I have an 8 foot 300 gallon tank that will be stocked heavily with African Cichlids (most of my cichlids are currently in my 150) and I am looking for a powerhead that will keep detritus stirred up so that it makes its way to the overflows and down into the sump. I really like the ecotech MP -40 and MP-60 but of course they are very expensive. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Also, if any of you have any ideas on how to accomplish the same goal via other means, I am all ears. Thanks! -Matt
Powerhead and Detritus Question
- Thread starter Medgertor
- Start date
I use the jebaos and haven't had a single issue with them, though others, i'm sure, will have their personal favorites which they swear by too.
The jebaos I have are the RW range. In the range are the RW4, RW8, RW15 and the RW20. I have the RW4 in my 180 and the RW20 in my 360. The RW20 is a beast, it shifts up to 20000 litres an hour and is simply brilliant for my needs, the tank is spotless and I only run it on half power. The RW4 in my 180 is on full power but still not quite powerful enough for my needs so i'm going to write to father Christmas to see if he'll fetch me an RW8.
All models are variable speed, if you have more than one in a single tank you can synchronise them wirelessly to create waves. They're not exactly cheap but a powerhead is supposed to be a bit of a workhorse so for reliability i'm willing to pay the extra.
The jebaos I have are the RW range. In the range are the RW4, RW8, RW15 and the RW20. I have the RW4 in my 180 and the RW20 in my 360. The RW20 is a beast, it shifts up to 20000 litres an hour and is simply brilliant for my needs, the tank is spotless and I only run it on half power. The RW4 in my 180 is on full power but still not quite powerful enough for my needs so i'm going to write to father Christmas to see if he'll fetch me an RW8.
All models are variable speed, if you have more than one in a single tank you can synchronise them wirelessly to create waves. They're not exactly cheap but a powerhead is supposed to be a bit of a workhorse so for reliability i'm willing to pay the extra.
Have you heard about gyre pump
Either the jebao or maxspect one will do wonders
I am currently running a jebao cp120, 40%capacitive on an 5feet 120g , tank is spotless
The gyre wave patterns kicks up the debris very very well, although it is mostly used in reef tank. But it is also suitable for freshwater
Go look it up on YouTube for demonstrations how the flow work.
Either the jebao or maxspect one will do wonders
I am currently running a jebao cp120, 40%capacitive on an 5feet 120g , tank is spotless
The gyre wave patterns kicks up the debris very very well, although it is mostly used in reef tank. But it is also suitable for freshwater
Go look it up on YouTube for demonstrations how the flow work.
I looked it up and this is exactly what I am looking for, a wavemaker that will stir up the detritus and get it into the overflows. I just need to research and figure out what sized gyre pump to get for the 300 gallon. It's 96" long so I want to make sure I get one that is powerful enough. I'm closing on a house on December 17th and then moving so I can't buy anything until then, so good thing is I'll have some time to do my research.
If, big if, you are crafty and you are willing to spend some time on diy. Check out how a closed loop system work.
Again most individual use it on reef system, but works great on larger freshwater system as well.
Plus You get to customized everything, downsides includes drilling multiple holes in your tank and you need to know how to design and make a effective plumbing system
A friend of mine design and installed one on my 225 African cichlids tank, cost me about 350cad( everything in included). It is more cost effective, and more customizeable.
A closed loop system does seem interesting, and I will definitely try my hand at it one day. I love DIY challenges. I also really like the gyre pumps. Right now I am trying to figure out what size I would need to accomplish to goal of a lot of water flow across an eight foot tank. My overflows are on each end of the aquarium. I suppose I could put one on the actual overflow box on one side. Anyone have a suggestion as to what brand/size gyre pump can move water effectively across an eight foot tank. I may need to go with a Gyre pump and the RW-20.
If you're looking to move a lot of water on a budget I recommend getting an inexpensive Chinese wavemaker from amazon (link below). They may not last as long as an ecotech or gyre, but they only cost a small fraction of the price. Even if they only have half the lifespan (2-3 years) you are coming out on top. I have had a handful of these type of wavemakers over the years and haven't had any issues. Just my .02