What are some good budget powerheads you'd recommend?

[Subnautica]

I'm using the Current USA Eflux ($80 each). I have to disassemble them every week to clean because they keep collecting all the gunk and debris inside which slow down their speed a lot. Regardless, one of them are already dead. Which powerwhead in this price range would you recommend? I'm willing to go a bit higher as well, maybe $80 - $150.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I've always been happy with hydor koralia powerheads

 

[CubsFan]

what are the dimensions of your tank? The non controllable tunzes (6015, 6025, and 6045 I think) are very reliable and last forever. I’m currently running an icecap 1k on my 40 breeder. I really like the flow, but maintenance is a little tedious. I ran it with a 6025 on the other side, but I just switched it out with an old controllable jebao power head. Just set it up last night. So far, so good. Cleaning is just like the tunzes. Pretty simple and quick.

 

[Cole.mormon]

Try a DC powerhead

 

[Cole.mormon]

Jebao CP-120 Cross Flow Pump Wave Maker with Controller

 

[bluedevils6653]

jebao. cheap and controllable.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Fluval c-series

 

[Triple.T]

I've always been happy with hydor koralia powerheads

I second this, can't be beat for the price. Solid as a rock!

 

[Ef4life]

Jabao have been great for me, I have some older ones which are fine, but I prefer the ow series for the compact size, they have a new sow series now too which I haven’t used, I have one on the shelf as a spare just haven’t needed it.

 

[Homebrewer]

I second this, can't be beat for the price. Solid as a rock!

Third

 

[Sm51498]

I run tunze 6040s and they kick butt. Powerful, reliable, controllable.

 

[Pistondog]

I have 2 aqamais, one small one medium. They have a huge selection of programs.

 

[stanlalee]

If you have a small tank these 12v dc hygger's have been great for me. I have two in my 3ft 30 gallon (plus a strong dc return pump) at full power and one in a biocube 14 at it's lowest power. 4 different wave mods, 4 level's of power, 8 levels of wave speed. Programming is not intuitive but easy enough to pick up. $80 each.

 

[Kellie in CA]

If you have a small tank these 12v dc hygger's have been great for me. I have two in my 3ft 30 gallon (plus a strong dc return pump) at full power and one in a biocube 14 at it's lowest power. 4 different wave mods, 4 level's of power, 8 levels of wave speed. Programming is not intuitive but easy enough to pick up. $80 each.

I just got one of these and I like it too. The programming isn't hard once you figure it out, but I was a bit confused at first so I found video on YouTube that explained it well. Nice cross flow on my 25 Lagoon. It's under $70 on Amazon right now.

 

[Subnautica]

Try a DC powerhead

Thanks everyone! May I ask what a DC pump is? Any difference than the regular controllable ones?

 

[BZOFIQ]

Get some Koralias, will work for 5-10 years.

Stay away from Jebao, unless you only need it for 12-14 months.

 

[Subnautica]

Get some Koralias, will work for 5-10 years.

Stay away from Jebao, unless you only need it for 12-14 months.

I like Koralias but I prefer controllable pumps

 

[nereefpat]

Thanks everyone! May I ask what a DC pump is? Any difference than the regular controllable ones?

DC stands for Direct Current, as apposed to Alternating Current. Controllable pumps, as far as I know, are all DC. There are advantages: controllable flow, quiet, it doesn't put line AC voltage in your tank.

I'll go against the grain on Hydor. I've had 10 or so. They all, eventually, fail and leak line voltage into the tank.

 

[Cell]

I love my Jebao SLW's. Otherwise, I'm a Tunze guy.

 

[Subnautica]

I'll go against the grain on Hydor. I've had 10 or so. They all, eventually, fail and leak line voltage into the tank.

Nowadays I only use the Koralias to mix salt because they are not controllable, at least for the ones I'm using. But they last long for me