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	Too strong a powerhead
gapgap Small Fry Posts: 4 Kudos: 2 Votes: 1 Registered: 04-Jul-2005	Hi! i have a tiny 250Liters/Hour powerhead filter for my 2.5 gallon tank. it is overly powerful, given that its in a tight aquarium. The strong current it makes disturbs the fish and plants a lot. what can i do to reduce its output to about half? (the water current reduces in half if the filter is very dirty. so if i clean the sponge, the strong current will come back)
Posted 27-Feb-2006 15:48
OldTimer Mega Fish USAF Retired Posts: 1181 Kudos: 1294 Votes: 809 Registered: 08-Feb-2005	What type of filter is it? If it's a HOB type you could possibly place a pre-filter on the intake tube which would help to restrict the flow a bit, however it seems you have just way too large a filter for such a small tank. Azoo makes a small HOB for these smaller tanks. Here's a link. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9821&Ntt=azoo%20filter&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1 Jim Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain
Posted 27-Feb-2006 16:55
lowlight Enthusiast Posts: 166 Kudos: 94 Registered: 03-Apr-2005	You could try and fit something inside the tube the powerhead sits on to reduce the flow rate. Some sort of filter material maybe?
Posted 28-Feb-2006 06:28
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002	Hi, I believe "Oldtimer" is correct, you have too much of a pump for that small of a tank. Take it back to the LFS and get a replacement, or a smaller filter as was suggsted. The other comment is that the water of the tank is used to cool that pump. Restricting the flow can lead to the pump over heating, and even beginning to influence the temperature of the tank itself. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Posted 01-Mar-2006 11:18
zman Hobbyist Posts: 76 Kudos: 73 Votes: 63 Registered: 19-Feb-2006	Edited by zman I can't belive I'm going to say this but you actually have too big of a filter ..my motto has always been you can't have enought filter ... more is better. the solution is very simple...time for a bigger tank Frank is absolutely correct, the obstruction of the water flow by the methods described above will tax the pump.
Posted 01-Mar-2006 14:42
lowlight Enthusiast Posts: 166 Kudos: 94 Registered: 03-Apr-2005	I did not even think about restrictive water flow taxing the pump or even over heating it. I also should have read the thread better, if I'm correct 250 liters/hour is around 55 to 60 gal. per hour. I would definetly agree, waaayyy to much for a 2.5 gal tank. I know there are filters designed for small tanks. If all else fails I believe there are UGF filters for a tank that size and use an airstone, I believe that might work.
Posted 02-Mar-2006 08:40
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	Restriction of pressure is like heavy overstocking it should never be done. Looks like you have to get the correct filter for that tank. My small Eheim has an adjustable water pressure flow and if I have it on full nothing could move in the tank against the flow. *Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info* Look here for my Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 03-Mar-2006 10:02


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