Powerhead needed?

[bortsamson]

Hey all, just got myself into the fish community (no pun intended) . I started off with a 5g Starter kit, big mistake as I read and experienced. So.....I now have a 50g tank, much nicer, looks better, the whole bit. Now, my question is, is something like a powerhead required for that big? Currently it has a Penguin 330 and a smaller power filter that I grabbed off the 5g.

I have read around everywhere that having a current in the tank is better all around for everything, so I am askin

 

[bortsamson]

another question, the tank is all white with......something. Now, I have monitored the water chemistry since I got it and noticed the ammonia and nitrate/nitrite levels have dropped ALOT since i got it first filled it. Now, I thought I was all good and then like almost overnight it got all crappy looking, is this normal? I have started daily water changes and it is helping to clear it bit by bit. Should I just keep up the changes and it will go away, or is this a normal phase that will clear up?

btw.
2 neons (alot of deaths, now I know why!! )
4 black skirt tetras (been there since the 5g and going strong)
2 gold skirt tetras
7 Zebra Danios (one is actually leopard spotted)
1 Pleco
and a bottom feeder catfish I cant remember offhand

 

[OrionGirl]

I am in favor of using powerheads in most tanks--anything above about ten gallons, and especially if it is a very tall tank. Powerheads allow you to target areas for current, and prevent 'daed spots'--areas with little to no water movement. Dead spots cause problems in several ways. First, solid wastes tend to collect in these areas. The wastes are in effect trapped here, and the filter can't remove the solids from the water column. This can lead to a variety of problems related to water quality--nitrate spikes, ammonia/nitrites spikes in extreme situations, snails population booms and algae blooms. Second, low flow areas tend to be the first to run out of oxygen--not a good thing for plants or fish.

I add powerheads to every new setup, and then monitor the tank and adjust their flow rate and direction as needed.