Powerhead Question

newreef06 · 04/25/2006, 09:37 PM

I have a 55G drilled with overflow tank. With a refugium. The fug has a Mag drive 5 pump. It does 500GPH. I was wondering what size powerhead to use. Also Do I need more than one. Also since Im running a refuguim. Do I need a skimmer. I know alot of people do not use them If they have a refuguim. Thanks

old salty · 04/25/2006, 11:00 PM

What do you intend to keep? I have all SPS, so I have lots of water movement. You will most likely need more than one!!

The 'ol skimmer debate. This will never be put to rest. I ran my tank for the first 4 months without a skimmer and had zero issues. I added a skimmer and my water looked much clearer. A few SPS frags seemed to color up a bit, but it may have also been because they are starting to mature. Other than clearer water, I haven't noticed any changes to the tank since adding a skimmer. Again, this is just one persons experience. Others have had drastic changes for the better by adding a skimmer while some have had excellent results by removing it.

bertoni · 04/25/2006, 11:09 PM

What kind of animals do you want to keep? That will influence the flow.

One of the CoraLife SuperSkimmers might be a good choice for that tank.

cybrstarr · 04/26/2006, 01:14 AM

Flow is always a good thing, but too much is bad. I learned the hard way!

04/25/2006, 09:37 PM	#1
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	Powerhead Question I have a 55G drilled with overflow tank. With a refugium. The fug has a Mag drive 5 pump. It does 500GPH. I was wondering what size powerhead to use. Also Do I need more than one. Also since Im running a refuguim. Do I need a skimmer. I know alot of people do not use them If they have a refuguim. Thanks Last edited by newreef06; 04/25/2006 at 09:47 PM.

04/25/2006, 11:00 PM	#2
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	What do you intend to keep? I have all SPS, so I have lots of water movement. You will most likely need more than one!! The 'ol skimmer debate. This will never be put to rest. I ran my tank for the first 4 months without a skimmer and had zero issues. I added a skimmer and my water looked much clearer. A few SPS frags seemed to color up a bit, but it may have also been because they are starting to mature. Other than clearer water, I haven't noticed any changes to the tank since adding a skimmer. Again, this is just one persons experience. Others have had drastic changes for the better by adding a skimmer while some have had excellent results by removing it. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

04/25/2006, 11:09 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	What kind of animals do you want to keep? That will influence the flow. One of the CoraLife SuperSkimmers might be a good choice for that tank. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/26/2006, 01:14 AM	#4
cybrstarr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: PACIFICA (FOG TOWN), CA Posts: 23	Flow is always a good thing, but too much is bad. I learned the hard way!