The most beautiful aquarium is when the creatures in it are healthy. If you only focus on decorating an aquarium so that it looks best without caring about maintaining the health of the fish, then you are wrong.
No matter how beautiful a tank is, the fish or aquatic plants in it are not healthy, susceptible to disease, it cannot be perfect. That’s why a cleaning device like a filter or aeration machine is necessary to maintain good health for your fish.
However, for these devices to work best, you need an aquarium powerhead. This device, combined with the filter, will help keep your fish tank clean and healthy.
In this article, we will give a list of the best aquarium powerhead along with some other information. Hope to help you choose the best product.
What Is The Use Of An Aquarium Powerhead?
There are many people who don’t really know the use of a powerhead aquarium and don’t even know it exists. However it is a device that plays an important role in creating the circulation of water in the tank.
The more water circulates, the more it is cleaned and the organisms in the tank are thus able to live in a healthier environment. Like a river, water constantly circulating and moving will produce healthier fish.
And in an aquarium, there are always dead spots that a filter cannot reach, so it cannot clean the whole tank. Or with a small power filter, it cannot cover the entire aquarium but needs another help.
Therefore, an aquarium powerhead will be a great help for these filters. This device is like a pump, blowing water in the dead corner out so the filter can remove impurities in the water.
Not only does it help circulate water in dead corners, but it also helps water in the aquarium to circulate continuously. When water is circulated continuously, it means that it produces a lot of oxygen and helps the fish to get food easily.
With this device, water will move around the aquarium and bring many benefits to the creatures in the tank. The water will be continuously filtered and removed from the waste, pathogenic bacteria. It will also bring warmth and oxygen to all areas of the aquarium. No more dead spots in the aquarium.
Top 5 Best Aquarium Powerhead Review 2021
#1 Hydor Koralia Evolution Aquarium Circulation Pump (Best Quality)
This aquarium powerhead from Hydor is one of the best quality products we found. This product is an upgraded version, it brings more great experience than the old version.
This product creates a strong wave for any aquarium. With this powerful capacity, it can create a continuous circulation in the aquarium, ensuring all the water in the tank is taken to the filter.
This model is a combination of wave-timers, quality wavemakers. It comes with many different sizes so you can choose the one that best suits your aquarium. And this model can work with all types of aquariums, from freshwater tanks to saltwater tanks or coral reefs.
This device has a compact design, does not take up much space in the aquarium. It can also easily be placed in any position according to your needs. This aquarium powerhead does not affect the aesthetics of the aquarium.
Or you can easily cover it up with aquatic plants if you feel its appearance is causing too much attention.
This product comes at an affordable price. It does not make any noise while creating a high speed flow. Besides, it also does not cause any cost to the electricity bill at the end of the month because it is an energy-saving model.
In general, this model does not have many weaknesses. However, you really need to choose a product with a capacity that suits your aquarium. Otherwise, the flow it creates is too strong which will lead to unfortunate situations.
#2 Fluval Hagen Sea Circulation Pump (Best For Saltwater)
Surely you are not new to Fluval – a famous manufacturer that you have bought at least once from them. And this model is an aquarium powerhead that can be used for both saltwater and freshwater aquariums. But it is most perfect for a saltwater aquarium.
This powerhead aquarium has the ability to simulate the natural flow in the oceans. That’s why we say it’s perfect for saltwater aquariums. And it also supports the strong development of coral reefs.
This model also comes with a variety of size options such as CP1, CP2, CP3 and CP4 so you can choose one that fits the aquarium size. Different sizes will come with a separate price, but they are all affordable.
This product has a friendly design and is easy to maintain and install. You can attach it to the position where you need to create a flow for the aquarium. However, in our opinion, the most ideal location is the dead spots and the corners of the aquarium.
You can change the flow direction so that you can blow water in hard to reach places. This change also helps you take care of the creatures in the aquarium more flexible. You can also reposition this device thanks to a sturdy stand.
In particular, this aquarium powerhead comes with a timer to help users use it more safely. This timer works very well, so you can rest assured when setting a timer for your device.
The compact, easy-to-maintain size of this aquarium powerhead is also a big plus. However, many customers reflect that it makes noise when operating. Although the noise was not too loud, it was enough to become a nuisance to many people.
#3 Rio Plus 2500 HP Aqua Pump (Best Lifespan)
If you’re looking for the most outstanding aquarium powerhead ever, never ignore this product from Rio. This is one of the devices with the longest life and the most enduring operation on this list.
This aquarium powerhead is like a horse. It has a powerful engine that can lift any water up. And this device can work continuously without stopping to heat up.
The bearings and shaft of this device are made from ceramic. This is a high quality material that not only provides durability but also provides outstanding performance for the device.
Not only that, but the magnetic rotor also ensures that no water can get into the device when it works. This ensures the device can last for a long time without having to worry about any problems.
