Can you recommend a small powerhead?

I need to get water movement breaking up the surface of my 100 gallon tank. I already have a powerhead that is built in to the overflow on one side of the tank. I can't see it.

If I get another one, it will be very visible. It will have to attach to the glass on one side of the tank. I am looking for something small and just powerful enough to break up all the gunk that builds up on the surface.

Does anyone have any recommendations that would fit? I don't have much experience because the powerhead I have came with the tank.

Thanks!!

 

I wouldn't bother with a powerhead at all (I don't like them). I'd just place the canister filter outlet near the surface & aimed across the surface. Let that do the work for you. Works well enough for me in my tanks. Failing that I'd install an airstone.

 

I wouldn't bother with a powerhead at all (I don't like them). I'd just place the canister filter outlet near the surface & aimed across the surface. Let that do the work for you. Works well enough for me in my tanks. Failing that I'd install an airstone.

Unfortunately, my canister filter outlets come up from the bottom of the tank. I was hoping to avoid an airstone but maybe that's the way to go.

I don't know how small a powerhead comes.

 

So change the position you have the filter outlet in. It's not that difficult to modify or change the combination of fittings you use. If the outlet is on a walking stick style pipe then you should just be able to reverse the pipe so that the short end is in the tank & the long end is outside. That's what I have done with every canister I've ever used. Canisters are great like that, it's so easy to change inlet/outlet positions to where you need/want them.

 

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by powerhead, I know it's a common term, I just don't know it... I have a little pumper thinger with 2 thin pipes protruding from it... I bought a bubble wall and put it at the end of the one pipe, but the bubble wall doesn't work so it just shoots air out the end.... it completely breaks up the surface of my 75, it's very nice.
(it was given to me as part of the tank, otherwise I'd probably know what it is)

 

So change the position you have the filter outlet in. It's not that difficult to modify or change the combination of fittings you use.

I should explain more.

The tank is viewable on all sides so my intent was to have no tubes/wires coming up the back. Therefore, the intakes are in the corners and the outputs are in the center near either end of the tank. The plastic piping sticks up about an inch from the gravel.

For that reason, I don't really have the option of running a tube to the surface. In fact, the way the piping is installed at the base of the tank, it may involve draining the tank to replace it anyway.

I can't really adjust the output of the canisters.

(but thanks for the suggestion)

 

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by powerhead, I know it's a common term, I just don't know it... I have a little pumper thinger with 2 thin pipes protruding from it... I bought a bubble wall and put it at the end of the one pipe, but the bubble wall doesn't work so it just shoots air out the end.... it completely breaks up the surface of my 75, it's very nice.
(it was given to me as part of the tank, otherwise I'd probably know what it is)

I barely understand it all myself. That thing you have is an air pump and it's outside your tank (hopefully). A powerhead is a device that is submerged in your water and pumps water out. I don't like the term "powerhead" either. It doesn't settle in my brain for some reason.

(I hope I have that right)