An aquarium powerhead is a water pump completely submerged into an aquarium to circulate water.

Description

An aquarium powerhead is typically used to create flow throughout the

tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful e ...

. For example, a single powerhead could be used at one end of a freshwater aquarium to simulate a laminar river current, or multiple powerheads can be positioned throughout the aquarium to create more turbulent flow. A switching or variable-voltage system (also known as a "wavemaker") is commonly used in reef aquaria to more closely simulate the movement of ocean water. Water circulation is vital to proper biological filtration of most saltwater aquaria (particularly those using the

Berlin Method The Berlin Method of biological filtration is a method for maintaining a clean and stable environment within a saltwater aquarium, typically a coral reef system. This method relies on the use of ample live rock (rock with live marine organisms and ...

), and is useful in freshwater aquaria for allowing free-swimming fish adequate exercise.

References

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