When shopping for the best aquarium powerhead for your tank it is essential that you explore all of your options. powerhead that produces too little water movement will be better than no circulation at all but not much better. A powerhead that creates too much water movement will be extremely tiring and stressful or even dangerous to tank inhabitants, such a system may even be worse than no circulation at all.
Choosing the right powerhead for your specific size and type of system is essential for creating a healthy and aesthetically pleasing aquatic environment. Circulation should mimic what the tank inhabitants would encounter in their natural habitats.
Recommended circulation rates based on tank type:
For freshwater planted aquariums no additional circulation beyond what the filter produces is needed.
For most freshwater tanks additional circulation beyond what the filter produces is often not needed.
For saltwater fish only tanks we recommend that you aim to circulate all the water in your tank 5 to 20 times per hour.
For a reef tank you will want to circulate all the water in the tank about 20 to 40 times per hour. Soft corals can be at the lower end of this scale, and hard corals should be at the upper end of this scale, small polyp stony corals should always be at the upper end of this scale.
Helpful Circulation Tip:
For very small tanks such as 10 gallon nano tanks one small powerhead may be adequate. Aim the flow from the powerhead towards the supply of water coming out of the filtration system, this will create a more random and natural pattern of turbulence in the tank as apposed to a constant unnatural uni-directional stream of water flow.
For 15 or 20 to 75 gallon tanks consider at least two powerheads and aim the flow of water from the pumps directly towards each other to create a more random natural pattern of turbulence.
For larger tanks such as 100 gallon and larger fish tanks consider 3 or 4 powerheads dispersed far apart.
Never aim the flow of water directly at coral or other livestock that cannot move out of the way, such a constant in-changing bombardment of water could be damaging to living tissues, this is why we want random and ever changing turbulence.
Waver maker systems are worth the extra expense as they utilize timer systems to create a random pattern of water movement.
Be warned, just because a manufacturer calls a powerhead a wavemaker does not not make it a waver maker. True wavermaker comes with a controller system that regulates the powerheads function and flow. For a true waver maker we recommend something like the Current USA 6000 660 GPH eFlux Wave Pump Kitnofollow
If you own a marine aquarium, reef aquarium, or freshwater aquarium one of the following powerheads should be right for you.
Hydor Koralia Evolution Aquarium Circulation Pump
The Hydor Koralia Evolution is an excellent well known brand name of powerheads for freshwater or marine aquariums and can be used with timers and wavemaker systems. The system includes magnet-suction cup mounting for versatile positioning within any aquarium. The units utilize suction cups to minimize vibration. The company also offers various sizes including the Hydor Koralia Magnum Pump – the 1050 1150 is for larger aquatic systems and circulates up to 1050 to 1150 gallons of water per hour.
Voyager High-Performance pumps are the next generation in a lineage of exceptional performing models. High-performance stream pumps can circulate massive amounts of water. They are on the glass of the tank with a magnetic attachment and blend in seamlessly with your aquarium’s background. The Sicce Voyager 3 pump is one of the highest-rated power stream pumps based on the reviews of customers that have purchased and use them. The power stream circulates up to 1200 gallons of water per hour and is perfect for larger tanks up to 125 gallons. Customers report that the unit is hardly noticeable and very quiet when running, moving the water around the aquarium smoothly and gracefully.
The Sicce Voyager Nano 1000 Stream Pump 1000l/h (270gph) is rated a full five stars by their satisfied owners and is perfect for nano tanks. The product has the same magnetic attachment system as the Voyager 3 and can be positioned or moved anywhere in the tank depending on your setup and aquarium preferences. The Voyager Nano circulation pump and the Stream pump are both “self-cleaning,” and feature smooth, low-vibration reliable performance requiring a minimum of maintenance.
And this small nano stream from Sicce is for smaller tanks and moves 530 gallons per hour. Tank Capacity: Marine 8-38 gallons, Fresh 16-52 gallons.
SongJoy Wave Maker Aquarium Circulation Pump
The SongJoy Wave Makers are a line of very affordable basic powerheads designed for both freshwater or saltwater aquariums. They get good reviews from users and should be considered if you are looking for a more affordable choice. This powerhead features an efficient, yet powerful motor, an adjustable lift, and ceramic, corrosive-resistant shaft. The magnetic attachment offers you the choice as to where to place the device within the water system. This unit has a magnet base and is an excellent powerhead. They make them in several different sizes so you can find one that will fit your specific requirements.