REVIEW OF AQUARIUM (& POND) POWER HEAD, PROPELLER, & WATER PUMPS BASED ON REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE (including comments on about.com and thereeftank.com reviews):


By Carl Strohmeyer
Updated 2/07/12

Index;

• Overview
• Basic Pump Types
• Head Pressure
• Via Aqua Power Head Submersible Pumps
• ReSun King Water Pumps
• Rio (Taam) PowerHead Water Pumps
• Rio HF Water Pumps
• Maxi Jet Power Heads
• SunSun Power Heads
• Marineland Power Heads
• Hagen Power Heads
• ZooMed Power Sweep
• Hydor Koralia Propeller Pumps
• Seio Propeller Pumps

Overview;

First I would like to recommend readers to look at the following webpage to better understand what aquarium, pond, fountain water pumps would fit their needs best and why:
Water Pump Specifications, Recommendations, Limitations

As to the review (which unlike most articles here at Aquarium/Pond Answers is admittedly more subjective rather than objective since these were not controlled studies in the strictest scientific since) and not to pick on about.com (I mentioned them in an earlier post in Fish as Pets), however after an email form a hobbyist about aquarium power heads/pumps I thought I would investigate what is being said in reviews and stumbled across an article with the reviews of five different power heads at about.com.

Either they are from another planet or I must live in a parallel universe!
First they left off the list some of the best aquarium and pond power head/ water pumps then their reviews were quite contrary to my extensive experience with these pumps in literally 100s if not thousands of aquariums over the years in my aquarium maintenance business.

12/22/09 As well I recently read a review on a Reef forum (thereeftank.com) as to Via Aqua pumps and while I will admit my reviews are based on observations (making them more subjective), these reviews are based on real world applications where I often switched between different pumps to find the best pump for the application. What was sad about these reviews on this forum was these were not based any knowledge of what a pumps is designed for. Although I will agree as to their positive reviews of a Maxi Jet for wave makers, even here based on my tests a Propeller pump such as the Hydor Koralia Propeller Pumps or better the Seio Propeller Aquarium Pumps are still a better choice than the Maxi Jet for wave makers. In their review they compared the Via Aqua 1300 to the Maxi Jet for wave makers, which the design of the Via Aqua 1300 is not even intended for, as with any pump that is designed to not only to move water, but to “lift” water (head pressure), the VA 1300 is a poor choice for wave makers (kind of like comparing Toyota Camary to a Ford F350 for hauling loads and then bashing the Camary for failing in this task). However as a power head/water pump this pump (VA 1300) is one the most reliable pumps with better head pressure than the Maxi Jet; years of use in my aquarium & pond maintenance company prove this as well as a friends that own a fountain building company that use this and another Via Aqua Pump (Via Aqua 305) for their fountains since they rarely have problems and their customers are quite happy. Also in this review they bashed the Via Aqua 4900 and used this pump as one more example not to trust Via Aqua pumps, sadly if they read this review or talked to many others in the industry they would know that the VA 4900 is a lemon and you cannot rate Via Aqua pumps based on this bad pump or ridiculously unfair comparisons of a VA 1300 in tasks it was not designed for.

Basic Pump Types:

I would like to start out that aquarium water pumps come in three basic designs:
(1) The Power Head Pump such as the Maxi-Jet and SunSun PH; these are best for use with sponge filters or under gravel filter lift tube. This type generally does not have as much head pressure as the submersible pump style and for this reason these do not work well for applications such as running Ultra Violet (UV) Sterilizers, Fluidized Sand Bed Filters, or similar.
However this style is often better for running wave makers than the submersible pump style as these tend to work better in the constant re-start environment of wave make use (I should note that not all power heads work well here either such as the Marineland).

(2) The Submersible Water Pump such as the Via Aqua and Rio PowerHead/Pump series can function both as an inline submersible pump for sumps, fountains and even ponds as well as for power head applications.
Some (such as the Via Aqua 1300) can even be used inline (assuming the there is a direct flow via a bulk head or similar, NOT a siphon loop).
Another similar type (or sub-type) is the Submersible only water pump such as the Via Aqua 305. These are more economical and more basic but cannot be used as a power head either. These are great for water fountains, running certain devices or even sumps. Currently this article does not review any of this sub type.
As noted earlier, this style pump does not function as well in the environment of being connected to electronic wave makers (the best are the propeller pumps I will note next)

(3) The finale pump "type" I we review is the newer propeller style. the Hydor Koralia, Rio Seio, and SunSun are popular types of this style pump.
These have almost no head pressure (and as such are utterly useless for powering any device).
However these pumps shine for wave maker use and us the least amount of energy for the water they do move (at 0 head pressure). Another advantage is these are a very "clean" (aesthetically speaking) water pump application and these plusses make them popular with Reef Enthusiasts.

