Powerhead Product Reviews

GuideReviews Index

Penguin Powerheads
The Penguin Powerheads are well known in the industry as being well built units which will give many years of good use. With the use of the sponge filter, and the addition of the optional reverse flow feature, these units will drive a UGF system, allowing only filtered water to enter the gravel.

Powersweep Powerheads/Wavemakers
Powersweep Powerheads are the only automatic rotating powerheads on the market. Requiring no extra electronics, these units are the most inexpensive wavemakers available. Although users reported that the first production models were experiencing problems, the later models seem to be functioning much better.

Maxi-Jet Powerheads
Users have found that the Maxi-Jets by Aquarium Systems are not only excellent units for any aquarium job, they are also one of the few units which can withstand the constant on/off strain of being used with a wavemaker.

AquaClear Powerheads
The Hagen AquaClear Powerheads are true workhorses. These are very well constructed, epoxy filled units which seem to last forever. Two of the models offer a reverse flow feature.

Rio Aqua Pumps/Powerheads
Rio Aqua Pumps/Powerheads by Taam, Inc. are well constructed, delivering high pressure water for most tank functions. Though often used with protein skimmers, they should not be used for constant on/off functions such as wavemakers.

AZOO Powerheads
Azoo Powerheads are fully submersible, inexpensive units that come with a detachable air pipe that gives each of the 5 different models a venturi type feature, which allows for increased oxygen solubility.