3 or more spots throughout the tank. So IMO you get better, more even flow thru the tank

Now, if the zoo-med rotating powerheads were reliable in terms of rotating, then I would agree a bit more with you. But unless you want to have several low force powerheads spread thru your tank, I think a jet system works better for overall water circulation than a single fixed powerhead. Just my opinion

Oh - I guess one caveat I should mention is I am talking using them in a BIG tank - ie mine's in my 72 gallon. They would indeed be overkill in a 20 gallon.

[AntmanMike]

Could i use a powerhead as a water pump for a DIY filter?

[NJ Devils Fan]

Yea, I don't see why not.

[JSchmidt]

Originally posted by superstein61
Actually Jim, having built one - I disagree. First, you can make one of these things pretty simple (mine cost less than $5 and took about 15 minutes to make) - and second, rather than having one powerhead pushing flow in a certain area, the undergravel jet can help disperse it to 3 or more spots throughout the tank. So IMO you get better, more even flow thru the tank



I guess I just don't see that they're necessary... with even half-decent filter outlet placement, I don't see flow through the tank as being a significant problem. For example, I occasionally add Aragamilk to several of my mbuna tanks. Aragmilk is... well... milky when you add it. After it's added, you can easily see the current flows in the tank. I'm always surprised how quickly and evenly the stuff is dispersed after adding it. In these tanks, what advantage would I see by adding the jet system?

I'm not just playing devil's advocate, I'm really intersted. I love to fiddle with new gadgets, but unless there's some demonstrable benefit to my fish or reduction in my work, I generally won't bother.

Thanks,
Jim

[JSchmidt]

Originally posted by AntmanMike
Could i use a powerhead as a water pump for a DIY filter?

It would really depend on how far the water needs to be lifted (the head) to the filter (or from it) to get the water back to the tank. Most powerheads are designed to push water, not lift it. You might do better with a pump specifically designed for the purpose. Probably wouldn't cost more... maybe just a bit more.

Jim

[beviking]

Originally posted by JSchmidt
... Probably rates right up there with a UV sterilizer in terms of actual necessity.

Darn! I'll have to send the 3 I ordered back! The guy on the phone sounded so convincing...:rolleyes:

[JSchmidt]

Did he get you to let him toss in a couple bottles of Tetra's EasyBalance, too?

:D

Jim

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Dr. Fishenstein
I would suggest an Undergravel Jet system to provide water movement throughout the tank instead of from just one spot. I may attempt that the next time I tear down the tank. I don't want too much flow, so it must be variable.

Thanks on the suggestions on the Maxi Jet powerhead. I have 'slow zone' - almost no water movement at all on one side of my tank and I migh get a powerhead to 'fix' that..

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by JSchmidt
....or something to power a UGF is all that's wanted. Probably rates right up there with a UV sterilizer in terms of actual necessity.

Jim Glad my UV sterilizer is going.... I love overkill for cleaner water..:D

[beviking]

Originally posted by JSchmidt
Did he get you to let him toss in a couple bottles of Tetra's EasyBalance, too?

:D

Jim

Yeah! Bottles? He said it only came in gallon jugs!!!:confused: He he he he!

[Skittyfish]

Thread hijack---can you put a powerhead in without anything filtering it? All the way down (close to gravel but not in, duh)?

[damion]

That's what I'm using my penguin for, just to circulate the h2o near the bottom.

[superstein61]

Originally posted by JSchmidt


I guess I just don't see that they're necessary... with even half-decent filter outlet placement, I don't see flow through the tank as being a significant problem. For example, I occasionally add Aragamilk to several of my mbuna tanks. Aragmilk is... well... milky when you add it. After it's added, you can easily see the current flows in the tank. I'm always surprised how quickly and evenly the stuff is dispersed after adding it. In these tanks, what advantage would I see by adding the jet system?

I'm not just playing devil's advocate, I'm really intersted. I love to fiddle with new gadgets, but unless there's some demonstrable benefit to my fish or reduction in my work, I generally won't bother.

Thanks,
Jim


Jim, well it will depend on the tank, filters, etc - and unfortunately I don't have any great scientific data to support my theory - just my observations.

In my 72 gallon, I have a wet/dry sump with a corner overflow. My return thus comes up in the left corner at the top of the tank. I wanted more circulation at the bottom of the tank which is why I made my underwater jet system.

From my observations, I find much less gunk on the bottom of the tank to vacuum than I did in other tanks - and more importantly, I find my fish enjoy the jet system very much (different ones interact with it in different manners). the force is not enough to blow a fish away that a single powerhead may do - but it does create current in the tank at the gravel level that several species love to frolic in

Now if I had multiple filter returns and positioned them differently, maybe the same results would occur - I don't know

But I do find the jet system beneficial in my existing setup.
Again, nothing scientific - just conjecture based on my observations