Review of Aquarium (& Pond) Power Head Pumps

No to pick on (mentioned them in an earlier postwhen used as wave makers and are properly
in Fish as Pets), however after an email form amaintained. These pumps are also not adjustable
hobbyist about aquarium power heads/pumps Iin their flow
thought I would investigate what is being said in*Maxi Jet Power heads; I will have to agree the
reviews and stumbled across an article with themost with on their assessment of these pumps.
reviews of five different power heads.They are reliable and economical and start back
Either they are from another planet or I must liveup easily even when used as wave makers.
in a parallel universe!However they do have their cons and that is
First they left off the list two of the bestthey have poor head pressure and are not very
aquarium and pond power head/ water pumpsversatile (unlike the Via Aqua, ReSun, and Rio
then their reviews were quite contrary to mypimps) as they are only power heads and nothing
extensive experience with these pumps in literallymore.
100s if not thousands of aquariums over the*Penguin Power Heads; I do not generally agree
years in my aquarium maintenance business.with assessment by on these power heads.
Here are six pumps I will review (includingAlthough they do have a neat feature with the
refutations of their comments):reverse flow power head for UG filters (which
*ReSun; this pump (power head) was totally leftare not very common anymore though), the
off their list, although not as well known in theother nice feature is the adjustable flow feature.
USA/Canada they are very popular in Asia andHowever nice these features are these power
Australia. ReSun has some sizes such as the #6heads have a poor track record for reliability,
that are quite capable for very "mucky" pondthey have very poor head pressure, and do not
environments and yet operate very well. There-start well after the pumps have been in
stainless steel coated impellers along with theservice for a while (in applications such as wave
ceramic shafts found on the larger models) aremakers).
extremely durable 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 very excellentwith them. I have used more Aqua Clear power
head pressure (in fact among the best)! ReSunheads than ANY other (including the Via Aqua
pumps can be submersed or place in line.pumps I now generally recommend). When these
The models 3A, 5, and 6 are awesome in heavypower heads first came out they were industry
duty applications such as ponds or very largeleaders in design, however they are of 1980s
aquariums where high flow and head pressure aretechnology IMO and although they are better than
necessary (as well as ability to deal with largePenguins in reliability and head pressure, they still
amounts of particulates in the water).would stop and not re-start in many of my
About the only con is that with their heavy dutyapplications when power was even briefly
construction, these pumps can be somewhatinterrupted, making them a poor choice for wave
noisier than some others (although still not badmaker applications. Aqua Clear power heads also
here either). ReSun power heads are also not asdo not handle high organic/debris loads well and
adjustable in flow as some other power heads,need more maintenance than the Rios that
but this a minor inconvenience IMO.claimed needed!
*Via Aqua; ; this is a real workhorse line of pumpsBottom line with Aqua Clear power heads is that
that is VERY widely used in the professionalthey are reasonable "retro" pumps, but certainly
aquarium maintenance community yet did notNOT the latest in technology!
even get mentioned by (go figure!). These pumps*ZooMed Power Sweep; even though I sold these
in the power head line (not the basic line) alsoin my business, I rarely recommended them.
have ceramic shafts and very durableThey are basically a gimmicky power head with
construction. Via Aqua pumps (along with ReSun)poor head pressure and low output. They are not
can be used in sumps or as a power head andreal durable and the "sweeping" directional output
have excellent head pressure. The Via Aquafeature is run by cheap plastic gears that often
power head line (such as the VA 1300) can befail. These pumps do not handle high bio loads well
submersed or used in line which adds to versatilityand are best used in small aquariums or better
that not all pumps can match. For Aquariumvivariums where not much is asked of them.
sumps (usually in marine applications) the Via AquaSUMMARY:
2600 and 3300 are unsurpassed in usefulness.I have had persons also ask me why many
Again the only con is these pumps are a littlebrands such as Via Aqua are not as commonly
noisy, but only when used in line (they are a littleavailable as Hagen and does that make them of
quieter than the ReSun line when submersed). Vialower quality as no one really wants them?
Aqua power heads (as with ReSun and Rio) areThe answer is quite simple; Hagen is sold through
also not as adjustable in flows as some othera larger network of mainline Pet Store distributors
power heads, but this a minor inconvenience IMO.(although they are now transitioning to their own
This inconvenience is more than made up for inin house distribution system). This system
versatility! I will also admit to a couple of modelspromotes an all or nothing approach to marketing
by Via Aqua that I not recommend due to lesstheir products basically meaning you carry the
than desirable durability and these are the 2300whole line (good and bad) or not get discounts or
and 4900.even sell anything at all. This marketing system
*Rio (by Taam); although no longer a preferredhas been very successful (not to mention slick
pump by me as the person who founded Riopackaging), however this does not mean a better
started Via Aqua and improved on some of itsproduct.
problems. These are still excellent pumps IMO andVia Aqua (among many other high end brands)
although I partly agree with with theirdoes not sell through traditional marketing
assessment, I think they go overboard with theirdistribution methods and systems, rather it sells
comments as to high maintenance. Rio powermany high end Marine fish importers and similar
heads are very powerful with excellent headwithout all the expensive marketing gimmicks. This
pressure (depending on the model).in particular places their products in the hands of
The cons are the impeller (although very durable),Aquarium Maintenance Professionals who do not
seem to have problems in environmentscare about slick marketing or whether it is the
(especially ponds or dirty aquariums) that have afad, rather whether it works or not which is why
lot of debris and organics in the water column.Via Aqua and many other similar high end
However they still are very good at starting upcompanies choose to sell this way.