What will be the next cool powerhead innovation?

[ReefBeta]

Even though gyre pumps have been out for several years, they're still in continuously refinement, especially on serviceability. If reliability can be counted as innovation, that's what the pumps need.

Also Hydros Wave Engine is a great new tech too, providing a universal control platform to plug into all kinds of DC pump. It just need to support more direct drive, hopefully cheaper too. I don't want to judge a DC pump by the functionality of its controller. It would be nice if all manufacturers can agree on a universal standard on DC controller, so that I can choose controller and the pump separately.

 

[TheDragonsReef]

Vortech style pumps with the ability to sweep

More efficient wave boxs

 

[Peace River]

On a larger scale, I have imagined a whole-tank flow system. This would include a flow sensor/meter that is similar to a PAR meter where the flow could be mapped throughout the tank. Additionally, this could integrate with a smart app that provides feedback, recommendations, alternative scenarios, etc.

 

[Giancarlo_f]

Honestly most of the innovations people have posted here sound great but also introduce more complexity and potential failure points that I'd rather not have to deal with... imagine adding a drive shaft just to be able to aim Vortechs yikes... the current ones work well enough imo. I do like those proposed dyson style pumps though.

 

[zalick]

When I clean my 300g by hand, just gently sweeping my hand back and forth a few inches below the water makes the entire tank have a big surging wave.

why can’t we have something like that???

 

[BoxKing]

WetSide Gyre would be simple as all hell. Think of the driveshaft on a car which turns the rear differential. Same concept could be applied to this idea with ease.

 

[BoxKing]

Honestly most of the innovations people have posted here sound great but also introduce more complexity and potential failure points that I'd rather not have to deal with... imagine adding a drive shaft just to be able to aim Vortechs yikes... the current ones work well enough imo. I do like those proposed dyson style pumps though.

In terms of directional flow options, why not make directional flow attachments that you can turn counter/clockwise to aim your flow patterns on the Vortechs... even better if they had a nozzle like the IM Spin Streams attached to MP10-60's

 

[Giancarlo_f]

In terms of directional flow options, why not make directional flow attachments that you can turn counter/clockwise to aim your flow patterns on the Vortechs... even better if they had a nozzle like the IM Spin Streams attached to MP10-60's

Now that would be the better way to go about it

 

[Giancarlo_f]

Something I'd like on a controllable power head would be the ability to adjust aperture to match your tank length's needs

 

[windemerejack]

Why do we need anything else? Advancement is not always a good thing, we are in danger of turning this hobby from keeping fish and corals to keeping the latest and greatest gear.

 

[Malcontent]

How about stands with hydraulics that tip the whole tank back and forth?

 

[blasterman]

The problem with the Vortech pumps is efficiency. I love my MPs, but externally driven magnetic pumps lose efficiency because they arent direct coupled.. A generic 1400 gph internal pump costs 1/10 the price of my MP10 and uses less power. I also think there's patent issues with anybody else making them.

I would like to see more lower profile pumps that can be aimed better.

A true sweeping head would be cool, but that innovative power sweep powerhead that came out in the 2000s had a lot of issues. Maybe mount multiple heads to a single unit and let you control them individually.

Better software is a must.

Being able to snap on different deflectors to increase/ decrease spred would be cool.

 

[ZoWhat]

One powerful enough to do this....

 

[joe0813]

thanks for the ideas guys... time to go get rich now

 

[ss30]

A powerhead that also incorporates some or all of these functions:

* a built-in temperature probe

* an on/off aeration system (super fine micro bubbles)

* some kind of "inlet port" where dosing, food, topoff-water can be injected through it


.

One brand already has a temp sensor. Yep

Sicce SDC XStream​

 

[Malcontent]

 

[Reefvision]

Not really a”new” idea , but my sea swirl been in operation since 2016 non stop. I would like to see more of this type of power head pumps available with/without external water feed.

 

[Snuggs]

Sweeping motion

 

[HJ99]

Something in a Gyre that doesn't require a degree in computer science and latest I-phone to operate. Really disgusted with the Icecap 4K pair we bought.

 

[rtparty]

The last thing we need is more moving parts and more complex pumps. These pump companies can't even bring reliability as is.

What the hobby needs is better reliability and a lower price point. Even better is when Ecotech loses their patent so we can see innovation and reliability on that front.

A better (read smaller, more compact) Sea Sweep would also be welcomed. Especially if you could attach a Nero style pump to it. Of course, that would require a better built Nero pump as well.