powerhead?

cmar

cmar

AC Members
May 18, 2007
200
0
0
hey!
another dumb question from a newbie.How important are power heads in a fowlr set-up? I have a 55 gal. w/ @ 30 lbs live rock, and 1" sand. AQUA CLEAR 300 h.o.b, and a sea clown 100 (junk) skimmer. No problems yet, (except for 'trates @ 20), Set-up approx 4 months, 2 damsels, 1 clown, 3 turbos. Do I need a powerhead? Or should I invest in something else for circulation? What are the powerheads primary functions?
thanks!
 
Powerheads are there to help keep your water moving, and to help keep deadspots from forming. Some fish also like to swim in the outflow from the powerheads.

There are more reasons, I just wanted to give you a quick few.
 
One of main reasons, as noted above is circulation...

We need circulation in the aquarium to detrius and food particles, to name a few, are suspended in the water column ready to removed by filtration. Without flow, or inadequate flow, detrius and food would build up in areas of the tank which will lead to elevated nitrates and phosphates, which will lead to bad algae growth...which of course, is what we do not want in the tank...

As the filter is your only source for water filtration ( 300 gph ), i would personally add a powerhead as you want to be aiming for around about 550 gph water circulation ( 10 x water circulation per hour )...


Niko
 
thanks guys, thats what i figured, but wasn't sure. Are they better than a wave maker?
 
too much?

atnixon said:
you want to be aiming for around about 550 gph water circulation ( 10 x water circulation per hour )...


Niko
Click to expand...

I have a 75g tank with a Tom Rapids Pro PS3 which is a 1,000 gph pump and a Penguin powerhead/sponge filter @ 170 gph. The PS3 does not add much surface agitation because it sits low and is not very adjustable. Is being well over the 10 x guildline a potential issue?
 
arpy said:
I have a 75g tank with a Tom Rapids Pro PS3 which is a 1,000 gph pump and a Penguin powerhead/sponge filter @ 170 gph. The PS3 does not add much surface agitation because it sits low and is not very adjustable. Is being well over the 10 x guildline a potential issue?
Click to expand...

no, not at all mate...they are just basic guidelines. As, for example, the flow rate for a reef is 25 x water circulation, which is conciderably higher...

Niko
 
What about wave makers that are attached to powerheads?
 
I have not seen a wave maker. I'm only a few days into this hobby :)
I'll check at my lfs next time I make the trip. It would have to be some sort of clip on piece for me to use with the PS3 head.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom