Powerheads...placement, adjustment, everything!

[Psyduck]

Ok I was just looking through the thread of flow rates and everyone seems to have a good number of powerheads in their tanks. My only complaints on powerheads have been, (A) they are ugly, and (B) those stupid suction cups never hold. I admit I do have one powerhead in my tank, a "something" 201. The nice thing about this is it had an attachment that let it hang on the back of the tank, no cups! However, I dont think this gives the best flow near the sandbed and lower depths of the tank. I guess what I am asking is how does everyone get those PH in the tank and make it look reasonably nice. I mean if you put one near the bottom, you have that ugly black cord running down. This is a bit of a rambling message, so I hope everyone understands what I am asking .

[Stang69]

Some ppl hide them in a pile of LR and hide the cords with the same pile. Or your could rig up a spraybar down low and run it with a ph on one end down low so as to get water on the back as well as the bottom of lr. Just a Idea


Jeff

[FishDaddy]

Psyduck,
Suction cups can be a real pain! Cleaning them regularly as well as the section of glass they are attached to, can help. Many of them will lose their resiliency over time regardless. Replacing them with new when they lose their grip is best. Too bad they don't make reef-grade Poli-Grip!!

You can be as creative as you like, from the spray bar or hiding them behind rocks as suggested above. You can also fashion hangers from clear acrylic to place them at any desired depth. You can also hang the powerhead by the cord itelf and use plastic ties or even Duct Tape to secure the cord to the back of the tank. Not much you can do about the black wires until they become blended in with coralline.
Dick

[OodleyBoodely]

Some reefers are making aragocrete ph covers so that they can be hidden from view yet still functional. I think it sounds like a neat idea, but, I have not tried any DIY liverock projects, yet. If you are interested in making your own, check out garf.org page on making your own liverock.

[OodleyBoodely]

P.S. your 201 might be an Aquaclear. They are usually good p.h.s but their suction cups aren't too good. The Maxijet p.h. have good suction cups and are also good p.h, IME.

[Psyduck]

Yeah it seems Maxijets are the way to go. I know my tank could use some more circulation and was just debating what the best way to go would be. Thanks for the suggestions.

[iceboxman]

I have 2 maxijet 1200s for my 55g and they work great.

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Hi I have two 2100 PH's and they are in each corner in the back facing toward the front. I have them wide open and they put quite a ripple on top of the water and enough water flow across the sand so things do not settle hardly at all! This is in my 80 gallon reef tank. Johnny

[Tauch]

I still have the ones I was using for almost a year...the suction cups still hold up great..actually almost to good.. there a pain in the butt to move....grrr... hooked up a small one to blow across the surface of the sand bed...it's mounted ont he top but hooked to some extra hose a nd a spray bar i have extra...works great...still cycling the tank...hope the new residents will like it..
cheers
Rob

[Emprr_Angl]

This weekend i'm doing a major overhaul to my tank...

I'm tearing down my 55 to drill two 1" holes for sump intake & return (i know somehow or another i'm going to get wet in this operation, heheh). not sure yet if i'll have the time to actually build the sump. i think i'm just going to cap off the ends for the time being.

The return pipe is going to have a T and the end of the pipe. tha will give me my surface current. i've been trying to think up ways to have a rotating sprinkler type thingymajig at the top of the return pipe. Any thoughts on this?

I've been trying to think up ways of having a spray bar about 2" off the bottom of the tank w/o creating a reverse siphon. i think thats going to be impossible having it hooekd up to the main loop. what i've come up with having the bar hooked up to a powerhead thats located within the tank via flexible pvc. i loose some of the dialin control but its better than flooding 2floors in an apt complex, heheh. i have yet to loose power once in this place but you never know....theres always "that one time"

I'm also buying a heavy duty wire rack that will be located next to the tank. this will be where the sump will be located. top shelf will have a 10gal tank with a toilet-flap thing to create wave action. that project is going to be next weekend though.

DIY-ers Rooole, heheh

Hope some of these ideas can be of use to you
ttyl

[Allyson]

Thanks Tauch...I've been trying to figure out how to get circulation at the bottom without shoving another PH in my 30 and have been tossing around the idea of a spraybar. Never thought about hooking hose to my return and running it down to the bottom. Duhhh!