filter and powerhead

[luckyc1423]

I have a magnum 350 filter...my friend is is somewhat experience with saltwater tanks mentioned most users use powerheads that move the water around...not real familiar with what he is talkin about....he said I shoudl buy a set of Koralia 3 or Koralia 4 powerheads. Would I use my current filter also with it or try and take my filter back as I have 30 days to do so....what exactly do the powerheads do and which setup would be better?

 

[roka64]

Personally, I like filters. I like to run purigen in mine. The filter probably won't give you enough flow. What sized tank?
The phs will give you more flow and surface ripple.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

I'd keep the magnum and use it for chemical filtration (carbon, purigen, etc). I'd then supplement the flow with a couple powerheads as your friend suggested. The powerheads just make current. You want random currents, versus one big circular current - like you'd get with just the output of the magnum. A good way to create random currents is to put a powerhead in the back corners of the tank, pointing towards the front center, kind of in a "V" pattern looking down from the top. Depending on your rockwork, you can bounce the flow from powerheads off your rockwork, or do bank shots off the side glass - anything to break up the flow and make it more chaotic. It'll take some experimenting but after a few tries you'll find something that works.

 

[luckyc1423]

well my magnum filter came apart while cleaning...so now i have to go get something else first thing tomorrow morning and take the magnum 350 back, i wasnt happy with it anyways....what should i get? power head/filter...??