Powerheads

[fishfreak1242]

I have a 55 gal. tank that is fully cycled all of my parameters are fine and I decided to buy some powerheads because my first fish died out of nowhere and I didnt know why. So i bought two aquaclear 30 powerheads and I put them in the tank one is in the middle and the other is on the other side at the top. But then my friend who also has a marine tank told me that there was way too much power when the powerheads said that it is for 10-30 gals each and my friend doesnt have powerheads and his tank is fine. My question is are powerheads neccessary and how is my friends tank still running with almost no problems at all?!??!?

 

[buckeye88]

Yeah, they're necessary, especially if you have corals. I two that size in my 16 gal reef tank and it's flourishing. You still need powerheads even if it's fish only though. I'm not sure about all the reasons why but one good reason is that it will help prevent cyano bacteria and you fish will be healthier than if they're placed in stagnent water. I'm not an expert but I really don't think you have too much flow.

 

[trigger11]

Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
I have a 55 gal. tank that is fully cycled all of my parameters are fine and I decided to buy some powerheads because my first fish died out of nowhere and I didnt know why. So i bought two aquaclear 30 powerheads and I put them in the tank one is in the middle and the other is on the other side at the top. But then my friend who also has a marine tank told me that there was way too much power when the powerheads said that it is for 10-30 gals each and my friend doesnt have powerheads and his tank is fine. My question is are powerheads neccessary and how is my friends tank still running with almost no problems at all?!??!?
You can never really have too much flow. The more the better though if you plan on keeping any corals. I would suggest having one PH on each end of the tank and aim them at each other.

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by Buckeye88
Yeah, they're necessary, especially if you have corals. I two that size in my 16 gal reef tank and it's flourishing. You still need powerheads even if it's fish only though. I'm not sure about all the reasons why but one good reason is that it will help prevent cyano bacteria and you fish will be healthier than if they're placed in stagnent water. I'm not an expert but I really don't think you have too much flow.
But are they nessecary if you dont want corals?

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by Buckeye88
Yeah, they're necessary, especially if you have corals. I two that size in my 16 gal reef tank and it's flourishing. You still need powerheads even if it's fish only though. I'm not sure about all the reasons why but one good reason is that it will help prevent cyano bacteria and you fish will be healthier than if they're placed in stagnent water. I'm not an expert but I really don't think you have too much flow.
But do you have to have them if you dont want corals?

 

[tropills]

flow creates water movement ,in turn creating oxygen, this will also help with gas exchange at the surface to help stabilize your pH level

 

[rcreations]

Too much flow is certainly not a good thing. Don't go over 20x your tank's volume per hour. Like if you have a 10gal, your flow should not go over 200 gal/hr. Also, it's better to have multiple powerheads or flow sources, rather than just one huge source. I've learned my lesson just recently and should have listened to some of the books I read. But no harm was done and now I know.
Currently I have a 60 gal and about 1200 gal/hr, combined from 2 powerheads, plus my sump return. All my corals were very happy with this flow, fully open, multiplying. But then I went ahead and bought this Tunze Turbelle Stream that does 1600 gal/hr. Can never have too much right?

So I put in in on one side of the tank and turn it on. Within a few seconds, sand starts flying around, my corals close. Quickly I turn it off and everything is happy once again.

So I learned my lesson... good flow is important but don't overdo it.