Finally I will also note that most of these pump types (including the basic submersibles such as the Via Aqua 305) and with the exception of the propeller pumps have an aeration attachment feature for drawing/injecting air into the water column re-entering the aquarium from the water pump.

See the picture to the left that demonstrates this using a SunSun JP series Power Head.

Head Pressure:

An aspect of any water pump that is often forgotten, yet can be a significant factor in choosing the correct pump is head pressure.
The most simple description of head pressure is that this is the force placed on the "head" (outlet) of the pump by gravity, weight of the water column past this point, and devices in-line past this point that often constrict or impede flow (such as UV Sterilizer or Fluidized Filter).
Most aquarium water pumps are open impeller designs that are greatly affected by head pressure. Propeller pumps, just by their design can handle almost no head pressure and thus are only intended for under water applications with no lifting of water out or into an aquarium.
A few pumps such as the Rio HF Pump series have partially closed designs that can handle much more head pressure and are thus better suited for lifting water through multiple devices or deep sumps (as well as water features in ponds).

The bottom line is regardless of the pump design you choose, know its maximum head pressure so as to calculate what the actual flow will be with the devices you might add in-line.
For instance, do NOT expect a 500 gph pump with a maximum head pressure of 5 feet to pump any more than 300 gallons per hours lifting water 2 feet from a sump to the aquarium.

For a much more in depth and objective article dealing with calculating aquarium/pond pump head pressure, please see this article:
Head Pressure in Aquarium and Pond Water Pumps

Here are several pump & power head lines I will review (including refutations of others comments if necessary):

Via Aqua Power Head/Submersible Pump

*Via Aqua; this is a real workhorse line of pumps that is VERY widely used in the professional aquarium maintenance community yet did not even get mentioned by about.com (go figure!). These pumps in the power head line (not the basic line) also have ceramic shafts and very durable construction. Via Aqua pumps (along with ReSun) can be used in sumps or as a power head and have excellent head pressure. The Via Aqua power head line (such as the VA 1300) can be submersed or used in line which adds to versatility that not all pumps can match. For Aquarium sumps (usually in marine applications) the Via Aqua 2600, 3300, and 8000are unsurpassed in usefulness, especially when costs vs. performance is compared.

Again the only con is these pumps can be a little noisy, but only when used in line (they are a little quieter than the ReSun line when submersed). Via Aqua power heads (as with ReSun and Rio) are also not as adjustable in flows as some other power heads, but this a minor inconvenience IMO. This inconvenience is more than made up for in versatility!

I will also admit to a couple of models by Via Aqua that I not recommend due to less than desirable durability and these are the 2300 and 4900 (the 4900 has failed miserably every test I have performed on them).

Via Aqua also has new Pond Pump that is without equal in its performance and versatility vs. price; this is the DP 18000 Multi-Duty Pond Pump. This water pump uses only 250 watts yet can pump 3828 gph with a maximum head pressure of 21 feet.

ReSun King

*ReSun; this pump (power head) was totally left off their list, although not as well known in the USA/Canada they are very popular in Asia and Australia. ReSun has some sizes such as the #6 that are quite capable for very “mucky” pond environments and yet operate very well. The stainless steel coated impellers along with the ceramic shafts found on the larger models) are extremely durable and almost never fail.
These pumps are very reliable and start up without a problem; they also have very excellent head pressure (in fact among the best)! ReSun pumps can be submersed or place in line.
The models 3A, 5, and 6 are awesome in heavy duty applications such as ponds or very large aquariums where high flow and head pressure are necessary (as well as ability to deal with large amounts of particulates in the water).
About the only con is that with their heavy duty construction, these pumps can be somewhat noisier than some others (although still not bad here either). ReSun power heads are also not as adjustable in flow as some other power heads, but this a minor inconvenience IMO.

Rio PowerHead Water Pumps

*Rio (by Taam); Originally the "Standard" for submersible aquarium, fountain and pond pumps, there were later surpassed by many Via Aqua models based on my professional use (Via Aqua/Commodity Axis is the sister company of Rio/Taam).
However of late Rio has improved their design of the Rio "Plus" Water pump line with a much better impeller design and it has leaped back over their sister company Via Aqua to once again be the "King" of aquarium, small pond, & fountain water pumps/power heads.

