do i need a powerhead? - Aquarium Advice

guitarded · 09-08-2004, 01:59 PM

i have a [acronym:157d37f4a7="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:157d37f4a7] 101 question...

i have a 75gal tank i would like to setup for [acronym:157d37f4a7="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:157d37f4a7] (i am a first timer) and i am researching the equipment i need (want?). at any rate, do i need a powerhead? i plan on starting with a [acronym:157d37f4a7="Fish only with live rock"]FOWLR[/acronym:157d37f4a7]. what is the purpose of the powerhead? is it for circulation? if so, how does this help the tank environment?

revhtree · 09-08-2004, 02:31 PM

Yes you do need [acronym:c875bbd38b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c875bbd38b]'s. I would say at least 2 to 3. Well I am sure there are some more scientific reasons as to why, but my reason is this. First it makes a more natural environment for the inhabitants, and keeps down stress levels. It also keeps food that you have fed blowing around until either it is eaten or picked up by the skimmer, or filter. [acronym:c875bbd38b="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:c875bbd38b]!

samwise · 09-08-2004, 02:32 PM

I'm relatively knew to [acronym:20953dc176="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:20953dc176] myself (about 4 months) but i'm pretty sure a powerhead is not only used for circulation but for water movement (flow).

revhtree · 09-08-2004, 02:32 PM

Oh forgot, it also helps keep algae down, and from settling as much on surfaces.

RocketSeason · 09-08-2004, 02:43 PM

Powerheads keep the watermovement and circulation high. You Ideally want a very chaotic waterflow. for a 75 gallon tank you will want a waterflow of 750-1500 [acronym:f81fce9a61="Gallons per hour"]gph[/acronym:f81fce9a61].

2 or 3 large Power Heads will do it!

Marine fish need alot of water movement, they are used to it in their natural environment and are stressed without it. Corals, sponges, anenomes and other inverts will die without a high amount of water movement.

I have a 37 gallon tank with a flow of somewhere around 450 [acronym:f81fce9a61="Gallons per hour"]GPH[/acronym:f81fce9a61].

Check out my gallery to see how I have placed My Powerhead oppisite the exit of my Canister Filter and both streams meet in the middle and create a chaotic flow.

guitarded · 09-08-2004, 05:21 PM

excellent. thanks for the informative replies.

RocketSeason... thanks for the reference to ur picture.

Atari · 09-08-2004, 06:23 PM

You also need good water movement within the tank for your [acronym:eb80eb41f1="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:eb80eb41f1] to work adequately as a biofilter.

09-08-2004, 01:59 PM	#1
guitarded Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hawaii Posts: 204	do i need a powerhead? i have a [acronym:157d37f4a7="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:157d37f4a7] 101 question... i have a 75gal tank i would like to setup for [acronym:157d37f4a7="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:157d37f4a7] (i am a first timer) and i am researching the equipment i need (want?). at any rate, do i need a powerhead? i plan on starting with a [acronym:157d37f4a7="Fish only with live rock"]FOWLR[/acronym:157d37f4a7]. what is the purpose of the powerhead? is it for circulation? if so, how does this help the tank environment?

09-08-2004, 02:31 PM	#2
revhtree Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rossville. Ga Posts: 4,047 Images: 1	Yes you do need [acronym:c875bbd38b="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c875bbd38b]'s. I would say at least 2 to 3. Well I am sure there are some more scientific reasons as to why, but my reason is this. First it makes a more natural environment for the inhabitants, and keeps down stress levels. It also keeps food that you have fed blowing around until either it is eaten or picked up by the skimmer, or filter. [acronym:c875bbd38b="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:c875bbd38b]! __________________ Remember to Keep Christ First! 120G - Deltec AP601 Skimmer - Reefkeeper2 - Geo 618 - (2)Tunze 6100 - Tunze 6212 Wave Box - (2) 250w MH's w/VHO

09-08-2004, 02:32 PM	#4
revhtree Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rossville. Ga Posts: 4,047 Images: 1	Oh forgot, it also helps keep algae down, and from settling as much on surfaces. __________________ Remember to Keep Christ First! 120G - Deltec AP601 Skimmer - Reefkeeper2 - Geo 618 - (2)Tunze 6100 - Tunze 6212 Wave Box - (2) 250w MH's w/VHO

09-08-2004, 02:43 PM	#5
RocketSeason Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2004 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 1,614 Images: 7	Powerheads keep the watermovement and circulation high. You Ideally want a very chaotic waterflow. for a 75 gallon tank you will want a waterflow of 750-1500 [acronym:f81fce9a61="Gallons per hour"]gph[/acronym:f81fce9a61]. 2 or 3 large Power Heads will do it! Marine fish need alot of water movement, they are used to it in their natural environment and are stressed without it. Corals, sponges, anenomes and other inverts will die without a high amount of water movement. I have a 37 gallon tank with a flow of somewhere around 450 [acronym:f81fce9a61="Gallons per hour"]GPH[/acronym:f81fce9a61]. Check out my gallery to see how I have placed My Powerhead oppisite the exit of my Canister Filter and both streams meet in the middle and create a chaotic flow. __________________ Hardware: 37 gallon [acronym:afe57201e8="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:afe57201e8] tank and stand by Oceanic Systems, Magnum 350 Pro Canister Filter (half carbon), CPR Bak Pak 2R skimmer, Maxijet 1200 Powerhead, RenaCal 150 W heater, Compact fluorescent lights with moonlights. 40 lbs of liverock, 3" sand bed. Software:2 Tank-Raised Ocellaris Clowns, 1 Purple Firefish, 1 Electric Orange hermit crab, 18 Blue Legged hermit crabs, 8 or so Nassarius snails, Xenia, Blue, green, and Green Striped Mushrooms. Click here to vote for AquariumAdvice.com: The friendliest, fishiest place on the net! Central Illinois Marane Aquarist (CIMA) member.

09-08-2004, 06:23 PM	#7
Atari Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,157 Images: 10	You also need good water movement within the tank for your [acronym:eb80eb41f1="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:eb80eb41f1] to work adequately as a biofilter. __________________ My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met. - Rodney Dangerfield. Click HERE to vote for Aquarium Advice!

09-08-2004, 02:32 PM	#3
samwise Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Columbus, Oh Posts: 21	I'm relatively knew to [acronym:20953dc176="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:20953dc176] myself (about 4 months) but i'm pretty sure a powerhead is not only used for circulation but for water movement (flow).

09-08-2004, 05:21 PM	#6
guitarded Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hawaii Posts: 204	excellent. thanks for the informative replies. RocketSeason... thanks for the reference to ur picture.

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