powerhead help!

D

dewilde2

Illinifish
Aug 8, 2006
253
0
0
43
St Louis
When I bought my first tank, I bought it used and it came with everything. It took me a long time to figure out what everything was, and I eventually determined everything and got it all working. A powerhead was included but I was told I didn't need it so I didn't use it.
Now that I have my new 46 g set up, and will have several rainbows in it, I have been advised to use one. I have no idea how to really use it, why I need it, etc. I attached it to the inside of the tank, and kept the top of it out of the water, plugged it in and it worked- blew a bunch of water around I guess. I am not sure if they are submersible or not, and mine doesn't have any info with it. It seemed sort of loud, and almost sounded like it wasn't producing a regular stream, so i unplugged it.
Can anyone give me some advice on using and getting these guys to work?
And also, if I have the powerhead going, do I need an airstone?
Thanks!
 
Currently I am running both a biowheel from my old 29g until things get settled, as well as a Fluval 304 cannister filter.
I have been reading up and it says you shouldn't have an airstone near the cannister, so I turned mine off for now. This is my first cannister filter as well so I'm still getting it figured out:-)
 
powerheads are completely submersible.

who advised you to use it and what was the reasoning behind it?
 
The guy at the LFS- I was talking to him about rainbows and he said that they loved lots of current- he said that if I was using a cannister that would probably be fine, but also if I wanted to use a powerhead that would help too, plus provide some aeration.

I have read some online reviews of the particular powerhead I have and they aren't very good (everybody complained about noise). I guess I could try sticking mine all the way underwater and see if that helps, but I'm a little scare!

I've got the cannister up and running. I noticed that the cannister sounded sorta funny, but then I read that the airstone shouldn't be feeding air into the intake tube, whcih it was. So I turned it off. Should I just stick with a regular air pump and airstone placed in a non-interfering location OR invest in a new powerhead? I assume I need one or the other. Thanks!
 
dewilde2 said:
The guy at the LFS- I was talking to him about rainbows and he said that they loved lots of current- he said that if I was using a cannister that would probably be fine, but also if I wanted to use a powerhead that would help too, plus provide some aeration.

I have read some online reviews of the particular powerhead I have and they aren't very good (everybody complained about noise). I guess I could try sticking mine all the way underwater and see if that helps, but I'm a little scare!

I've got the cannister up and running. I noticed that the cannister sounded sorta funny, but then I read that the airstone shouldn't be feeding air into the intake tube, whcih it was. So I turned it off. Should I just stick with a regular air pump and airstone placed in a non-interfering location OR invest in a new powerhead? I assume I need one or the other. Thanks!
Click to expand...
If your filteration system is adequate for your tank size then it should provide all of the oxygen,airation, and current you need as well as all the filtering needs necessary for your system. Powerheads are generally not needed but people use them to increase the GPH in the water so the water is being turned over more times in an hour. The airstone thing is more for looks then anything else because people like to see bubbles in the water and sometimes the fish like to play in the stream of bubbles too. Again, it is generally not needed. Your filter should be providing all the current or flow necessary for your tank. If you still want to use a powerhead, they are as far as I know they are always completely sumergable and should be completely under the surface of the water. If yours is above the water I would assume that is why you are having a noise issue. I have some rainbows in my 125 that has two canister filters running on it as well as an excellent HOB filter from the aqua clear series and they provide plenty of current for my rainbows. I do not run any powerheads in the tank and they are just fine, happy, and content for a long time now. I really think you can get away without running a powerhead or airstone for them.

Marinemom
 
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