Good starter powerheads for a 40g breeder LPS tank

[glb]

I have a one-year old fowlr tank that I’m now going to add coral to. It will be almost exclusively LPS and softies. Eventually I’d like vortechs but until then, what are some reasonable powerheads for my tank? I have an Apex and I know less expensive models will offer less, but are there any I can cycle on/off with programming? The return pump runs at about 250gph after head loss. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Look at the hydor pumps. Hydor offers their own wavemaker so the pumps should be more than capable of the on off function you're looking for

 

[glb]

Look at the hydor pumps. Hydor offers their own wavemaker so the pumps should be more than capable of the on off function you're looking for

Thanks!!!

 

[glb]

Look at the hydor pumps. Hydor offers their own wavemaker so the pumps should be more than capable of the on off function you're looking for

If I bought 2, what gph do you suggest for each one?

 

[Crabs McJones]

If I bought 2, what gph do you suggest for each one?

Lps and softies dont need a whole lot of flow, so for a 40 breeder I'd shoot for around 800 to 1000 gph each since you'll be running them in on off cycles. That'll give you around 20 to 25 times turnover

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Lps and softies dont need a whole lot of flow, so for a 40 breeder I'd shoot for around 800 to 1000 gph each since you'll be running them in on off cycles. That'll give you around 20 to 25 times turnover

Would like to say you’re spot on with this. REEF2REEF loves it’s MPxx and Gyres, but those Hydors are such a great bang for your buck. Check the used section on amazon for some serious deals.

 

[falconut]

I like the hydor koralia evolutions, but not on a wavemaker. They last a little on them, then the nub on the cover breaks & they sometimes run backwards. Not sure if the newer models handle wavemakers better. They are a reliable power head with great customer service at a reasonable price.

 

[falconut]

If I bought 2, what gph do you suggest for each one?

I've got a 1500 and 1150 on 1 side and a jebao on the other side of my 180 & the flow is decent. Maybe (2) 850s & see how they are. Good thing is you can adjust them in a good amount of directions.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Hydor did well for me in the past. Check out Jebao PP-4 powerheads. They are cheap, controllable, quiet, move a lot of water for the size amd you can hook them up to your Apex to limitless programming functions.

 

[glb]

Thanks everyone! I’m looking to program them on/off only at this point to switch out the flow. I’ve seen programs of one on, the other one; then both on for a while. Does that make sense?

 

[falconut]

Thanks everyone! I’m looking to program them on/off only at this point to switch out the flow. I’ve seen programs of one on, the other one; then both on for a while. Does that make sense?

Sounds like you may be beyond the Hydor Koralia. The Jeabos will, I believe, do what you're looking for. Unfortunately, the reliability can be hit or miss and the customer service is pretty much non existent. I had 2, RW8 and a PP15. The RW8 is still working great after like 3 years, but the PP15 died after a year (control lights just blink). I've swapped the controller, but lights still flash when connected to the PP15. So, you could try them. They're a cheap controllable pump.