Powerhead placement

mucky1957 · Jun 9, 2017

hi

I watched the BRS gyre video earlier this week ( very interesting ) and wondered about the placement of my 2 powerheads. I have a 4' 240lt tank with a jebao 25 at each side ( left wall and right wall ). There is no sump and only a small PS1 Fluval skimmer.
I have always ( 5 yrs now ) had the powerheads pointed at the surface to agitate the water but I noticed on the video the heads were pointed more into the tank than the surface. I'm interested in how everyone else has their powerheads positioned. I understand that having the the powerheads pointed into the tank avoids a build up of detritus but when I did move mine and left the surface smooth all I get is a film of 'oily' looking something on the surface.
My levels are nitrate is 2, KH/ALK is 8.9, mag/cal is 1450/400 and ph is 8.3. Unless someone comes up with a REALLY good reason to move them I'll keep my powerheads pointing to the surface.

Mike O. · Jun 9, 2017

mucky1957 said:
hi

I watched the BRS gyre video earlier this week ( very interesting ) and wondered about the placement of my 2 powerheads. I have a 4' 240lt tank with a jebao 25 at each side ( left wall and right wall ). There is no sump and only a small PS1 Fluval skimmer.
I have always ( 5 yrs now ) had the powerheads pointed at the surface to agitate the water but I noticed on the video the heads were pointed more into the tank than the surface. I'm interested in how everyone else has their powerheads positioned. I understand that having the the powerheads pointed into the tank avoids a build up of detritus but when I did move mine and left the surface smooth all I get is a film of 'oily' looking something on the surface.
My levels are nitrate is 2, KH/ALK is 8.9, mag/cal is 1450/400 and ph is 8.3. Unless someone comes up with a REALLY good reason to move them I'll keep my powerheads pointing to the surface.

I wouldn't fix what's not broken. Keep it where it's at.

Mike N · Jun 9, 2017

I changed my powerhead configuration in one of my tanks after watching that video as well. I put the powerhead very near the surface of the water, leveled out, pointing at the opposite wall. This creates the gyre flow, and since the powerhead is positioned very near the surface of the water, it provides plenty of agitation, as well as giving me the beneficial gyre flow.
Seems like you need to move the powerheads further up the glass. Or, go back to what was working for you.

RyanCSGO · Jun 9, 2017

not sure which video specifically from BRS you are referring too, but i would imagine they have a sump, and the return nozzle creates the surface agitation giving them the option to not use the power heads for this.
you definitely want to agitate the surface as it promotes gas exchange.

mucky1957 · Jun 10, 2017

Mike N said:
I changed my powerhead configuration in one of my tanks after watching that video as well. I put the powerhead very near the surface of the water, leveled out, pointing at the opposite wall. This creates the gyre flow, and since the powerhead is positioned very near the surface of the water, it provides plenty of agitation, as well as giving me the beneficial gyre flow.
Seems like you need to move the powerheads further up the glass. Or, go back to what was working for you.

the only problem with having the powerhead near the surface is that you cause a vortex to occur as we saw in the video. I think for now I shall follow the maxim..'if it isn't broke...'