| No to pick on (mentioned them in an earlier | | | | aquariums) that have a lot of debris and |
| post in Fish as Pets), however after an email | | | | organics in the water column. However they |
| form a hobbyist about aquarium power heads | | | | still are very good at starting up when used |
| pumps I thought I would investigate what is | | | | as wave makers and are properly maintained. |
| being said in reviews and stumbled across an | | | | These pumps are also not adjustable in their |
| article with the reviews of five different | | | | flow |
| power heads. | | | | |
| | | | *Maxi Jet Power heads; I will have to agree |
| Either they are from another planet or I must | | | | the 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 best | | | | makers. However they do have their cons and |
| aquarium and pond power head/ water pumps | | | | that is they have poor head pressure and are |
| then their reviews were quite contrary to my | | | | not very versatile (unlike the Via Aqua, |
| extensive experience with these pumps in | | | | ReSun, and Rio pimps) as they are only power |
| literally 100s if not thousands of aquariums | | | | heads 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 (including | | | | heads. 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 totally | | | | though), the other nice feature is the |
| left off their list, although not as well | | | | adjustable flow feature. |
| known in the USA/Canada they are very popular | | | | |
| in Asia and Australia. ReSun has some sizes | | | | However nice these features are these power |
| such as the #6 that are quite capable for | | | | heads have a poor track record for |
| very "mucky" pond environments and yet | | | | reliability, they have very poor head |
| operate very well. The stainless steel coated | | | | pressure, and do not re-start well after the |
| impellers along with the ceramic shafts found | | | | pumps have been in service for a while (in |
| on the larger models) are extremely durable | | | | applications such as wave makers). |
| and almost never fail. | | | | |
| | | | *Hagen Aqua Clear Power Heads; this pump is |
| These pumps are very reliable and start up | | | | also over rated by in my extensive experience |
| without a problem; they also have very | | | | with them. I have used more Aqua Clear power |
| excellent head pressure (in fact among the | | | | heads than ANY other (including the Via Aqua |
| best)! ReSun pumps can be submersed or place | | | | pumps 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 heavy | | | | technology IMO and although they are better |
| duty applications such as ponds or very large | | | | than Penguins in reliability and head |
| aquariums where high flow and head pressure | | | | pressure, they still would stop and not |
| are necessary (as well as ability to deal | | | | re-start in many of my applications when |
| with large amounts of particulates in the | | | | power 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 heavy | | | | not handle high organic/debris loads well and |
| duty construction, these pumps can be | | | | need more maintenance than the Rios that |
| somewhat noisier than some others (although | | | | claimed needed! |
| still not bad here either). ReSun power heads | | | | |
| are also not as adjustable in flow as some | | | | Bottom line with Aqua Clear power heads is |
| other power heads, but this a minor | | | | that 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 the | | | | in my business, I rarely recommended them. |
| professional aquarium maintenance community | | | | They are basically a gimmicky power head with |
| yet did not even get mentioned by (go | | | | poor head pressure and low output. They are |
| figure!). These pumps in the power head line | | | | not real durable and the "sweeping" |
| (not the basic line) also have ceramic shafts | | | | directional output feature is run by cheap |
| and very durable construction. Via Aqua pumps | | | | plastic gears that often fail. These pumps do |
| (along with ReSun) can be used in sumps or as | | | | not handle high bio loads well and are best |
| a power head and have excellent head | | | | used in small aquariums or better vivariums |
| pressure. The Via Aqua power head line (such | | | | where not much is asked of them. |
| as the VA 1300) can be submersed or used in | | | | |
| line which adds to versatility that not all | | | | SUMMARY: |
| pumps can match. For Aquarium sumps (usually | | | | |
| in marine applications) the Via Aqua 2600 and | | | | I 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 a | | | | lower quality as no one really wants them? |
| little noisy, but only when used in line | | | | |
| (they are a little quieter than the ReSun | | | | The answer is quite simple; Hagen is sold |
| line when submersed). Via Aqua power heads | | | | through a larger network of mainline Pet |
| (as with ReSun and Rio) are also not as | | | | Store distributors (although they are now |
| adjustable in flows as some other power | | | | transitioning 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 for | | | | all or nothing approach to marketing their |
| in versatility! I will also admit to a couple | | | | products basically meaning you carry the |
| of models by Via Aqua that I not recommend | | | | whole line (good and bad) or not get |
| due to less than desirable durability and | | | | discounts 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 a | | | | this does not mean a better product. |
| preferred pump by me as the person who | | | | |
| founded Rio started Via Aqua and improved on | | | | Via Aqua (among many other high end brands) |
| some of its problems. These are still | | | | does not sell through traditional marketing |
| excellent pumps IMO and although I partly | | | | distribution methods and systems, rather it |
| agree with with their assessment, I think | | | | sells many high end Marine fish importers and |
| they go overboard with their comments as to | | | | similar without all the expensive marketing |
| high maintenance. Rio power heads are very | | | | gimmicks. This in particular places their |
| powerful with excellent head pressure | | | | products 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 very | | | | whether it works or not which is why Via Aqua |
| durable), seem to have problems in | | | | and many other similar high end companies |
| environments (especially ponds or dirty | | | | choose to sell this way. |