Any way to "dial back" a powerhead? (control voltage maybe?)

[Newreeflady]

So, this Koralia Evolution 1400 I bought is a bit strong. My puffer does not like it and I was probably going to order the next size down. But, in lieu of that, is there any way to just dial this one back? Maybe some kind of voltage controlling device? It'd be nice to be able to control speed, anyhow, so if you know of something lmk. Thanks!


-A

 

[talon4x4]

I believe this powerhead runs on AC current, so it would not be possible to dial it back. You would need a powerhead that runs on DC, those are the controllable ones and more expensive.

 

[Dave VG]

I used a light dimmer to control some ac fans. Not sure if it would work on powerheads tho.

 

[Newreeflady]

For now I have stuck it right behind a rock so the rock diffuses the flow quite a bit. Seems like all is well. I loved the jet stream, but gotta cater to the critters

thx!
-A

 

[superkat]

Rock is a good diffuser...may not be the ideal solution...but when I set up my son's hex tank, i wanted to get an even flow, so put a power head directly at the bottom, stacked the rock around it, along with two nano k's on the back sides....works great!

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

Someone corrected me that even though they say 12v, its not dc so it can't be controlled with a simple rheostat. Maybe a "Sparky" can tell us if wiring in a light dimmer switch to a receptacle powering a PH is at all a good idea?

 

[low riderr]

call koralia and ask them if the pumps can be controlled that way. if so all you have to do is splice in a dimmer switch . that is way to easy,they will probably tell you that the pumps cant be powered that way.

 

[Newreeflady]

Yeah, I'm guessing they will say it voids the warranty or something.

 

[Robb_In_AZ]

Maybe splice the dimmer switch into a short extension cord, that way youre not cutting up the powerhead cord. Im seriously thinking of trying it.

I switched out my closed loop SCWD and closed loop hydors last night, to put in 4 Koralia Evo 1400s on Wavemaster Pro plus 2 flow accelorator on my return pump and all my fish hide in the rocks now because of all the major flow going on.

Im also thinking of putting 2 of the outputs of the wavemaster pro going to relays before the pumps so that I can turn two of them off at night completely. The night setting on the wavemaster pro isnt what I thought it would be.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

You cannot reliably "dial back" a common AC motor that runs on your house's wall outlet. Do not attempt to do this with a dimmer switch - you'll accomplish nothing but starting a fire. A/C motors are essentially frequency-driven when it comes to speed.

Basically, there are three ways to control motor speeds applicable to this hobby:

1) Low voltage DC motors are easy - just vary the voltage. Tunze is the ONLY brand that makes such a powerhead. The Hydor powerheads are low voltage AC, not DC.

2) Three phase AC motors (which are typically large and used on closed loops) can be controlled with variable frequency drives.

3) Any pump can be valved down (on the output side) manually.

If you want to reduce the output of a simple powerhead, your best bet is to either get a smaller powerhead or restrict the one you have now physically (i.e. valve or block the output).

 

[jacksonpt]

Could you alter the impeller? Either remove a blade, or shave one down a bit? Just buy a new impeller (impellers are generally easy to get and not very expensive, though I don't know about that particular pump) if you need more flow.

Or replace the impeller with one from a smaller model...

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

IMHO you'd be better off just restricting the outlet - covering it with fine mesh zip-tied on like a hairnet, for instance, since that would be reversible for free, and probably harder to mess up. If you start trimming impellers it's easy to get things out of balance, or change the performance in an unintentional manner (speaking from experience!)

 

[Newreeflady]

Good info, thanks!