Powerhead for 20 Gallon QT, Necessary, or Not?

[Hugh Mann]

I will be getting a Hippo Tang next week and I am just making sure I have everything set up and ready to go for when it arrives.

I know I should have a fairly high flow rate, but I am wondering if the Aquaclear 70 I'll be running (no carbon), will provide sufficient flow at ~300gp/h, or should I go out and grab a nano powerhead, like a Koralia Evolution?

 

[andrewey]

I personally only use a powerhead when I QT coral. I simply use the HOB filter on my fish/invert QT (and an airstone during treatments), however each reefer sets up their QT a bit differently

 

[Hugh Mann]

That's what I figured. Ideally it will be in there no more than a couple weeks, so it should be fine. Figured it would be worth a double check, because this is one of the more expensive fish I've bought, and I want to do it right. Should be fine considering I am getting the fish fresh out of copper.

I was going to do both honestly, HoB and sponge filter as I hear tangs have a pretty hefty bioload.

 

[Billldg]

I always have a powerhead in any tank, whether its a DT or QT tank. It helps with gas exchange, and QT tanks can be a little hard on fish and corals as the oxygen can deplete far faster than a bigger tank.

 

[PatW]

I always have a powerhead in any tank, whether its a DT or QT tank. It helps with gas exchange, and QT tanks can be a little hard on fish and corals as the oxygen can deplete far faster than a bigger tank.

Having flow always seems to help. I think it makes food more appealing. When it moves with the current, fish tend to think it might be alive.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Haven't yet had oxygen issues in my QT, but the Hippo is such a different, more active fish than I have had before.

Still, I will try to source a little powerhead. Apparently all my local stores don't carry or are sold out of the Nanos. :/