View Full Version : Powerhead -vs- air pump
cichlid savage
07-07-2007, 11:53 AM
Which would be more effective for gas exchange?
i think a powerhead with venturi would be best
dark_knights_99
07-07-2007, 12:44 PM
for me the most effective is the powerhead coz it not just cleans the water of the tank, it also provides oxygen for the fish.
freeskierrocket
07-07-2007, 1:36 PM
I ran both on my 125 but the powerhead...seio 620 provided water movement and i angled it up so it agitated the surface...............all in all very satisfied!!!:)
Dr Joe
07-07-2007, 1:55 PM
Depends on the equipment... Like Fry said a powerhead with a venturi puts alot of air into the tank along with water movement. A large micro-bubbler can do pretty much the same thing, you just can't direct the flow. A powerhead by itself (no aeration) is not as effective at degasification.
Either way, you need to break the surface tension to do the most good.
Dr Joe
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freeskierrocket
07-07-2007, 2:00 PM
Depends on the equipment... Like Fry said a powerhead with a venturi puts alot of air into the tank along with water movement. A large micro-bubbler can do pretty much the same thing, you just can't direct the flow. A powerhead by itself (no aeration) is not as effective at degasification.
Either way, you need to break the surface tension to do the most good.
Dr Joe
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so was i correct in stating that angling a powerhad at an upward angle, agitating the surface would be optimal??...........waterflow & gas exchange....
T1KARMANN
07-07-2007, 2:08 PM
i can never understand why people even bother with power heads
you may aswell use a inturnal filter atleast its doing something except just blow air
freeskierrocket
07-07-2007, 2:12 PM
i can never understand why people even bother with power heads
you may aswell use a inturnal filter atleast its doing something except just blow air
you got it backwards.......powerheads move water (critical to a closed system) and **air** pumps move air hence making bubbles!!!!
T1KARMANN
07-07-2007, 2:54 PM
you got it backwards.......powerheads move water (critical to a closed system) and **air** pumps move air hence making bubbles!!!!
an internal filter moves water the same way as a power head you just add a defuser the same as a power head
an internal filter moves water the same way as a power head you just add a defuser the same as a power head
i used my powerheads to drive sponge filters but i didn't want to do maintenance on the sponge filters anymore so i took them out, the powerheads are maintenance free without filters on them and last virtually forever unlike air pumps, the ones i buy also double as water pumps and we can think of many areas where that will be useful, these are all the reasons why i like using powerheads :)
Dr Joe
07-07-2007, 11:02 PM
so was i correct in stating that angling a powerhad at an upward angle, agitating the surface would be optimal??...........waterflow & gas exchange....
As long as you break the surface tension, otherwise it's not that efficient.
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i can never understand why people even bother with power heads
you may aswell use a inturnal filter atleast its doing something except just blow air
Powerheads are used to create currents in larger tanks, and to direct flow to the filter pick-ups, internal filters output are not that strong.
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you got it backwards.......powerheads move water (critical to a closed system) and **air** pumps move air hence making bubbles!!!!
Both do both...powerhead with air injection makes the bubbles and airstones and wands move water.
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an internal filter moves water the same way as a power head you just add a defuser the same as a power head
diffuser? huh?
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i used my powerheads to drive sponge filters but i didn't want to do maintenance on the sponge filters anymore so i took them out, the powerheads are maintenance free without filters on them and last virtually forever unlike air pumps, the ones i buy also double as water pumps and we can think of many areas where that will be useful, these are all the reasons why i like using powerheads :)
How (and what brands / models) do you use them for pumps?
Dr Joe
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chadc
07-08-2007, 12:00 AM
From personal experience, I found the hard way last night that an air pump will out do a powerhead, had a 2 port eterna air pump, took it out and put in a 1000gal per hour power head, within 6 hours (i went out of the house for a while) I had 11 fish die, was an expensive learning experience.