 

[swalchemist]

"Too much flow is certainly not a good thing. Don't go over 20x your tank's volume per hour. "
Wrong answer and serious bad advice, I run nearly 75X per hour in my 120 and everything is fine. SPS tanks thrive in this kind of flow. None of my systems even fish only run anywhere below 40 times turnover and they flourish.
You learned nothing about flow. Of course your coral shut up, they were not used to real flow which is what you gave them, they have to get used to it just like higher lighting. Leave it on for several days and watch what happens. You also need to be sure and place your stream in an appropriate place on the right or left side and point it at the tank front at a 45 degree angle. You also only want the stream just under the surface enough to prevent a vortex event. You do not realize the full power of high flow just yet

 

[rcreations]

I think instead of taking my word for it or some other persons word, you should buy some books and do some research on water flow. Most important do some research on the kind of flow these fish and corals get in the ocean. Some are deep water which don't get so much flow, others are shallow water (live closer to the top) which get more flow. Simply blasting everything with the most over the top flow isn't the answer.
Look into Natural Reef Aquariums by John Tullock and some other books recommended here:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/264597/a-list-of-extremely-helpful-threads-for-all-hobbyists

 

[swalchemist]

Your #1 mistake was you used a non-controlled model and judged flow as flow. There are many types of flow, pulsed is far superior as it induces a vast amount of random chaotic currents which coral and fish benefit from, there is no disputing that. The bad thing about a non-controlled pump is that it can only create flow in one direction 24/7 so unless it bouncing off of an obstacle or another wake from another powerhead you get straight non-variant water flow. I agree do some research but understand this much, there are only a hand full of coral that do not thrive in high flow systems. If you intend to keep coral buy a good book that explains the habitats of your selected animals. The only true way you can really learn in this hobby is by observation, books, forums are OK but experience will teach you far more. Seek out a local reef club in your area and you will learn more in one day than in months of searching on line. That or you can just read my book when it comes out next year

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by SWAlchemist
Your #1 mistake was you used a non-controlled model and judged flow as flow. There are many types of flow, pulsed is far superior as it induces a vast amount of random chaotic currents which coral and fish benefit from, there is no disputing that. The bad thing about a non-controlled pump is that it can only create flow in one direction 24/7 so unless it bouncing off of an obstacle or another wake from another powerhead you get straight non-variant water flow. I agree do some research but understand this much, there are only a hand full of coral that do not thrive in high flow systems. If you intend to keep coral buy a good book that explains the habitats of your selected animals. The only true way you can really learn in this hobby is by observation, books, forums are OK but experience will teach you far more. Seek out a local reef club in your area and you will learn more in one day than in months of searching on line. That or you can just read my book when it comes out next year
I have two aquaclear 30 power heads. It says that it pumps out 175 gph each and it is for 10-30 gals of water. Is that enough? I dont have any corals or anenemones yet. I just have a FOWLR.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
I have two aquaclear 30 power heads. It says that it pumps out 175 gph each and it is for 10-30 gals of water. Is that enough? I dont have any corals or anenemones yet. I just have a FOWLR.
That is not too much flow for a 55 gal. The LR & fish all benefit from water movement; it is very natural on the reef. I have much more flow than this (PHs, HOB filters, skimmer, etc) in my 55 "retro" and the fish thrive. Water movement is also a good way to be sure food is distributed to territorial & shy fish. Before LR came along; undergravel filters and PHs were the norm. I'm talking about FOWLR tanks; I completely agree with SWAlchemist's suggestion to do some serious reading before going "reef". IMO, "do some serious reading" should be the top sticky on our forum.

 

[apos]

I just got an aquaclear 50.... but I don't quite get it. Nothing in the package included anything to protect the intake so that snails and fish couldn't be sucked up into it and killed. The only thing I can find reference to is some add on filter or making it into an undergravel filter: but I don't really want a filter, I want a powerhead. That's what it said on the box, after all. Any suggestions as to how to make the intake fish-safe, or am I missing something?
My setup (purchased from a SW enthusiast who had to move and couldn't have a tank in new apartment) has pvc piping all around the rim of the tank with holes in the corner and on the length. This seems to drive water downwards (at an angle) and create decent currents (even near the bottom I can see stuff floating around in currents, though there may be some dead spots)
Are "dead spots" possible areas of higher than normal concentrations of nitrate water?

