Powerhead flow rate guideline?

HI all, I have a couple of questions about powerheads.

Are their electrical cords submersible? Is there a rule for powerhead flow rate (like the rules for lighting - wpg, or for filtration - gph)? If so, what is that rule, and which flow rate would be best for my tank (75G, 48x18x20)? (I'll have an XP3 filter in that tank that pumps 350 gph.) Now, if I will have a filter that pumps 350 gph - shouldn't I also get a powerhead that pumps 350 gph? Or is the rule dependent on something else (if there is a rule)? Lastly, are there any powerheads with adjustable flow rates, or you just get what you get?

Thanks for help up front.

 

Well most cords as far as I'm aware of are fully submergible, greg has two and the cords are submergible, and yes I believe you are right, the pump rate must be as fast as your gph and the cheaper ones I know don't have a flow rate but the more expensive one's might but I doubt it.

Austin

 

Now, if I will have a filter that pumps 350 gph - shouldn't I also get a powerhead that pumps 350 gph?

What will the Powerhead be used for? If you have a filter pumping 350gph you shouldnt need a powerhead for anything really unless its attached to some kind of filter etc.

 

Yep the cords are submersible, I believe the powerheads are used just to move the water around so you don't have any dead spots so gph is not a factor. The filter gph is to make sure the water circulates through the filter media often enough to keep the beneficial bacteria fed with enough oxygen(so you BB can convert ammonia>Nitrite>Nitrate) and to filter solids from your water column.
Carol

 

Or if you run a sump and use a powerhead to push the water back up to the tank you need to have a more powerful powerhead than the amount of water is draining down otherwise you would have a mess.

 

That's correct Carol - that is what I have been told on Plant Geek, which is why I am getting a powerhead for this tank. 48" is quite a long tank and a canister filter has the intake and outflow tubes only at one end of the tank. So there is a possibility that the other half of the tank will not have the water circulated properly. It may even be the case that I will need 2 canister filters, one at each end of the tank. But for now, I am just getting one + a powerhead.

The reason I asked if the powerhead should be around 350gph is for a more uniform water circulation.

P.S. Thanks all of you for the replies.

 

I think just as long as the water is stirred it will be fine. I have two HOB filters, one at each end on my 75G and that works fine. One of them flows a little gentler than the other so the angels hang out more at that half of the tank. I need the two filters because I have some large waste producers in that tank
Carol

 

The reason I don't want too much filtration is because of plants (I'll have many of them) - I am afraid too much filtration may remove nutrients from the water that are needed for plants. That is why for now I'll get just one XP3 or Eheim2028 + a powerhead. If there will be such need, I'll replace the powerhead with another filter in the future.

P.S. So the flow rate of the powerhead does not matter too much? Or should I get something close to 350 gph (or whatever the flow rate of a powerhead is measured in)?

 

I don't think the powerhead flow rate really matters. Your plan sounds good Isabella I was just explaining why I have two filters instead of a filter and a powerhead or some other means to stir the water
CCArol

 

I say get the tank and filter, set it up, then judge to see if you need more circulation, then go and buy one that you think would be suitable depening on the actual circulation and your choice of inhabitants etc. Otherwise you might waste your money on something you don't need.

 

Yup that's good logic J-man, also the gph I believe will make a stronger current the higher it is, so if you just want a little circulation you would only need to get a smaller one.

 

Thanks J-Man. You are right. Maybe I shouldn't get a powerhead so quickly. I'll just get the filter at the start, then will judge if any powerhead is necessary. Thanks

 

I ordered a 350gph power head, a cheaply one off Amazon and a 3 pack of round fine foam pre filters....my question is can a put the filter over the inlet of the powerhead and put the inlet directly into my gravel(3in deep) and bypass the use of a filter bed....
Will the head draw my water from underneath the gravel ? It's a 55 gal. tank..I do not expect it to pull all the way from the other side of the tank just where my pleco and catfish hang out would make me happy...

 

I'm not sure what your asking. Post pictures of what you bought if you can.

 

Ok, here's the power head.
I plan on putting the pre filter foam over the inlet to the head.

Taking the inlet with the filter around it and putting it directly into the gravel to where the inlet is totally covered by it.

Then I hope it draws some of the water from underneath the gravel and up towards my h.o.b

I am going to put the powerhead in between the pump and air stone which is almost directly under my h.o.b and run the outlet hose from the power head close to the h.o.b inlet.

Is this making any sense or am I being a nut job????? Hahaha

 

Ok, here's the power head.
I plan on putting the pre filter foam over the inlet to the head.

Taking the inlet with the filter around it and putting it directly into the gravel to where the inlet is totally covered by it.

Then I hope it draws some of the water from underneath the gravel and up towards my h.o.b

I am going to put the powerhead in between the pump and air stone which is almost directly under my h.o.b and run the outlet hose from the power head close to the h.o.b inlet.

