Hi so i have a question for you guys. So recently i decided that i am going to restart an old tank i had tank down about a year ago and i am making a custom filter because of the customization options.. So i was wondering what does air do when it hits the impeller of a powerhead? does it do anything to it other than shoot the air out or does it damage the unit... also what do you guys recomend for the best diy bio media?
Noob needs an answer please.....
- Thread starter scatman2397
- Start date
MattsCichlidPleco
Esotico Aquatics
I am into fish about 3 years and worked for a Machine shop for 5. I can help get you started...
Depending if your doing salt or fresh, Your impeller will not dysfunction b/c of air. These power head units are AWESOME for this reason. Also, the impeller is only affected by air when the air reaches the magnetized unit in the bottom inside the outer magnet that powers the turbine (Hence creating more friction and slowly wearing down the magnet within). The chances of this are slim unless your running a Salt water tank that can slowly rust out your power-head magnet. Even then its still a slim chance it will be affected. If you purchased a power-head from your local pet store this will not be the case. Usually only cheap units wear out from extensive use in a Salt set-ups.
A power-head could be ran into the tank directly, and tubed with clear tubing you can find at Home Depot or Lowes. If you don't want the clear hosing option, then use PVC. You can purchase Hot-Blue-Glue to adhere PVC quite easily and it wont leak for a very long time if at all. I have a guy that dose a lot of HVAC and uses nothing but PVC to create custom filter-box's and linked systems for salt and fresh.
Long story short, unless your Magnet is already worn down you wont have any problems with air running through your power-head. As long as the Air that is being sucked through the unit is not more than 40% of the water-flow your unit will run just fine. Just don't run 100% air through it obviously. I also have a power-head running a 55gal and a 50gal linked system and air shoots through the power-head in the bottom 50 all the time when it runs low of water. The only thing this will do is add more air to your water. How about that! Now your fish don't need an airline/air-pump now!
Hope this helped ya!
-Matt-
Depending if your doing salt or fresh, Your impeller will not dysfunction b/c of air. These power head units are AWESOME for this reason. Also, the impeller is only affected by air when the air reaches the magnetized unit in the bottom inside the outer magnet that powers the turbine (Hence creating more friction and slowly wearing down the magnet within). The chances of this are slim unless your running a Salt water tank that can slowly rust out your power-head magnet. Even then its still a slim chance it will be affected. If you purchased a power-head from your local pet store this will not be the case. Usually only cheap units wear out from extensive use in a Salt set-ups.
A power-head could be ran into the tank directly, and tubed with clear tubing you can find at Home Depot or Lowes. If you don't want the clear hosing option, then use PVC. You can purchase Hot-Blue-Glue to adhere PVC quite easily and it wont leak for a very long time if at all. I have a guy that dose a lot of HVAC and uses nothing but PVC to create custom filter-box's and linked systems for salt and fresh.
Long story short, unless your Magnet is already worn down you wont have any problems with air running through your power-head. As long as the Air that is being sucked through the unit is not more than 40% of the water-flow your unit will run just fine. Just don't run 100% air through it obviously. I also have a power-head running a 55gal and a 50gal linked system and air shoots through the power-head in the bottom 50 all the time when it runs low of water. The only thing this will do is add more air to your water. How about that! Now your fish don't need an airline/air-pump now!
Hope this helped ya!
-Matt-
cool, the tank is freshwater btw. the filter will be like this. powerhead on top connected to a tube that will be filled with, the biomedia you guys recommend, the some scouring pads.i will put the biomedia in an established tank i have so when i fill up the new tank it will basically be cycled. so the water will come in through the bottom of the tube go up through the mechanical filter (scouring pads from the dollar store) then through the biomedia you guys recommend the into the powerhead to be shot out back into the tank. i will also drill a hole into the tube to put the airline in so the beneficial bacteria will have oxygen. what do you think? I plan on using the aquaclear 20 powerhead to power all this. it has an output of 127 gph. will this be too strong for my ten gallon aquarium?
MattsCichlidPleco
Esotico Aquatics
I think it sounds great! You might want to try this with your airline tho so there are not ANY issues later on. Try attaching a small 2' tube of PVC to the end of the output (on your power-head that empty's into your tank) and drill your hole there! That way the water pressure breaks up the air bubbles before they even get a chance to leave the tube, creating an artificial surf. In my opinion, water pressure can never be too strong for a tank. Unless its connected to the side of the tank and is putting "physical" pressure on your glass and silicone seams from how fast its pushing water out... then yea you might have problems later. But all in all, this sounds like a great idea. I was just really surprised when you said this was a 10gal tank! If you did this for massive grow out on a 75gal, you would be raising fry faster than you would know what to do with! Sounds like an awesome idea to be honest! I have realized over time that power-heads seem to be like an active underwater treadmill for your fish. The more the pressure/flow the better your fish will do.
Cheers!
Cheers!
I agree with Matt, add the air line after the powerhead. It'll boost oxygen throughout the tank, and more importantly it'll be quieter. The turbulence from air hitting the impeller will cause more vibrations due to cavitation and air bubbles.
Also, if you plan on adding snails, you want to make sure that the holes you drill are as small as possible. Snails love to eat off of food grown in a healthy filter. Nothing is more annoying that hearing a snail shell grinding.
Also, if you plan on adding snails, you want to make sure that the holes you drill are as small as possible. Snails love to eat off of food grown in a healthy filter. Nothing is more annoying that hearing a snail shell grinding.
what do you guys think about crushed terracotta pots as a biological media in my filter? Have you ever used them and what has your expeirence been with them?
Terracotta is too loose a term these days. It used to mean clay. What's coming in from over seas is not all clay as we'd recognize it. The pots are still red, but when you break them open, the inside can be interesting.
The broken edges of terracotta clay will have tremendous surface area. The smooth parts essentially none as they are smooth from the mold.
Sifted broken bisque would be better (Un-glazed fired pottery) as it will have both surface and edge pores.
Pot scrubbers from the dollar store are most people choice these days for a bulk medium.
The broken edges of terracotta clay will have tremendous surface area. The smooth parts essentially none as they are smooth from the mold.
Sifted broken bisque would be better (Un-glazed fired pottery) as it will have both surface and edge pores.
Pot scrubbers from the dollar store are most people choice these days for a bulk medium.