Which powerhead would you recommend, a sweeping powerhead or a regular powerhead. I was looking at the Powersweep 228 or the Maxi jet 1200. Any advice would be appreciated.
Help Choosing Powerheads
- Thread starter RyanMcLaughlin
- Start date
I've never used the ones you listed but I only run AC70 or AC100 in my tanks. I like Aqua Clear cause you can attach the quick filter to them to clear up a dirty tank FAST.
Ive always used aquaclears as well, but I think I will be purchasing a hydor koralia http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18553/cl0/powerheadshydor?viewType=Category for my next purchase.
I have seen alot of powersweeps get returned by reefkeepers because they simply don't "sweep" enough GPH.. They are weak from what I've seen and don't live up to their GPH.
I have always had alot of luck with cheap generic powerheads, purchased off eBay.. got a lot of 10 powerheads for $80, with canister fitting included.. AP1500 was the model, pushed like 350gph and work better than any of the other powerheads I have..
I have always had alot of luck with cheap generic powerheads, purchased off eBay.. got a lot of 10 powerheads for $80, with canister fitting included.. AP1500 was the model, pushed like 350gph and work better than any of the other powerheads I have..
I dont think im gonna get a powersweep because people say that it needs weekly maintenance just to keep the sweeping motion going. I think I will just get two maxi jet 1200s because ive heard good things and they arent bad priced. Also the hydor koralias ive heard dont shoot water in a certain direction and that people with 40 gallons dont get enough water flow even though it is 400 gph.
RyanMcLaughlin;1389607; said:
The koralias have enough water flow, it just may not seem like it because they're designed to have a wide current for a reef tank rather than a hard direct current. If you use normal powerheads in reef tanks they often end up blowing on one coral really bad and the others don't get current at all. With a koralia most of the tank can get water flow without part of the tank having extremely strong current and another being pretty stagnant.
If it's just turnover you want then koralias are fine, or if you have fish that will get blown away with a strong direct current. If you need a hard direct current like for river type fish you want a normal powerhead. A nice thing about the koralias is they won't fall off like the maxi jets because they have a magnet on the outside of the tank. That will inevitably happen with most maxi jets, which is why I don't use 'em in most of my tanks.
RyanMcLaughlin;1389755; said:
You'd really be better off with koralias then.
Like I said, a maxijet feels stronger because it's coming out in a small stream, but koralias are really better for overall turnover. My husband switched from maxijets to koralias on his 90g FOWLR and ended up with a heck of a lot more turnover and more oxygen in his water even though the flow is much more gentle. His fish also seemed to like them better (feels more natural I guess?)
BTW, how big a tank are we talking? Not sure if I missed it or you didn't say.
Maxijets aren't too good for small tanks since you tend to end up with sand getting blown everywhere (hard to direct hard the hard flow where it's not blowing sand around SOMEWHERE in the tank). The other problem with maxijets is that they tend to get clogged or stopped up, especially if you have any fish that might throw sand into the intake strainer or if they fall off the side of the tank and suck a bunch of sand in, or if you get algae on them, etc. (I speak from experience), very very BAD problem in a SW tank since SW doesn't hold as much oxygen as FW in the first place. This isn't as big an issue in a large tank where you can keep them at the top of the tank away from the sand, but it will still happen periodically.
For big tanks maxijets just don't flow enough (the 1200 is only 295gph) so you end up needing several.
The powersweeps, yeah, nothing good to say about them. I haven't personally used them, but I know several people that have and several fish stores that do. Rarely see them running unless someone cleans them out OFTEN and they usually still stop. Would be a waste of money IMO.
The tank is 100 gallons. I will look into the Hydors a little more then before I buy the maxi jets. I was going to get 2 Maxi jets for now and then maybe another one later if I needed. Thanks for all the advice.