How to setup a powerhead water pump in an aquarium:
Powerhead pumps can offer
multiple features such as it can be used to create water waves, circulate
water, oxygenate water, & pump water to an overhead filter. Water waves are
created using powerhead pumps & they offer a natural environment for the
fish. Corals can’t find food on its own so a powerhead pump can let them absorb
nutrients after circulating water in the aquarium.
Many new aquarists think that
only air pumps can produce air bubbles. Powerhead pumps can add abundance of
oxygen much faster than an air pump. Powerhead pumps can break the water
surface to add atmospheric oxygen in the water. Point up your powerhead to make
oxygen using surface agitation.
Powerheads can pump water to an
aquarium top filter or an overhead SUMP. SUMP is not a filter but it is a
container holding a large volume of water. It can be used to hold filter media.
Overhead SUMP filters are very popular because they do take up space inside
aquarium water so fish have more space for swimming. Powerhead can pump water
to an aquarium SUMP or top filter & water flows through mechanical &
biological chambers that purify it, & then it flows back to the aquarium
using gravity. Also, aquarists grow plants in the SUMP filter because plants
can offer natural filtration. They absorb ammonia byproducts that are released
from waste. Many fish species eat plants or uproot them so it is a good idea to
grow plants in the filter so that they are away from the messy fish. Aquarists
grow herbs in the SUMP filter that absorb ammonia byproduct, heavy metals &
other impurities from the water.
How to choose a powerhead pump:
Choosing a powerhead pump depends
on how much water you want to pump. If someone uses a powerhead for pumping
water to an overhead filter then it depends on pumping a specific volume of
water in an hour. Most aquarists prefer pumping four times the volume of water
your aquarium contains in one hour for efficient cleaning. So, if you have a
50-gallon aquarium then choose a powerhead that can pump 200 gallons of water
in one hour.
Steps: Setting up a powerhead pump in fish tank:
Powerhead pumps are used for
pumping water in or out of the aquarium filters. They have different prices
based on the specifications that depend on the fish tank size & flow rate.
Many aquarists use underwater pumps that are located inside the aquarium. A
strainer is used on the intake of the submersible pump so it does not suck
small fish. Additionally, you can use a sponge on the intake strainer to stop
fish fries & shrimps from entering the filter intake. Also, fries can eat
the leftover food that sticks to the sponge. Do not operate a submersible
powerhead pump outside water.
In the video tutorial I have
installed an underwater powerhead pump. It is easy to assemble a powerhead pump
such as connecting the strainer to the powerhead. Some powerhead pumps do not
include a manual that shows how to assemble the parts. My powerhead pump did
not include an instruction manual but I found an image of the assembled
powerhead pump on the carton & I used it to setup my water pump. If you are
having trouble in assembling a powerhead water pump then watch the video below:
How to circulate & aerate water using powerhead pump:
Attach the powerhead to the top
side glass of the aquarium. In some powerheads you can point the direction of
water outflow using an adjustable flow plate towards the water surface so that
it produces oxygen due to surface agitation. Powerhead can add atmospheric
oxygen in the water by connecting an air tube to an air flow opening &
placing another end of the air tube outside water. Hence it will suck air using
an air tube & will add air in the water in the form of bubbles. If you have
setup your powerhead on the top right side of the aquarium then it will push
water towards the left side. And it will suck water from the bottom left side
towards itself. Water will force fish waste, leftover food & other debris
to leave the gravels & they will be trapped by the filter. Hence the
powerhead will push water towards the left & strainer will suck filter from
the left side, so water will start circulating in the aquarium.
What is the advantage of circulating water & water waves?
In aquariums there are certain
dead zones where water movement is little & these places have deficient
oxygen. These dead zones are especially found in the large aquariums. Powerhead
can be used as a wave maker that creates waves on the water surface. It
circulates water in the entire aquarium & moves water even in the dead
zones. These regions now have an abundance of oxygen & your whole aquarium
water starts moving. Fish like moving against the water currents. Water waves
mimic the natural moving stream environment inside an aquarium by producing
waves. Many aquarists think that fast moving water stresses fish but I think
that they help fish in exercise & fish likes moving against the flow of
water. However, too strong current can stress fish. Powerhead usually lets
aquarists adjust the flow rate.
Corals can’t get nutrition on its
own so circulating water can help them in getting food.
In today’s tutorial I have setup
/ assembled a powerhead pump & explained its every feature:
Step 1: Assembling a powerhead pump:
Connect a strainer to a pipe [1].
Insert the strainer pipe in a nut [2] & connect the strainer pipe to the
threaded pipe [3]. Roll nuts over the thread & tighten the connection [4].
Connect the assembly to a connector [5]. Attach another end of the connector to
the powerhead pump [6]. Attach a hose to the side outflow of the powerhead [7].
Assembling the powerhead is finished [8]. Strainer connected to the bottom end
of the powerhead pump will not suck small fish. Powerhead pumps will draw water
through the strainer & will pump it with high pressure.
Step 2: Testing flow rate & circulating water using powerhead:
Slide down the powerhead pump in
a slider connected to the holder [1]. Another end of the holder has suction
cups for fixing the holder to the aquarium glass. I have connected a hose to
the side outlet of the pump for pumping water to an overhead filter. In my
first test I closed the front outlet of the powerhead pump that can be used for
circulating water so I am only pumping water to a SUMP with high flow rate [2].
Then I removed the cap from the front outlet [3] & now my aquarium pump is
also circulating water [4].
Step 3: Aerating water using powerhead pump:
Powerhead pumps have an opening
that can be connected to an air tube for producing air bubbles. Place another
end of the air tube outside the water so that the pump can suck air &
generate bubbles in the water. Also, it will create disturbance which is
beneficial for aerating water.
Step 4: Testing flow rate of pump in a container:
In my final test, I have connected the powerhead outflow hose to an inlet of a SUMP / container. At the same time, I am circulating water using the front outflow of the powerhead. My Powerhead pump is able to drive water at a high flow rate. If you want to lift water at high speed, then close the front outlet that is used for circulating water inside the aquarium. You can watch the results in the video below:
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