Do I Need A Powerhead If So Which?

[Miles_hot]

I have a 53 USG tank and an Eheim 2075 filter running a spray bar. We intend to have a semi lanted tank with Tigre barbs, Gourami and Drawf Chain Loach. I don't want dead spots etc so do I need a power head and if so how much power / flow?

many thanks

Miles

 

[KittyKat]

Why don't you have a good look at how the water already flows and use that to judge the circulation?

 

[Rynofasho]

Agreed. Plant it. Pretty much everything should be at least very gently waving. If you can tell you have a dead spot after that I would look for a small one. But if you have a 2075 on a 53 gallon tank, I'm guessing you'll have more than enough flow.

 

[Miles_hot]

KK - the thing is, never having had a tank before I don't really know what "good" circulation looks like!

Rynofasho - Fair indication (and a good guide to KKs point), I was just hoping to have it all sorted before putting plants and then fish in. I also wondered if this was why the tank seems to be better able to process Nitrite in the last 12 hours rather then the first 12 hours of the day; maybe it's just not getting properly mixed up. We'll see when the plants go in - good that you think that with the 2075 we'll be OK

Miles

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Just make sure if you do get one it is a wavemaker type as a powerhead can be a bit concentrated in terms of the flow it produces, i have a Koralia which is great for a spread of flow

 

[Rynofasho]

I just got a Hydor Koralia Nano that is rated at 425gph. With a 53 and that big of a filter, I think you'll be fine, but if not and you just want a bit of supplemental flow, they have a 240gph circulation pump that would more than likely give you the little boost you would need.

http/www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/248234/product.web

 

[KittyKat]

There are a couple of things you can do to check..
* watch how the fish crap moves around the bottom, when it is not directly on the substrate, it should be moving down at an angle (or sideways, or up)
* measure temperature in different parts of the fishtank, see if there is any difference (this is easiest with two thermometers which you first check show the same temp when they're right next to each other, then you place one near the heater, inlet or outlet and move the second around to see if it gives you a different reading)
* use a bunch of plants to see if they move (although I find that things like Crypts, swords, etc, won't move even when there is enough circulation.. I think Cabomba might be best, or anything else with really fine and soft leaves)
* maybe add a few drops of food colouring and see how the colour spreads? I have never seen this done, but as far as I know, there is nothing in food colouring which will harm fish.. otherwise you can soak something tannin rich in some water and use the tannined water instead of food colouring, or a medication like eSHa 2000 is definitely safe as it doesn't do any harm and goes a luminous green when first added to the water