I have a tricky tank in that it is about 580 litres and 110 cms long and 25 cms deep. It is just over 120cms tall, so the amount of surface area to tank water is pretty low compared to most tanks. I am having trouble finding the best way to keep the tank airated, and can now understand why I see a lot of big tanks with huge air bubllers in them...
Chad
chadc
07-08-2007, 12:01 AM
I forgot to add, before anyone else questions it, the tank also has two canister filters on it, one hasa UV sterilzier built into it too.
T1KARMANN
07-08-2007, 3:40 AM
the inturnal filters i use are 1200lph and i have seen inturnal filters with a turn over of 2400lph how strong do you want the flow
How (and what brands / models) do you use them for pumps?
Dr Joe
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I haven't actually used them as pumps yet but they're supposed to work as pumps as they're advertised and labeled that way. They are Maxi-Jet Powerhead/Pumps. I use the 400s in smaller tanks and a 1200 in a larger tank. I'm very impressed with the Maxi-Jets, they have just about every feature and accessory included that you would expect from a powerhead.
ercnan
07-08-2007, 6:57 AM
From personal experience, I found the hard way last night that an air pump will out do a powerhead, had a 2 port eterna air pump, took it out and put in a 1000gal per hour power head, within 6 hours (i went out of the house for a while) I had 11 fish die, was an expensive learning experience.
I have a tricky tank in that it is about 580 litres and 110 cms long and 25 cms deep. It is just over 120cms tall, so the amount of surface area to tank water is pretty low compared to most tanks. I am having trouble finding the best way to keep the tank airated, and can now understand why I see a lot of big tanks with huge air bubllers in them...
Chad
Good lord :eek: :eek: Where did you get a 1000gph "powerhead". Sounds more like a sump return pump at that rate. Did it comes with surfboards for the fish?
Man that sounds like a LOT of current in the tank.
Good lord :eek: :eek: Where did you get a 1000gph "powerhead". Sounds more like a sump return pump at that rate. Did it comes with surfboards for the fish?
Man that sounds like a LOT of current in the tank.
Its VIA AQUA 3600, it is a powerhead, I am sure if you put fittings onto it, you could use it as a return pump, or to power a showerbar or a jet ski...
TCZeli
07-09-2007, 12:33 PM
maybe it wasnt that the power jet is worse then a pump that killed your fish maybe it was the 1000GPH smashing the fish against the glass
:ROFL:
Wolf3101
07-09-2007, 12:56 PM
Both systems...set up properly...provide good gas exchange and adiquate water movement however air driven units can be used in an emergancy by battery powered air pumps and so add an extra level of protection and safety.
Its VIA AQUA 3600, it is a powerhead, I am sure if you put fittings onto it, you could use it as a return pump, or to power a showerbar or a jet ski...
That pump doesn't have a venturi. If it's a closed/semi-closed system, they will run out of oxygen eventually.
duke33
07-09-2007, 8:38 PM
I bought a 330gph fountain pump at lowes plugged it in and dropped it in the 300g, directed it towards the surface, and am pleased with what it's doing.
That pump doesn't have a venturi. If it's a closed/semi-closed system, they will run out of oxygen eventually.
That is fair enough, thinking about hiding it at he bottom of the tank and pointing the stream up the way and see if it makes a difference... in this way it should boil at the surface, hopefully creating a oxygen exchange...
Still want to get rid of the air bubbler at some stage.
Letsgometsreyes
07-10-2007, 5:16 PM
No air pumps for me, I use 2 eheim aquaballs in my 75 and 1 in my 55. I use them to brake the surface of the water. My fish are thriving, not surviving!!!
chadc
07-15-2007, 10:55 PM
Just for an update, the clown loaches love swimming against the current that the big powerhead makes, they have never spent so much time out in the tank before, they used to always hide whenever people came near, and come out when it was feeding time. But now, they pay less attention and just spend their time swimming against the water flow.