HELp what POwerhead?

pufferfish

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Apr 5, 2005
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My tank is 40 gallon, 4 inch sanbed, 50 lbs of live rock. I'm having very much trouble with powerheads.

I'm thinkin of 1 in each of the back corners but how many GPH?

I kinda want one that will rotate 90 degrees back and forth? (in the corner) Or do those cost too much ... or can all power heads do this?... or is the rotation just unnecesary (i got the idea when i saw it at the lfs)..
 
I have not used them myself but I had a friend who had problems with the Zoo Med Power Sweeps. I think you would be ok with a pair of maxi-jet 900 that would give you about 11.6 gph of flow per gal. It also depends of if you are going FO, FOWLR, or REEF you may need less or more accordingly.
 
Ah yes i am going REEF. a nice semi circle wall of LR with a center piece rock.

follow up question: do all power heads rotate? or unnecessary? how much more do they cost,
 
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i would use two hagen P.H 201's each rated for 20 gal,,dont get the sweep kind from azoo they jam up real easy (that was a dissapinting b-day preasent)

the hagen 201 is very quiet and reliable
 
no not all rotate but i would skip those azoo power sweeps (the only rotators i know) mine was very unreliable,,the sweeping mechanism gets jammed when dirty
 
That hagan appears to need to be attached to an undergravel filter?

I need two to stick onto the back two walls (corner)

WAit, two 20 gal for a 40 gal tank?



I also read something about a rotating diverter? just a piece that pivots infront of it.
 
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The hagens can be mounted with suction cups or can be hung from the side of the tank. With two 201s, you'll get about 250 gph max, I'd suggest going up to two 301s, or more. I prefer more than 10X turnover per hour.

The rotating diverter you're thinking about is the Hydor (note spelling), which will go on the output of most powerheads. I bought one, and should try it out some time. Seems like a reasonable principle.
 
If i just get the two power heads, Which way should i point them?
 
with sand in the tank you want to be carefull what size power head you have as it can ser up the sand bed a little if you can get a power head that you can adjust the flow so you can adjust the curent to your needs like the eiden 328 adjustable flow rates from 250 Lph to 1000Lph would be ideal for about 30 usd not bad value..
 
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