Best Powerhead?

rackyrane · Feb 3, 2009

What does everyone think the best powerheads are? I have had 3 maxijets go out in the last weeks. They were old and I need to replace them. What should I buy? I am using them for my skimmers. I use Koralias to move the water in my tanks, but am thinking about getting a couple of Tunzes.

What's everyone think?

cbau45 · Feb 3, 2009

If you have the money to drop on one then I say get a vortech. It's the only powerhead you'll need. That's just my opinion though. I'm sure others will chime in.

rackyrane · Feb 5, 2009

Vortech? Where do I find those? They don't sell them here in Albuquerque. Are they really expensive?

dport53 · Feb 5, 2009

I love my vortech so much. They are pretty expensive- I got mine for 350 shipped to my door which is cheap really.

What size tank do you have?

acronautical · Feb 5, 2009

Vortech's and Tunze's are priced about the same, and neither brand is easy on the wallet! But they are where it's at for current.

Hypertek99 · Feb 5, 2009

Yep Vortech and Tunze are the 2 top powerheads to me.

FOSELONE · Feb 5, 2009

i might have 4 brand new tunze 6100s for sale soon...never seen water...still in the box...

kgehrke · Feb 5, 2009

Do you mean a power head to move water in the aquarium or a power head for a skimmer?

edwing206 · Feb 5, 2009

Koralias are a good cheaper alternative. I've had 2 K4's for over a year with ZERO issues.

Poseidon · Feb 5, 2009

Vortech's are awesome for flow, and they come with a controller. However, it sounds like you are looking for one for a skimmer? There are TONS of options, but we would need more details.

kgross · Feb 5, 2009

Maxijets are still about the best powerhead/pumps for general usage. They are not good though for bulk water movement, the vortechs, korillias, tunzes etc are much better, but I think you know that.

Kim

rackyrane · Feb 5, 2009

I actually need two powerheads for my skimmers---one is a nano Aqua C and the other is a larger Aqua C remora skimmer.
I also need a couple of powerheads for my 110 gal reef. I need more water movement pronto as one of my powerheads gave up the ghost. I had 3 Maxijets for the above needs and they all keeled over at the same time.

kgross · Feb 5, 2009

If you want water movement, for cheap but good, get the Korilla units, to pump water get maxijets..

Kim

Reef Pets · Feb 5, 2009

I agree, I have 8 of them going and have had 4 of them for over 2 years and they are still running strong. For the amount of flow that they deliver you cant beat the price.

edwing206 said:
Koralias are a good cheaper alternative. I've had 2 K4's for over a year with ZERO issues.

Elan · Feb 5, 2009

if you just need something to feed your skimmer just get a maxijet 1200, depending on size of skimmer of course.

kitten0304 · Feb 11, 2009

hey a side question on these power heads will the koralias be quieter coming on then the maxi jet? I'm really getting tired of the grinding noise the impeller makes when they come on. Thanks in advance, didnt mean to steal the thread just thought it was a good question to ask.

kgross · Feb 11, 2009

The koralias should not be turned on and off all the time. Depending on how they start (what direction), they can rattle quite a bit before they get going correctly.

Kim

kitten0304 · Feb 11, 2009

do we have a recommendation for the better powerhead to be put on a wavemaker?

kgross · Feb 11, 2009

I will not recommend any for a normal wavemaker. No pump is designed to be turned on and off all the time.

If you get the SEIO wave maker the Korillias work very well. This does not turn it off it slows it down to about 30% (I think) then ramps it back up to 100%