Best Powerheads?
- Thread starter jpardi
- Start date
keith burn
Active Member
one word VorTech
the vortech Propeller Pump imo the best
the vortech Propeller Pump imo the best
kingfish8302
Member
i would say the Koralia line of powerheads becuase of thier size and very little heat output to the tank. I just go 2 of them and the are smaller in size compared to other phs. Maxijets are good too.
What do you plan on keeping in your tank???
What do you plan on keeping in your tank???
salty blues
Active Member
I use a maxi-jet 1200 on my skimmer & another in my DT for flow. They are reliable & affordable.
keith burn
Active Member
the next best imo is Hydor Koralia 1to4
rcoultas
Member
Originally Posted by SCSInet
How much do you want to spend? There is the best powerheads in the standard price range ($15-40 or so - my favorite here is Maxi-Jet) and then there are the Ferraris... like the Tunze and Vortech stuff in the severla hundred dollar range.
I say this sums it up best - there are cost efficient ph's and then there are the top of the line ones - it's all individual budget and preference. IMO
How much do you want to spend? There is the best powerheads in the standard price range ($15-40 or so - my favorite here is Maxi-Jet) and then there are the Ferraris... like the Tunze and Vortech stuff in the severla hundred dollar range.
I say this sums it up best - there are cost efficient ph's and then there are the top of the line ones - it's all individual budget and preference. IMO
kingfish8302
Member
both are in the same ballpark range for price. One problem with maxijet sometimes it makes micro bubbles for me.
Originally Posted by JPardi
Not to sure on how much to spend, whats the differances between a maxijet and a korilia? How many should I have? I'm thinking I want to make it a reef tank, not 100% sure yet.
Thank you for the responses
Originally Posted by JPardi
Not to sure on how much to spend, whats the differances between a maxijet and a korilia? How many should I have? I'm thinking I want to make it a reef tank, not 100% sure yet.
Thank you for the responses
scsinet
Active Member
Not to sure on how much to spend, whats the differances between a maxijet and a korilia? How many should I have? I'm thinking I want to make it a reef tank, not 100% sure yet.
Powerheads fall into two main categories. First, you have centrifugal design. These work like a standard pump, with an impeller in a circular housing. These work well, and are dirt cheap. Funnily enough, there is not much cost variance between crap powerheads and good powerheads of this design. In this category, I would wager that the vast majority of users would agree that Maxi-Jet is the best out there.
The pros of this design are:
- Cost
- It's an old technology so units are generally very reliable
- They have moderate pressure capabilities so you can drive little stuff like UV units, HOB fuges, etc with them.
Cons
- They create a very high velocity stream of water that can rip corals apart that are placed too close.
- The flow rate is pretty low... few hundred GPH usually.
Second, you have the propeller style. These work like a ship's propeller to move water. They have a much larger opening and move incredibly huge amounts of water.
Pros
Very high water volume... can be over 1000gph
Flow spread over a large output orfice, allowing much more distributed flow
Cons
Cost
New technology... units are expensive and sometimes buggy.
The Koralia is the one exception to this. These units are inexpensive prop style units... about 40-60 bucks each. They work well, but older units had a reputation for electrical problems. They have a nice magnetic mount that works very well. I have purchased four of these for my new tank project, looking forward to using them.
Hope this helps clarify it.
Powerheads fall into two main categories. First, you have centrifugal design. These work like a standard pump, with an impeller in a circular housing. These work well, and are dirt cheap. Funnily enough, there is not much cost variance between crap powerheads and good powerheads of this design. In this category, I would wager that the vast majority of users would agree that Maxi-Jet is the best out there.
The pros of this design are:
- Cost
- It's an old technology so units are generally very reliable
- They have moderate pressure capabilities so you can drive little stuff like UV units, HOB fuges, etc with them.
Cons
- They create a very high velocity stream of water that can rip corals apart that are placed too close.
- The flow rate is pretty low... few hundred GPH usually.
Second, you have the propeller style. These work like a ship's propeller to move water. They have a much larger opening and move incredibly huge amounts of water.
Pros
Very high water volume... can be over 1000gph
Flow spread over a large output orfice, allowing much more distributed flow
Cons
Cost
New technology... units are expensive and sometimes buggy.
The Koralia is the one exception to this. These units are inexpensive prop style units... about 40-60 bucks each. They work well, but older units had a reputation for electrical problems. They have a nice magnetic mount that works very well. I have purchased four of these for my new tank project, looking forward to using them.
Hope this helps clarify it.
walkerbrody
Member
I use 2 sureflow modded maxi-jets in my 110. They put out arround 1600 gph. They also work on a wave timer.
S
swalchemist
Guest
The best powered hands down IMO are TUNZE powerheads. In particular for your tank I would recommend either a Nanostream 6045(noncontrolable) or a 6055(controlable). Why do I suggest these pumps? It takes one Nanostream 6045 to equal the output of 5 Maxijet 1200s. I have tested them side by side with a Koralia 4 as well guess which one easily won. The 6045 also only uses and thus emits 8 watts of heat into your tank whereas the Maxijets will be pouring over 80 watts into your system. Koralia are cheaper true, but IMO you get what you pay for. Vortex? I could not tell you as I know no one who has one personally. I do however know a lot of people with TUNZE in there tanks including myself, the same pump running for well over 4 years now.
