powerheads and filters

[Grumpy_Marine]

Could you use power heads with sponge filters rather than HOB filters or canisters? Or should you always use both in the system?

If using powerheads to create a current like a river is there powerhead that lets you adjust flow of water or output?

Can you create a current with powerheads in a tank with sand bottom or would it just be a constant mess of murky water?

I am starting to think of designs for my 55 gallon tank or 60 gallon tank that will be loach focused. If i get two powerheads the linked manifold sytem here:

River-Tank Manifold Design — Loaches Online

I don't want something that creates a super fast current just a powerhead to create a small underwater current to keep lower level of tank water circulating.

 

[Orion]

Yes, a PH with a sponge could be used instead of HOB or canisters. The biggest drawback is that the main mechanical media is also the main biological media.

Many PH offer flow control. Pretty sure AquaClears do this.

It would be murky for a while, untill all the fine particles of sand either settled out or were filtered out.

Check some old posts from DeltaH20 (or maybe his username was just Delta). He had a river/loach tank that looked and functioned great.

 

[Lotus]

We have some powerheads in our loach tank, along with a HOB and a canister. The main problem I see is that our powehead sponges tend to get clogged within a week, and need rinsing to keep the flow up. If that were our only filtration, I think the tank would be pretty dirty.

We use the Maxijet powerheads, which allow you to control the direction somewhat (not a whole lot), and have a venturi, which is useful at keeping the tank cool and oxygenated in summer.

We're thinking of eventually doing a better setup for a river tank (like the loaches online system), but would keep the canister and HOB.

With loaches in the tank, be extremely careful to cover any openings in powerheads that they could get into, and also any pipes that are part of the system. If snails get in there, loaches will try to get in there, and we've had a couple killed by powerhead intakes.

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

yea if i do that style i showed in link there would only be openings in the pipes at the sponge area and the PH so only intake and outake have holes...

I know i don't want a super fast current just something to give them a feel of home a little. I will be going with canister filter so i can drill the tank and hide the filter media. I hate having a million things hanging on my tank it looks unsightly. I will start buying the pieces i need so i can have it ready for the tank when i get it.