Powerheads, how much difference do they make

Hi,<
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>Can anybody tell me if it is worth running a powerhead on a 4 foot set up. I am running a 1500 external can filter. What is the benifit of the powerhead if any. <
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>Thanks<
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> <
> Cally

[wrk21]

cally,<
> well for one thing their great for water movment around the tank, ie no dead spots of water and if you add a small sponge filter to the PH its just much more filtration you get.<
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>  

[rowley89]

I find them very usefull particulary in bigger tanks.<
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>But it should still work fine in your setup.

[Sigmaphile]

Cally,<
>75% of my tanks are running Sponge filters with Powerheads.<
>It is great. Nice and easy to clean and they work VERY well. Not the best to look at but then my room is not for display. <
>I am trying to get all my tanks setup this way until I setup my sump system.<
> Phil<
><
>Beaudesert<
>debphil@ozemail.com.au<
><
>&quot;I have learnt silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.&quot;<
>

[DeagonTheo]

I''d just stick with the cannister, there''s no real benefit by adding the powerhead, unless you take the cannister out and just use the powerhead on its own.<
>Theo<
>

[davez104]

If you find you have bits of food and other rubish laying on the bottom of the tank a powerhead will add more water movement, allowing the canister to pick these bits of gunk up. If your substrate is clean, water quality is good and fish seem happy, then you probably have enough filtration.<
> Dave<
>My fish.<
>2 J dickfeldi<
>7 C moori<
>11 S multipunctatus<
>5 S frieri<
>5 Bristlenose<
>6 N leleupi<
>6 N olivaceous<
>2 lithobates?<
>3 Xystichromis phytophagus

[GTR73]

It''s a matter of opinion but I think they''re good as a back-up filter to your primary, also for additional water movement and aeration, and a good water polisher if you run them with a fine medium (like wool). <
>The downside is if you use them in your display tank they tend to look a bit unsightly depending on your taste - most people like an "uncluttered" tank with just fish, landscape and substrate. <
>I have a 900L/Hr external Jebo on my 4FT African Tank and it  does a great job. But I added an internal 1000/hr canister (Korean cheapo for $42), just as a back up for piece of mind with the extra filtration and in case my external
eaks down.  

[cosmotiger1]

i agree with most people.<
>they do help in moving more water around your tank so that your main filter has a better chance of picking up the gunk.<
><
>i think you will find most people with pleco''s in there tank will use a power head pointing accross the substrate to pick up all the poo.<
><
>cheers 1 out of 4 people have a mental dissability!<
>think of your 3 best mates if there fine..... IT MUST BE YOU!!!

Thanks for all the replys.<
><
>The main reason I am thinking of putting one in is for the substrate at the back of the tank. The water is clear and all the rest of the tank is fine. Its just about 2 inches along the back. <
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>What would be a good powerhead to go for
and wise and size.??<
><
>Thanks Cally

[wrk21]

cally,<
>being on the north side you could try Bill Smith at Smiths Aquarium or you could get it from Ben at AOA.<
>To see what ben has go to aquarium trader section then click on the AOA banner, once there scroll down the left hand side of the page till you get to power heads or power filters and shop till you drop. any of the items around the $20.00 mark will do the job......just one thing you dont want the biggest as it will blow all ya fish down one end of the tank....lol.<
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>  

[GTR73]

I''d recommend any of the Aquaclear powerheads. They''re Italian made so you can''t beat European quality. I''ve used Korean powerheads before and they just don''t compare. The only other option would be Otto which are almost as good, my 400L/hr one is excellent but is prone to stop every so often and I have to physical give it a bit of a tap. Aquaclear powerheads however, never a problem.<
>Check out AOA, I found him to be the cheapest.