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by Apos
I just got an aquaclear 50.... but I don't quite get it. Nothing in the package included anything to protect the intake so that snails and fish couldn't be sucked up into it and killed. The only thing I can find reference to is some add on filter or making it into an undergravel filter: but I don't really want a filter, I want a powerhead. That's what it said on the box, after all. Any suggestions as to how to make the intake fish-safe, or am I missing something?
My setup (purchased from a SW enthusiast who had to move and couldn't have a tank in new apartment) has pvc piping all around the rim of the tank with holes in the corner and on the length. This seems to drive water downwards (at an angle) and create decent currents (even near the bottom I can see stuff floating around in currents, though there may be some dead spots)
Are "dead spots" possible areas of higher than normal concentrations of nitrate water?
If you bought it used, you won't have all the brackets, suction cups, strainers(to keep fish out) etc, that come with the PH. The "add on filter" may work; probably a sponge, right? If so, clean it often.You could check online stores parts dept, get your lfs to look thru his junk box, or start from scratch. Phs are cheap, especially online. Dead spots will have nothing to do with nitrates; but anywhere crud is allowed to accumulate can be a potential nitrate factory.

 

[sinner's g]

Originally Posted by tropills
flow creates water movement ,in turn creating oxygen, this will also help with gas exchange at the surface to help stabilize your pH level
what he said!
I don't have one in my 20, because the filter is enough. but in my 75gl i'll have one, I don't have corals.
You want water movement. It'll also help prevent a film on the top of your water.

 

[apos]

I didn't buy it used though. I bought it new, still in the plastic, and it seems like their latest powerhead line. There's no mention of any strainers on the inside instructions, so I feel like I'm totally missing something here. They even have a diagram of it running as a powerhead with no strainer, which seems positively homicidal unless I'm misunderstanding how it works.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by Apos
I didn't buy it used though. I bought it new, still in the plastic, and it seems like their latest powerhead line. There's no mention of any strainers on the inside instructions, so I feel like I'm totally missing something here. They even have a diagram of it running as a powerhead with no strainer, which seems positively homicidal unless I'm misunderstanding how it works.
I've used a lot of Aqua-Clear filters and powerheads; they seem to run trouble-free for ever. But, unless they've changed them, their PHs are really made to fit into under-gravel filter lift tubes. If you post this in the equipment section (with a photo, if possible); I'll bet someone can help you find a way to convert this to just a circulation pump. I'm sure there are some sponge pre-filters that could be adapted.

 

[swalchemist]

You may need to make you an inlet strainer. You can do that by using a plastic tube or PVC the same diameter as the strainer. Drill holes in it or cut several slits to allow intake. Work with any powerhead missing it's guards. If you are doing FOWLR which I suggest for most newbies you will get a feel of what your tank will need. You will also learn some of what it will take to keep a reef even if your not trying to as both FOWLR and reefs require a basis of balance to survive. You could add over 1000 Gph and have a healthy system. In the beginning before I bought my Tunzes I used Maxi Jet 1200s, I had about 5 in my 55 and I thought I had flow LOL. Your perspectives change a lot in this hobby but treat it with respect and it can reward you.

 

[apos]

Thanks!
I am so far away from your level of flow it isn't funny. I have a sump return pumping into a PVC "rim" with about five holes in different places, and now this one 50 powerhead. No corals yet though, so it probably isn't as crucial at this point.

 

[swalchemist]

It's not, remember most of us did not go out and start buying the best equipment from the start so taking your time and learning what you will need for your own system is fine. Why you need water flow even in a fish only tank is to make sure the waste and detritus get blown up into the water column where your filtration (mechanical) can sift it out. Without strong currents the detritus can settle and cause problems (algae, cyano, diatoms, etc) This is why you want flow. Now with corals its this reason plus the fact that they need it to deliver food, and carry away waste. Oh and it's not just SW I recomend high flow for, I run over 1500 Gph on my 75 gallon frehwater plant system Tunze again of course LOL. That's your lesson for today, hope it helps.