Newbie help with powerhead / aeration

[scifisarah]

If I take the HOB filter off my 65 gallon, I am not getting enough water movement with just the canister filter going. I have tahitian moon black sand for my substrate. What size powerhead should I get for my tank that will create as much movement as possible to get more of the junk off the bottom so it can get sucked up by the filter, but also not blow sand around? Also, would the powerhead create enough surface movement to provide aeration for my tank or do I need something else to get oxygen into the water? Is there a certain brand of powerhead that is considered the best/most quiet?

[danielratti]

I use a maxi 1200 in a 55 and seems to work you could go smaller but 1200 is just what I had laying around. If you want to mount it towards the bottom of your tank there is a magnet mount that you can get called a suregrip 100 and it will hold it there just make sure you are not sucking up sand doing that.

[theoryguru]

If I take the HOB filter off my 65 gallon, I am not getting enough water movement with just the canister filter going. I have tahitian moon black sand for my substrate. What size powerhead should I get for my tank that will create as much movement as possible to get more of the junk off the bottom so it can get sucked up by the filter, but also not blow sand around? Also, would the powerhead create enough surface movement to provide aeration for my tank or do I need something else to get oxygen into the water? Is there a certain brand of powerhead that is considered the best/most quiet?

I run 2 x 1200 Marineland Maxi for my undergravel jets and use a Hydro II sponge as a prefilter to prevent sand getting sucked in.  Maxis are readily available which make it easy if you need parts and best things is they're inexpen$ive.
1 1200 maxi should be fine for a 65g or another option is 2 x 900. Test out various positions in the tank to find the ideal flow towards the filter intake.  Sand will blow around, but settle once you find a position for the powerhead.
As for aeration, many use air stones or bubble wands to agitate the water surface.  I don't use air stones, but ensure the surface is being agitated with spraybars.

good luck


 

[gannmann101]

Most evereyone will have a different oppinion. On power heads. And how to circulate water. I personaly like the gen -X power heads.  They have a airation adaptor on the jet. I think the marinland max jet also does.  For the best water movement and debris removal. Try putting your aquascaping more in the middle of the tank and try not to have too much surfave area of yor structures. On the substrate.  Ever use two 360 degree adjustable hydor fan power heads one on the bottom back cornor and one on the top front opposite from left to right to create a good circulation and carry the debris. Hydor spong filter s are a great choice also can use a power head on these.  Just my thoughts. Hope it works outt for you

[gannmann101]

Sorry surface agitation spray bars are good or I use air stones in my hydor foam filters and direct one of my powerheads by it. Works well for me. And oxygenates very well

[scifisarah]

I did a little more research and I think I will try making my own spray bar first and experiment with drilling in the holes at different angles etc to achieve what I want. Would be nice if I could get aeration and water/movement with one stone rather than having an air circulator AND an airstone of some type.

[Ron]

With regards to aeration, the surface area of the tank is typically sufficient provided that there's enough surface disturbance to keep a protein film from building up, which would reduce the ability of O2 to move between the atmosphere and water.

[scifisarah]

With regards to aeration, the surface area of the tank is typically sufficient provided that there's enough surface disturbance to keep a protein film from building up, which would reduce the ability of O2 to move between the atmosphere and water.

Thanks, that is good to know. I really don't want to have an airstone going, even if my husband says he likes the sound. Just reminds me of a goldfish tank or something and doesn't seem natural. I guess it is the zookeeper/wildlife biologist side of me wanting things to look as natural as possible.