Powerhead

[Ronnie27]

Hi could somebody tell me what a power head is and the point of one, i have heard alot of people talk about them but i havent seen one before or have seen one and not known what it was, cheers

 

[kaivalagi]

Search for powerhead in google, you'll get the gist...

But simply put they pull/push water with a propeller, it is used to increase water circulation in a tank. They're mostly used in Marine tanks as this is a necessity for the nitrogen cycle to take place with live rock.

 

[Bebobb]

In larger tanks, they are used for water circulation. They are often used in marine tanks, but are also used in freshwater aquariums. You can also use them in a sump setup to pump the water back into the tank after it has processed through the sump.

 

[OldMan47]

A power head is quite simple from a conceptual point of view. It is simply a pumping system that is used at the user's discretion to act to move water from point A to point B. In my own case, I use a power head to move water from the sponge filter to the tank. What does that mean? It simply means that I connect my sponge filters to a power head's inlet to establish the needed conditions for my sponge filter. I place the power head inlet into the outlet of a sponge filter and set up the outlet of the power head to discharge directly into the tank. Where that leaves me is with a power head moving water through the filter.

 

[Ronnie27]

thanks for the help everyone its alot more clear now i think i will get a power head when i get my new tank in the summer

 

[kaivalagi]

thanks for the help everyone its alot more clear now i think i will get a power head when i get my new tank in the summer

If circulation is what you want another option is to "go large" with external filters if that is what you are going to use anyway. I will have 2 x tetratec ex1200's for my next tank which is likely to be ~100g, I use one of them in a Roma 125 right now and they are great. With a little modifying of the spray bar I have water pushed both down the side of the tank and along the waters surface, my fish get regular exercise when they want it, but have plenty of shelter from the current aided by the rocks, wood and plants too