How pumps work


Review of Aquarium (& Pond) Power Head Pumps

No to pick on (mentioned them in an earlieraquariums) that have a lot of debris and
post in Fish as Pets), however after an emailorganics in the water column. However they
form a hobbyist about aquarium power headsstill are very good at starting up when used
pumps I thought I would investigate what isas wave makers and are properly maintained.
being said in reviews and stumbled across anThese pumps are also not adjustable in their
article with the reviews of five differentflow
power  heads.
*Maxi Jet Power heads; I will have to agree
Either they are from another planet or I mustthe most with on their assessment of these
live  in  a  parallel  universe!pumps. They are reliable and economical and
start back up easily even when used as wave
First they left off the list two of the bestmakers. However they do have their cons and
aquarium and pond power head/ water pumpsthat is they have poor head pressure and are
then their reviews were quite contrary to mynot very versatile (unlike the Via Aqua,
extensive experience with these pumps inReSun, and Rio pimps) as they are only power
literally 100s if not thousands of aquariumsheads  and  nothing  more.
over the years in my aquarium maintenance
business.*Penguin Power Heads; I do not generally
agree with assessment by on these power
Here are six pumps I will review (includingheads. Although they do have a neat feature
refutations  of  their  comments):with the reverse flow power head for UG
filters (which are not very common anymore
*ReSun; this pump (power head) was totallythough), the other nice feature is the
left off their list, although not as welladjustable  flow  feature.
known in the USA/Canada they are very popular
in Asia and Australia. ReSun has some sizesHowever nice these features are these power
such as the #6 that are quite capable forheads have a poor track record for
very "mucky" pond environments and yetreliability, they have very poor head
operate very well. The stainless steel coatedpressure, and do not re-start well after the
impellers along with the ceramic shafts foundpumps have been in service for a while (in
on the larger models) are extremely durableapplications  such  as  wave  makers).
and  almost  never  fail.
*Hagen Aqua Clear Power Heads; this pump is
These pumps are very reliable and start upalso over rated by in my extensive experience
without a problem; they also have verywith them. I have used more Aqua Clear power
excellent head pressure (in fact among theheads than ANY other (including the Via Aqua
best)! ReSun pumps can be submersed or placepumps I now generally recommend). When these
in  line.power heads first came out they were industry
leaders in design, however they are of 1980s
The models 3A, 5, and 6 are awesome in heavytechnology IMO and although they are better
duty applications such as ponds or very largethan Penguins in reliability and head
aquariums where high flow and head pressurepressure, they still would stop and not
are necessary (as well as ability to dealre-start in many of my applications when
with large amounts of particulates in thepower was even briefly interrupted, making
water).them a poor choice for wave maker
applications. Aqua Clear power heads also do
About the only con is that with their heavynot handle high organic/debris loads well and
duty construction, these pumps can beneed more maintenance than the Rios that
somewhat noisier than some others (althoughclaimed  needed!
still not bad here either). ReSun power heads
are also not as adjustable in flow as someBottom line with Aqua Clear power heads is
other power heads, but this a minorthat they are reasonable "retro" pumps, but
inconvenience  IMO.certainly  NOT  the  latest  in  technology!
*Via Aqua; ; this is a real workhorse line of*ZooMed Power Sweep; even though I sold these
pumps that is VERY widely used in thein my business, I rarely recommended them.
professional aquarium maintenance communityThey are basically a gimmicky power head with
yet did not even get mentioned by (gopoor head pressure and low output. They are
figure!). These pumps in the power head linenot real durable and the "sweeping"
(not the basic line) also have ceramic shaftsdirectional output feature is run by cheap
and very durable construction. Via Aqua pumpsplastic gears that often fail. These pumps do
(along with ReSun) can be used in sumps or asnot handle high bio loads well and are best
a power head and have excellent headused in small aquariums or better vivariums
pressure. The Via Aqua power head line (suchwhere  not  much  is  asked  of  them.
as the VA 1300) can be submersed or used in
line which adds to versatility that not allSUMMARY:
pumps can match. For Aquarium sumps (usually
in marine applications) the Via Aqua 2600 andI have had persons also ask me why many
3300  are  unsurpassed  in  usefulness.brands such as Via Aqua are not as commonly
available as Hagen and does that make them of
Again the only con is these pumps are alower  quality  as  no one really wants them?
little noisy, but only when used in line
(they are a little quieter than the ReSunThe answer is quite simple; Hagen is sold
line when submersed). Via Aqua power headsthrough a larger network of mainline Pet
(as with ReSun and Rio) are also not asStore distributors (although they are now
adjustable in flows as some other powertransitioning to their own in house
heads, but this a minor inconvenience IMO.distribution system). This system promotes an
This inconvenience is more than made up forall or nothing approach to marketing their
in versatility! I will also admit to a coupleproducts basically meaning you carry the
of models by Via Aqua that I not recommendwhole line (good and bad) or not get
due to less than desirable durability anddiscounts or even sell anything at all. This
these  are  the  2300  and  4900.marketing system has been very successful
(not to mention slick packaging), however
*Rio (by Taam); although no longer athis  does  not  mean  a  better  product.
preferred pump by me as the person who
founded Rio started Via Aqua and improved onVia Aqua (among many other high end brands)
some of its problems. These are stilldoes not sell through traditional marketing
excellent pumps IMO and although I partlydistribution methods and systems, rather it
agree with with their assessment, I thinksells many high end Marine fish importers and
they go overboard with their comments as tosimilar without all the expensive marketing
high maintenance. Rio power heads are verygimmicks. This in particular places their
powerful with excellent head pressureproducts in the hands of Aquarium Maintenance
(depending  on  the  model).Professionals who do not care about slick
marketing or whether it is the fad, rather
The cons are the impeller (although verywhether it works or not which is why Via Aqua
durable), seem to have problems inand many other similar high end companies
environments (especially ponds or dirtychoose to sell this way.



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