Power Head?

[djcanis]

Can someone explain what is ment by powerhead?

 

[birdy]

It is basically a small water pump you put in your tank for current. They are made to be totally submerged, they suck water in and push it out.

 

[djcanis]

so if my filter is creating a good current I wont need one? And do I need an air pump, like the freshwater setups, or will the airaiting caused by the filter be enough.

 

[keonia]

TO my understanding, the Powerhead serves as
1. to simulate the ocean - waves like current
2. Most importantly -- circulation.
When you get a salt water fish tank, I've been told to not use the Undergravel system and no need for an airpump as Fresh water tanks use.
Depending on your tank size, there are different strengths and possibly someone can shed more light on this -- I m not for sure!

:jumping:

 

[djcanis]

The hang on filter I have creates a pretty strong current in my tank. I was feeding live brine and within seconds they were throuhgout the tank, it's the same now with the frozen. The water in my tank is definatly moving, do I stil need one? It's only a 30 gal.

 

[birdy]

What type of filter?
For the most part the answer is no, most filters only circulate water at the top of the aquarium, like Keonia said, you want to simulate current, so the powerheads are pushed into the middle part of the aquarium usually they are directed into the rockwork to disperse the flow of the water.

 

[djcanis]

Wisper, but I dont have the tank full to the top, theres a 1 inch gap or so between the filter edge and the water line. You can see the water moving almost all the way to the bottom of the tank

 

[djcanis]

see the bubbles off to the left, you can see smaller ones travel from there all around the tank, the only spot is the far back corner behind the big piece of LR

 

[djcanis]

sorry about that

 

[birdy]

not sure what size tank that is, but typically you need at least two powerheads at opposite ends of the tank moving water.
Just think about how the water in the ocean moves, lots of waves and currents, constant water movement.
Also looks like you need more LR or baserock.