powerhead filters, good or bad?

[bankspower]

I have two AquaClear 30 powerheads with the filter attachments(about 8"long and 2.5" in diameter) on my 55. About every 40 seconds the powerheads will spew a bunch of tiny air bubbles into the aquarium. I don't like this at all and was wondering if it's generally accepted to run with or without these filters. I also have an emperor 400 and bakpak skimmer if that makes any difference. Thanks for your help.

Shawn

 

[Entropy]

Sounds like they are sucking air somehow. Your powerheads should not blow any bubbles unless they are sucking air or have a venturi hooked to them. You might need to move them lower in the tank. I know sometimes my Seio's create a little vortex and actually suck a bit of air from the surface because they are a little too close. It does not bother me though.

 

[ledford1]

I know sometimes my Seio's create a little vortex and actually suck a bit of air from the surface because they are a little too close.

That happens to me also.

 

[bankspower]

I understand what's happening to your powerheads, but there is no vortex going on with mine. The topmost part of the filter is 7" from the surface, and there is no disturbance at the surface. Does anyone else run these filters? The reason I bought them is the LFS dude told me the clownfish could be sucked up against the powerhead intakes without the filters. Is there any truth to that, or was he just doing a little bs sales pitch?

Shawn

 

[311Style]

Could be BS im using two aquaclear powerheads aswell and im looking into clowns in the next month or so IMO if you still have that little cone adapter that they come with to hook onto undergravel filters that should be small enough that the fish cant get sucked up unless you have very small clowns ;D but Im not super sure.

 

[Entropy]

Fish will not be sucked into powerheads unless they are sick and or dying. Healthy fish can swim into or away from very stong currents (more than the average powerhead).

 

[dr_d02]

I only use the AquaClear quick filter attachment after I have blown the settled deitrus off my rock. It is a fairly small particulate filter and gets clogged quickly. That is probably the reason for your bubbles (when the filter clogs it can't suck enough water in).

I wouldn't run with the all the time since you have another mechanical filter. Especially since they take up so much room. Just use them when you are trying to clean obviously dirty water up quickly.

 

[fullkontact]

healthy fish CAN get sucked up, so be carefull. I've had a porcupine puffer get sucked up the same day that I took that filter piece off. And he was, and still is thankfully, very healthy.

 

[bertoni]

Those aren't particularly powerful pumps, so I doubt you'll need anything but a grating of some sort, as shown in this link:

http://www.aquariumguys.com/aqcl301pohe.html

 

[bankspower]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I also think filter restriction is the cause of bubbles from these powerheads, pump cavitation. Anyway, I also have a pair of brand new aquaclear 50's, should I pull the 30's out and put the 50's in for more circulation, and just leave the filters off except for when there's a large amount of junk floating around in the aquarium? Should I worry about loss of beneficial bacteria by removing both filter elements at the same time, or would that be inconsequential? Thanks for all the help.

Shawn

 

[bertoni]

I am the cautious type, and would probably remove one filter at a time, but that's probably not necessary. Can you post the total circulation you have for the tank? I'd target at least 550 gph for the tank, and possibly more, depending on what you want to keep.

 

[bankspower]

AquaClear 30 powerheads 175gph X 2
Protein Skimmer MaxiJet 1200 295 GPH
Emperor 400 filter= ?? GPH

I'm not sure what all to consider for total circulation, but with the knowns(skimmer and small powerheads) I have 645 gph.

If I ran the 50's I'd have 540gph with those alone, or was that what you meant in the first place?

Thanks

Shawn

 

[bertoni]

The skimmer will be pumping mostly air, so that doesn't count. I'd add at least one of the 50s, I guess, until the filter can be quantified.

 

[bankspower]

The Emperor 400 is rated at 400 GPH, which would put me at about 750 GPH with just the aquaclear 30's and the power filter. Is the concensus to remove the bio-wheels on the power filter too since I have about 60lbs of live rock? I figure over the course of a week I'll take the powerhead filters off, wait a week, then take one biowheel out, a week, then the other. How's that sound to you guys? Sometimes I wish I'd done more research before getting into the saltwater side, but it's been very fun so far and none of my living creatures have suffered because of it. Anyway, thanks again for your help.

Shawn

 

[bertoni]

I didn't know about the wheels. The issue with removing them is that you might see an ammonia spike. I suppose you could try.

I would remove the powerhead filters.

 

[bankspower]

I hear ya on the ammonia spike. I have no issue with using them, but I've heard where they can adversely affect nitrates after time. For now my nitrates are very low, so I'll just leave well enough alone and take the powerhead filters off leaving the biowheels in.

Shawn

 

[Amphiprion]

I would remove the filters as well. They are a site for detritus buildup and algae growth (may be a contributor to air bubbles as well). IME, the only trouble with fish getting sucked onto powerhead intakes are when either the fish was sick or the overall intake surface area was reduced (thus creating a suction in a more compact area=vacuumed fish).