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	Powerhead for a Waterfall ?
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	Just wondering if anyone's ever used a powerhead to rig up a waterfall? I have a tall but small tank and was thinkin I wanted to try and set it up as a paludarium. I was thinking of increasing the intake tube on the powerhead but didnt' know if it required being submerged to remain cool.....if any of that makes any sense :%). ^_^
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
jake Fish Addict Posts: 594 Kudos: 875 Votes: 2 Registered: 21-Mar-2004	I've never tried to rig a powerhead up for a waterfall. How far out of the water did you want the water fall to start? Also, about how many gallons per hour were you looking for? A small submersible pump might give you more options as far as water fall placement goes. http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=27447;category_id=3851;pcid1=2181;pcid2=
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
DarkRealm Overlord Moderator metal-R-us Posts: 5962 Kudos: 2166 Registered: 23-Sep-2002	most powerheads are designed to be submerged in order to keep cool and not burn up. If it was me, I would go with a small submersible pump like a mag drive pump or a Via Aqua pump.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
Azn_Devil Big Fish Posts: 366 Kudos: 310 Votes: 5 Registered: 30-Apr-2004	im not sure but i think you need the power heads submerged for the impeller to keep cool like these guys said. cant you just move the filter so that the out put is above the waterfall? or is your water fall not that high?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
lil-fishy Enthusiast Posts: 167 Kudos: 176 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Feb-2004	I've done this before specifically for the purpose your using it for a paludarium. I don't know if you have a Meijer's by you but I know you can buy a submersible pump at Meijer's for about ten or twenty bucks in the yard fountain section that does the job.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
pmdaggett Enthusiast Posts: 191 Kudos: 169 Votes: 1 Registered: 25-Jul-2004	I think this might be headed in the direction that I tried once. I have a marineland 550 powerhead that came with a flyer that said I could buy equipment that would make it become a powerhead and a bio-wheel waterfall. The attachment is an emperor, but I've never seen it at any LFS or online. I've also heard that it runs quite expensive. It can be done though and it also makes a powerhead act more like a bio filter.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	Hmmm....well I was afraid that they powerhead would need to remain submerged to operate properly. Has anyone ever tried extending the outflow of a powerhead then? Maybe with some acrylic hose that would flow above the waterline then cascade down some rocks. I know I could go out and buy one of these pond pumps that have been discussed, I'd just rather do a DIY with the unused powerhead I've already got . ^_^
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
lil_mikey69 Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3180 Kudos: 2380 Votes: 1 Registered: 22-Jan-2003	Well, not really the same thing at all, but you can defentinally do it if you get the pump submerged. I have a 10 gallon tank with only fresh RO water in it under my 75 gallon reef. I have a powerhead hooked up to two float switches in the tank. When the level gets low the pump turns and, and pumps water from the 10 gallon tank to the 75 gallon tank via some pond tubing. I mean, it's basicaly the same thing you want to do. The powerhead needs to be in the water, get some tubing and put it over the powerheads output, and then put it where you want it.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	Excellent lil_mikey69 that's what I was looking for...guess it's a trip to home depot soon ...maybe I'll do some pics if the whole process comes out well . ^_^
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
lil_mikey69 Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3180 Kudos: 2380 Votes: 1 Registered: 22-Jan-2003	On the back of the powerhead box, it should say what kind of flow it can create or whatever. I'm using a MaxiJet 900 for my little system, it says how high it can push the water when pumping. For example, I think the MJ 900 can do 42" or something like that. Something to keep in mind. You don't want a pump too powerful.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	Hmmm....I don't remember seeing anything like that on my box...the Aquaclear boxes seem to not have all that much information now that I think about it. In any case it'll be for a small tank, and I suppose I can modify the hosing for the outflow to reduce preassure (like one of those lawn watering hoses). ^_^
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
Fish_Tank Fish Addict Posts: 860 Kudos: 940 Votes: 1 Registered: 13-Nov-2003	I had a filter that sat above the tank that ran off a powerhead in the tank, just attach some hosing onto the outlet, and it will pump it up the flow is reduced the higher u go though. good luch with the waterfall, it can be done, cause i've seen a picture of one
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
lil_mikey69 Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3180 Kudos: 2380 Votes: 1 Registered: 22-Jan-2003	If I remember to when I get home, I'll check one of the boxes and take a picture. I'm almost positive it talks about things at certain heights. Maybe I'm thinking of my Mag 3 pump.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	No worries lil_mikey69, I'm sure the Aquaclear box is different anyway ...I'll just pull on a wetsuit before playing with it too much...I've already made quite a mess with the one in the "pond"...aparently if they're sideways and the reverse flow is on ...well the water will shoot out the airline hose . ^_^
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
poisonwaffle Mega Fish Posts: 1397 Kudos: 591 Registered: 11-Feb-2003	They have something like that set up at school in a turtle tank. They have a little pond pump and some tubing going to a waterfall. It looks really nice I'm thinking of setting up something in my 29g with my spare powerhead...I don't know what though...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40


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