Aquarium circulation pumps come in many different shapes and sizes from countless brands in this hobby. Sometimes called an aquarium powerhead or powerhead, these pieces of equipment are primarily used to move water around an aquarium. The question we are looking to answer is do you need a circulation pump for your aquarium?
Just like any other topic in this hobby, it simply depends. I cannot provide a clear-cut answer because there are so many variables within this hobby. I’ll cover some of the reasons in finer detail, but I know I won’t be able to highlight every reason. A large part of this hobby is research, luckily there is a plethora of information available on every fish, coral, and ecosystem type we keep in a glass box. This article will discuss some of the reasons it makes sense to set up a circulation pump.
Freshwater Aquarium vs. Saltwater Aquarium
One thing to think about when deciding whether to set up a circulation pump for your aquarium is whether you are keeping freshwater or saltwater. Generally speaking, saltwater fish tanks will likely require more flow, especially if you are running a reef tank. Corals don’t move, so food, oxygen, nutrients, and everything else they need must come to them. However, the amount of flow completely depends on the species of coral you have.
Freshwater aquariums will generally tolerate much less flowing water or no flow at all. Sometimes a filtration system is enough flow to keep your freshwater aquarium thriving. A planted aquarium might not have any air pumps, filters, or circulation pumps and be completely dependent on the oxygen produced by the plants. At the end of the day, it is completely dependent on what type of freshwater aquarium you are running. For example, a river-themed freshwater tank will benefit from having more flow, compared to a planted tank.
Small vs. Large Aquarium
Another thing to think about when figuring out whether a powerhead is necessary is thinking about aquarium sizes. Small aquariums often get by without requiring a circulation pump. Flow from an air pump or filtration system is usually enough to keep the aquarium going. An aquarium circulation pump may be overkill for nano tanks, unless you are attempting to create a specific habitat, like a riverbed.
Large aquariums may need a powerhead. If you have areas in the aquarium where detritus builds up, you may want to get something facing that general direction to stir up the build-up of waste. In a saltwater aquarium, you will want to consider setting up a circulation pump to provide enough flow for your coral.
What Do You Plan on Keeping?
Fish come from all types of habitats, it is important to know what habitats they are from. It was mentioned earlier, but if your fish comes from a fast-flowing river system, you may want to build your aquarium around that. A circulation pump may be the exact thing you need to achieve that. However, if you are keeping fish from slow-moving waters, such as lakes and ponds, you may not need a powerhead because the flow from your filter might be enough to keep your fish happy.
Also, fish with long fins, slow-moving fish, and very small fish may struggle with certain circulation pumps. I would not recommend keeping a long-fin betta fish in an aquarium with a powerhead. The betta moves slowly and has long flowy fins that can get pulled into the spinning fans of the powerhead.
Plants & Circulation Pumps
Keeping plants and circulation pumps may or may not be a good idea. In a small aquarium, I often do not recommend doing so because the current created by the powerhead can very easily tear the leaves of your aquatic plants. The filter should provide plenty of flow in a nano planted tank. In a larger aquarium, that has more open space, it’s possible to have an aquarium circulation pump running without damaging plants. Many different circulation pumps with varying sizes will do the job for you.
If you’re looking for a very small amount of added flow, check out the Hydor Koralia Nano Circulation Pump. This pump only pushes 240 GPH and might be just the thing if you’re looking for some extra flow. If you need more flow, some massive powerheads can push over 1000 gallons of water per hour, like the Fluval Sea CP4 Circulation Pump. There are many options out there, so you’ll have to shop around to find what will work best for you.
Coral and Circulation Pumps
When you work with corals, you’ll learn that each species has its unique personality and needs. Many coral species love varying types of flow. For example, most stony corals will do better with high indirect flow, while other species, such as zoanthids often do better with a gentler flow. You may need a stronger powerhead for a large aquarium with SPS coral, compared to a large aquarium with zoanthids or soft corals. Too much direct flow can irritate certain coral species. This will cause them to close up and can lead to their demise if the flow intensity does not change. If you see your coral closed up, you might be providing it with too much or too little flow.
Final Notes
There are probably plenty more reasons why you should or shouldn’t use a circulation pump for your aquarium. The goal of this article is not to list every single reason, but to help new and old aquarists think outside of the box as to why something like extra flow might be needed. Powerheads are very handy tools when used correctly. They can help remove dead spots from aquariums, help bring nutrients to corals, and much more. I share some more information on flow rates on Different Aquarium Water Flow Rate Requirements.
