Any Powerhead Recommendations...

14 posts • Page 1 of 2

Discuss all topics related to freshwater and planted tanks.


Tmercier834747
 
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Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:33 pm

Any Powerhead Recommendations...

by Tmercier834747

For a 5 gallon hex? lol
I've found some good options but don't really know what to expect when I get the product from an online store.

What I'm really looking for is something small, with a very low, VARIABLE minimum flow-rate.

I have the marineland eclipse with the integrated filter which seems to turn over about 5gph lol. The surface of the water barely moves despite the water level... I really don't need much flow here, just enough to get some current/surface disturbance going.

I also noticed hydor recently put out an in-tank aerator - The Ario 2 w/moonlight.(http://www.hydor.it/en/products/show/1). On that note my tank is far from being completely planted, and I'm not sure an aerator wouldn't just choke all the natural Co2 out of my tank?


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

If you don't have a co2 system then during the day your plants should use up more co2 in the water than I imagine is in the atmosphere, so an aerator would increase the co2 levels slightly during the day. At night when plants use up o2 more the aerator would keep the o2 levels safe for fish. I think this makes sense, right?


Snowboss4492
 
Posts: 2098
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:24 pm

by Snowboss4492

check this thing out - - i know space is a premium in your tank - - don't know if it helps but it looks cool.......lol Boss

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumP ... lters.html


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

They look really cool. Thermo-protected too!


Tmercier834747
 
Posts: 887
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:33 pm

by Tmercier834747

Hehe, as cool as that thing is I think its overkill. lol I tried to find some dimensions for it to give me a better picture of how much space it would take up in my 5gal but wasn't able to find much, don't need a heater anyway, the enclosed hood acts as a radiator when the freaking lights on. lol
I've been scouring the net to find some sort of powerhead that I can regulate the flow of between 25 and 75gph, is about the size of a whiffle ball, and I can toggle aeration (don't need it) on or off with, which just doesn't seem to exist, unless I'm not reading things right.
Still my only concern with using something like the ARIO from Hydor (the mini in-tank aerator) is creating tooo much surface agitation. Co2 will be crucial in this tank as I plan on getting dwarf baby tears and overhauling the existing plants (I was still a beginner when I got plants for this one..my java fern and anubias are planted in the substrate..
I know I need something though. Maybe a supplemental filter really would do the trick, all I know is this integrated thing sucks. There's a constant nasty film on top of the water which remains after every water change and thickens as the week progresses. The surface of the water barely moves.


angus4481
 
Posts: 199
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:31 am

by angus4481

you should try one of those water fountian pumps, i have one in my 2 gal bowl. you could pick one up at true value or a harware store. mine is no bigger than a half dollar and has a variable ajustment, and works awsome


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

Wouldn't you be increasing the co2 by running atmospheric air through the tank during the day when the plants need it? I thought that without supplemental co2 your plants will actually pull co2 in the water down to a lower level than what's in the air, which means that you'll be increasing co2 with an air stone. This is certainly smaller than a power head. It's when you have supplemental co2 that you don't want a bubbler. That will be a situation where atmospheric air has less co2 than your tank water and would blow it off. I think that a bubbler is what you need here and it will break up the film building up on the surface and increace o2 at night when fish can be in trouble in planted tanks. I have heavely planted tanks without co2 myself and the plants grow fine with lots of bubbles. I use powerheads with the air venturi on full. I'm even growing mocrosword in my 35 gallon long as well as java moss, fern, anubias, 2 varieties of larger sword, and others.


Tmercier834747
 
Posts: 887
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:33 pm

by Tmercier834747

I guess that makes sense. :) I s'pose in my readings I got things all garbled up. Somehow I figured that the fish themselves produced a degree of Co2 and that a bubbler would be putting oxygen only in the tank forcing the Co2 out, but this is obviously where my understanding of planted tanks is in the least degree. :) Especially now that you've reminded me that our atmosphere isn't solely made up of oxygen. lol
Thanks Peter, and angus.

Oh and Happy Easter.


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

Ummm. I want to be sure about this as I didn't think of the fish adding co2 part of the equation. I asked this question in a forum where there are serious plant growers who use co2. I don't think the fish would produce enough co2 to keep up with the amount the plants absorb during the day, but to be sure I've put this question out to some "experts". I do have success growing the same plants you are growing w/o supplemental co2 and I have powerheads with the venturi's on full and I think I'm right but I want to be sure. I'll post the responses ASAP.


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

So far the answer is almost sarcastic. "It doesn't matter unless you have a high amount of light and high light desiring plants". I'm still fishing for a specific answer from these hoity-toity fancy super co2 pumped tank people.

Any Powerhead Recommendations...

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