Is this making any sense or am I being a nut job????? Hahaha

Got it,

Will not work because water flow will take the path of least resistance. If there is resistance at the gravel level it will pull water from the part of the sponge above the water.

Back in the day we had this thing called an under gravel system. Don’t know if they even have that anymore. The substrate sat on a grate with one inch tube coming up at each back corner. You put a power head on each tube with a Venturi system. The power heads suck water by pulling water down through the gravel bed , essentially using the substrate bed a biological filtration.

 

Got it,

Will not work because water flow will take the path of least resistance. If there is resistance at the gravel level it will pull water from the part of the sponge above the water.

Back in the day we had this thing called an under gravel system. Don’t know if they even have that anymore. The substrate sat on a grate with one inch tube coming up at each back corner. You put a power head on each tube with a Venturi system. The power heads suck water by pulling water down through the gravel bed , essentially using the substrate bed a biological filtration.

Ok, well then I will have to re evaluate this project.. I may be heading to home depot for a piece of PVC pipe then, joing it to the head and run the tube down the middle of the tank under the gravel with 1/8th in holes drilled in the PVC???? Am I getting warmer with this idea?

 

Got it,

Will not work because water flow will take the path of least resistance. If there is resistance at the gravel level it will pull water from the part of the sponge above the water.

Back in the day we had this thing called an under gravel system. Don’t know if they even have that anymore. The substrate sat on a grate with one inch tube coming up at each back corner. You put a power head on each tube with a Venturi system. The power heads suck water by pulling water down through the gravel bed , essentially using the substrate bed a biological filtration.

Yes, they still make and sell them, and I was going to suggest the UFG for the powerhead, but you beat me to it

 

Ok, well then I will have to re evaluate this project.. I may be heading to home depot for a piece of PVC pipe then, joing it to the head and run the tube down the middle of the tank under the gravel with 1/8th in holes drilled in the PVC???? Am I getting warmer with this idea?

Nope. sorry. If you want to use a powerhead to create flow under or through the gravel you will need a under-gravel filter.

 

Nope. sorry. If you want to use a powerhead to create flow under or through the gravel you will need a under-gravel filter.

Damnt haha, ok petco here I come

 

I have been told that using a powerhead to pull water from under the gravel without a filter bed or the pvc setup will not work but I want to try anyways......I have bought a good strong plastic cup and drilled holes in the sides of it all around the top lip of the cup,small enough that gravel will not pass through, I am going to fit the inlet for the power head through the bottom of the cup and pre filter the inlet when it's in with some foam
I plan on removing the gravel down to the glass and place the cup flat on the bottom and let the gravel cover my drilled holes why would this not work to draw any water under the gravel bed??? .......I jist have to experiment .
(B.T.W, yes I have the cup soaking overnight in a five gal bucket with prime in it and will be checking in the a.m to see if it has adversely effected anything.

 

Let us know how it goes, maybe with some pictures of the process.

 

Let us know how it goes, maybe with some pictures of the process.

I will do that.

 

I wouldn't consider this as being stubborn. I would call it being curious. Experimentation is a good thing. You are never gonna know if you don't try. Nothing is going to be lost by trying. Let us know how it turns out.

 

I wouldn't consider this as being stubborn. I would call it being curious. Experimentation is a good thing. You are never gonna know if you don't try. Nothing is going to be lost by trying. Let us know how it turns out.

Will do, even if it draws like 6in or 8in out under the gravel bed I will be stoked.

 

Water, being water, will always follow the path of least resistance. Whatever that path is, I'm pretty sure you're not going to be getting movement through more than a couple inches of the gravel bed around your cup, at best, and almost certainly nothing from the other side of the tank... The reason undergravel filters have that plate is to create a void under the gravel to pull water out from, thus pulling more water into the void through the gravel. Even then they do a better job closer to the draw area, which is why they usually have two or three risers.
Now if you stuff a piece of foam up into that cup you'll have a great DIY box filter that will probably do a good job, but not really because of the gravel.

 

Water, being water, will always follow the path of least resistance. Whatever that path is, I'm pretty sure you're not going to be getting movement through more than a couple inches of the gravel bed around your cup, at best, and almost certainly nothing from the other side of the tank... The reason undergravel filters have that plate is to create a void under the gravel to pull water out from, thus pulling more water into the void through the gravel. Even then they do a better job closer to the draw area, which is why they usually have two or three risers.
Now if you stuff a piece of foam up into that cup you'll have a great DIY box filter that will probably do a good job, but not really because of the gravel.

That's all I am hunting for, is a couple inches,just to say it can be done.
I am gonna put some foam over the inlet for the p.h and see what I get.
Power head should be here in a few days.