Although the engine of this model is very powerful, it does not make any noise. It can generate high flow rates without making a loud noise like other devices. Many customers admit this is the point they are most attracted to this aquarium powerhead.
You can use the model for any aquarium from freshwater tanks to saltwater tanks. A lot of comments from customers on Amazon that this device also works really well with their reef tanks.
Overall, this model does not have many shortcomings and it also receives much appreciation from users. However, the delivery service from the manufacturer does not seem to be really satisfactory. Many customers reflect they received packages that were no longer intact.
#4 Hygger Submersible Aquarium Powerhead (Best 2-IN-1)
This product is a great combination of wavemaker and powerhead that you cannot ignore. It is also an ideal budget option for those with a tight budget. Certainly this 2-in-1 model will not disappoint you.
Hygger is one of the most prestigious aquarium equipment manufacturers today. Therefore, you can also trust the quality of this product.
This device provides a powerful capacity to lift water from dead spots in the aquarium to the top. This circulation will keep the tank water circulating and remove impurities and bacteria. This circulation also makes the water in the tank becomes cleaner and healthier.
In particular, this device has dual-head, a design that helps expand the area of aquarium powerhead as well as flexibility in the direction. They have rotated 360 degrees powerhead so that you can change directions easily, and more flexibly.
Because of this design, it maximizes the amount of water that is conditioned in the aquarium. The process of filtration or the addition of oxygen, nutrients in the aquarium also becomes easier. The wider flow of water also creates a more natural appearance for your aquarium.
It also does not require much effort for installation and maintenance. What really annoys you is the suction cup. It does not work really well and may fall off quickly after a few weeks of use.
Except for this, we consider it to be a powerful, flexible and good quality device. If you don’t mind using another way to fix it, this option is not bad.
#5 SUNSUN JVP Series Submersible Powerhead (Best Budget)
If you are looking for an ideal aquarium powerhead for your limited budget, this is your choice. This product is not only cheap but it also has the ability to work very well. It will definitely be worth your investment.
This is a small, easy to install and does not require any effort to get used to it. You can also maintain equipment regularly and easily thanks to its simple design.
Although small, this aquarium powerhead is very powerful. It can create a flow strong enough to allow the entire tank water to flow more evenly. Areas of dead spots will also be approached to be taken to the filter.
This flow is modeled as an ocean wave. This makes it ideal for saltwater aquariums or reef tanks. These waves are very natural and do not affect the organisms in the tank.
This aquarium powerhead can be rotated 360 degrees, so you can rotate it to the right angle according to the needs of the aquarium. This flexibility will also eliminate dead spots in your aquarium.
Although it comes with a cheap price, this aquarium powerhead can last for a while. So, instead of wasting money investing in unknown products, you should add a few dollars to buy this product from SUNSUN.
However, this device makes a lot of noise, and if you put the fish tank in the bedroom it is really a problem.
How Can I Choose The Best Aquarium Powerhead?
Choosing an aquarium powerhead is not a simple task for those who are not technically savvy.
Therefore, we will prepare you for the factors that you should consider when choosing a powerhead aquarium. And these elements will not include technical terms for you to understand clearly. Still, it can help you choose the best aquarium powerhead.
#1 Does it fit your aquarium?
First, you should consider your tank size so you can choose an aquarium powerhead of the right size and capacity.
You should choose a device that is not too bulky, so it will not affect the aesthetics of the aquarium. And with a suitable sized model, it can easily harmonize with other devices in the aquarium.
Typically, the size of the aquarium powerhead will correspond to its capacity. For example, a small aquarium powerhead will have a small capacity and vice versa.
So you should choose one that corresponds to the size of the aquarium.
#2 Does it work with your aquarium type?
A powerhead aquarium not only needs to fit your tank size, it must also integrate with the type of aquarium. There are three main types of tanks today: freshwater, saltwater and coral reefs.
Not all aquarium powerhead can work with all three tanks. That’s why you have to dig into the device to see if it can work with your aquarium.
#3 How is the water flow rate?
You also need to pay attention to the water flow rate of the device. You can understand this is the number of times the water in the aquarium is circulated through the device every hour. It has units of GPH (gallon per hour).
If this number is greater, the water in the tank is cleaner and healthier. And it also helps shorten the device uptime.
But you should note that some calm water fish cannot withstand a strong current.
#4 How is the sound level?
Noise from aquarium equipment can affect fishes and can scare them. And it also affects more or less your living space.
Therefore, a device that doesn’t make much noise should be your preferred choice.
Final Verdict
According to our review, the Hydor Koralia Evolution Aquarium Circulation Pump is the highest rated product. It has a good quality, long service life and comes at an affordable price. Rio Plus 2500 HP Aqua Pump is also a good choice.
Before choosing any aquarium powerhead, you need to consider a number of factors to be able to choose the most suitable product. Never rush because it will not lead to good results.
Thanks for taking the time with us!