What powerheads for a 55-gallon?

Tuscaquatics · 09/17/2009, 07:00 PM

I want to get some pretty good ones. It's a standard 55-gallon with lots of softies and eventually some SPS. I wouldn't mind maybe getting one of those pulse timers, too. Tell me what you think. My research is giving me all different kinds of answers.

E.intheC · 09/17/2009, 09:25 PM

what's your budget? That's a huge consideration. With a 55 gallon I'd try to get one powerhead on each side of the tank and point them at each other.

Tuscaquatics · 09/17/2009, 11:32 PM

I'll spend what it takes to get a good pair. I'm wondering about how much flow I need more than anything.

thebanker · 09/17/2009, 11:41 PM

I have two Koralia 1 powerheads, and I got them for $35 each. High quality, easy to aim, and better looking than a maxi-jet or rio, IMO. The two heads on the right hand side of my tank; one pointed across the surface and the other toward the lower right hand corner, where the flow curves around a rock formation and blows across the sand bed. I also keep an Aquaclear 110 filled with live rock rubble to maintain good flow on the left hand side, and act as a constant biological filter.

Not sure if this is the best way to go, but it's alright.

Nerdy Nudi · 09/18/2009, 01:44 AM

I just purchased a pair of vortechs, mp20's, and have fallen in love.

having the tank without a single cable coming out of it, and the temp drop alone is worth the dough.

running a single in a 29g at the moment till a get the big tank going. the 29g had 3 maxijets in it, one modded, and the tank had a 4+ degree drop until the heater kicked on. first time the heater has ever been on! and with the vortech, there arent any dead spots, the undertow has to be seen to be appreciated.

Im tempted to turn the heater off and see how low the temp will go, but dont want to get the fish sick.

btw, if you do get a pair of pumps, regardless of what you get, dont point them directly at each other unless you want to reduce flow. the flow will be a bit chaotic where they meet but it will also be greatly diminished. a reaction and opposite reaction sort of stuff.

point them so the flow passes and does not directly collide, itll create a gyre that has better and higher flow, and there will still be enough of the flow that will collide to create random surges.

nanojg · 09/18/2009, 05:36 AM

I have an mp20 and a K-4 in my 58, seems about perfect for me.

E.intheC · 09/18/2009, 11:12 AM

I will have to agree with the mp20's. They're great. A pair of Tunze 6055's with a controller is also an option.

colotl · 09/18/2009, 10:34 PM

I got to K3's on each end and work great with my softies and SPS.
If you have the money then definitley go with Vortech MP20, Maybe even you MP40

Tuscaquatics · 09/19/2009, 01:31 AM

Good Lord. I guess I take back what I said about how I wasn't worried about the cost. I didn't know those Vortechs were that much.

I guess I'm thinking more along the line of some Koralias. Are two 2's enough, or should I just bump up to a pair of 3's? I know it can tend to be a matter of opinion or personal need, but how much of a difference is there between the 2 and the 3?

Beefer · 09/19/2009, 08:45 AM

Get (2) MP20s if its in the budget. Not cheap, but you will be happy you did in the long run.

sedor · 09/19/2009, 08:53 AM

Ya Vortechs are really cool, but the price has kept me away for now as well. It will come down eventually and maybe when my tank has been established and i'm not buying livestock every couple of weeks higher end ph's will be an option. In my 72 I run 2 Koralia 4's and 2 K2's. I would probably get a pair of 3's for your 55 if your going to keep SPS. Koralias aren't the best but they do the job. I'm also looking at getting a couple of Tunze Streams, a pair of those will run you somewhere around $300.

09/17/2009, 07:00 PM	#1
Tuscaquatics Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 1,324	What powerheads for a 55-gallon? I want to get some pretty good ones. It's a standard 55-gallon with lots of softies and eventually some SPS. I wouldn't mind maybe getting one of those pulse timers, too. Tell me what you think. My research is giving me all different kinds of answers.

09/17/2009, 09:25 PM	#2
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	what's your budget? That's a huge consideration. With a 55 gallon I'd try to get one powerhead on each side of the tank and point them at each other. __________________ -Eric

09/17/2009, 11:41 PM	#4
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	I have two Koralia 1 powerheads, and I got them for $35 each. High quality, easy to aim, and better looking than a maxi-jet or rio, IMO. The two heads on the right hand side of my tank; one pointed across the surface and the other toward the lower right hand corner, where the flow curves around a rock formation and blows across the sand bed. I also keep an Aquaclear 110 filled with live rock rubble to maintain good flow on the left hand side, and act as a constant biological filter. Not sure if this is the best way to go, but it's alright. Last edited by thebanker; 09/17/2009 at 11:48 PM.

09/18/2009, 11:12 AM	#7
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	I will have to agree with the mp20's. They're great. A pair of Tunze 6055's with a controller is also an option. __________________ -Eric

09/19/2009, 08:53 AM	#11
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Ya Vortechs are really cool, but the price has kept me away for now as well. It will come down eventually and maybe when my tank has been established and i'm not buying livestock every couple of weeks higher end ph's will be an option. In my 72 I run 2 Koralia 4's and 2 K2's. I would probably get a pair of 3's for your 55 if your going to keep SPS. Koralias aren't the best but they do the job. I'm also looking at getting a couple of Tunze Streams, a pair of those will run you somewhere around $300. __________________ Ryan

09/17/2009, 11:32 PM	#3
Tuscaquatics Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 1,324	I'll spend what it takes to get a good pair. I'm wondering about how much flow I need more than anything.

09/18/2009, 01:44 AM	#5
Nerdy Nudi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 473	I just purchased a pair of vortechs, mp20's, and have fallen in love. having the tank without a single cable coming out of it, and the temp drop alone is worth the dough. running a single in a 29g at the moment till a get the big tank going. the 29g had 3 maxijets in it, one modded, and the tank had a 4+ degree drop until the heater kicked on. first time the heater has ever been on! and with the vortech, there arent any dead spots, the undertow has to be seen to be appreciated. Im tempted to turn the heater off and see how low the temp will go, but dont want to get the fish sick. btw, if you do get a pair of pumps, regardless of what you get, dont point them directly at each other unless you want to reduce flow. the flow will be a bit chaotic where they meet but it will also be greatly diminished. a reaction and opposite reaction sort of stuff. point them so the flow passes and does not directly collide, itll create a gyre that has better and higher flow, and there will still be enough of the flow that will collide to create random surges.

09/18/2009, 05:36 AM	#6
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	I have an mp20 and a K-4 in my 58, seems about perfect for me.

09/18/2009, 10:34 PM	#8
colotl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 648	I got to K3's on each end and work great with my softies and SPS. If you have the money then definitley go with Vortech MP20, Maybe even you MP40

09/19/2009, 01:31 AM	#9
Tuscaquatics Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 1,324	Good Lord. I guess I take back what I said about how I wasn't worried about the cost. I didn't know those Vortechs were that much. I guess I'm thinking more along the line of some Koralias. Are two 2's enough, or should I just bump up to a pair of 3's? I know it can tend to be a matter of opinion or personal need, but how much of a difference is there between the 2 and the 3?

09/19/2009, 08:45 AM	#10
Beefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Detroit, Mi Posts: 65	Get (2) MP20s if its in the budget. Not cheap, but you will be happy you did in the long run.