I would also add that IMO about.com goes overboard with their comments as to high maintenance, as even in earlier models and especially with newer models this is simply not true (maybe they too should try updating their articles!).

Rio power heads are very powerful with excellent head pressure (depending on the model).
The cons with the impellers as of the most recent update are no longer a "con" as the impeller design has been vastly improved to now surpass their sister Via Aqua Pumps in durability.
These Rio Plus Aquarium & Fountain Water Pumps are among the best aquarium sump, pumps for powering equipment such as needle wheel skimmers, small pond or fountain pumps. The Rio pumps are also reasonably good at starting up when used as wave makers and are properly maintained.

Rio HF (High Flow) Aquarium/Pond Water Pumps

*Rio, Taam HF Series Water Pumps; the newer HF (High Flow) series is without equal when power, performance and especially head pressure (the ability to lift water vertically) are compared with price.
These pumps hold a patent for their design which includes the unique vortex rotor blade, rare earth magnet and more.
The Rio HF Water pumps are what I would recommend for large aquariums with sumps well below the aquarium with many applications to run or for ponds with water features such as water falls or spitters that exceed 5 feet above the pond level as these pumps often have head pressures of double similar gallon per hour pumps. For example the Rio 26 HF has a maximum head pressure of 13 feet and it still maintains 75% of its water volume at 6 feet.

Maxi-Jet Power Heads

*Maxi Jet Power heads; I will have to agree the most with about.com on their assessment of these pumps. They are reliable and economical and start back up easily even when used as wave makers (which is an application these pumps are popular for use in). In fact these are one of the best earlier/1st generation Power Head (only) aquarium pumps.
However they do have their cons and that is they have poor head pressure and are not very versatile (unlike the Via Aqua, ReSun, Rio, & other combination power head/submersible water pumps) as they are only power heads and nothing more.

SunSun Power Heads

The newest generation SunSun JP Series Aquarium Power Head Pumps are at least 20 years newer than most other power head only pumps such the before mentioned Maxi-Jet.
Bluntly the Maxi Jet is a design that requires little improvement (I am of the opinion if you design something correctly the first time, little needs to be changed).
What this SunSun Power head has over the Maxi Jet is a more economical pump that has the same reliability and performance (as with the Maxi-Jet, it is also ONLY for power head use, not applications where head pressure is necessary; these application types fit the Via Aqua or Rio Powerhead/Submersible Pumps better).
It is also noteworthy that based on our aquarium maintenance experience, the SunSun is superior to the earlier generation Marineland and Hagen Aqua Clear Power Head Pumps.

Marineland Penguin Power Heads

*Penguin Power Heads; I do not generally agree with assessment by about.com on these power heads. Although they do have a neat feature with the reverse flow power head for UG filters (which are not very common anymore though), the other nice feature is the adjustable flow feature.
However nice these features are these power heads have a poor track record for reliability, they have very poor head pressure, and do not re-start well after the pumps have been in service for a while (in applications such as wave makers).

Hagen Aqua Clear Power Head

*Hagen Aqua Clear Power Heads; this pump is also over rated by about.com in my extensive experience with them. I have used more Aqua Clear power heads than ANY other (including the Via Aqua pumps I now generally recommend). When these power heads first came out they were industry leaders in design, however they are of 1980s technology IMO and although they are better than Penguins in reliability and head pressure, they still would stop and not re-start in many of my applications when power was even briefly interrupted, making them a poor choice for wave maker applications. Aqua Clear power heads also do not handle high organic/debris loads well and need more maintenance than the Rios that about.com claimed needed!
Bottom line with Aqua Clear power heads is that they are reasonable “retro” pumps, but certainly NOT the latest in technology!

ZooMed Power Sweep

*ZooMed Power Sweep; even though I sold these in my business, I rarely recommended them. They are basically a gimmicky power head with poor head pressure and low output. They are not real durable and the “sweeping” directional output feature is run by cheap plastic gears that often fail. These pumps do not handle high bio loads well and are best used in small aquariums or better vivariums where not much is asked of them.

Hydor Koralia Propeller Pump

*Hydor Koralia Propeller Pumps; The Hydor Koralia is the first besides the over priced Tunze Pumps to market a propeller type design to the aquarium hobby, and Hydor does this at a much better price than Tunze.
The propeller design is an excellent idea for low power consumption, yet high water movement in a surprisingly gentle flow of which it owes its gentle flow pattern to its design. The Hydor Koralia Propeller Pump attaches to an aquarium in a unique way; it has a magnet that attaches to the glass from the outside holding the motor unit on the inside to the glass.

This is an excellent pump for Reef Aquariums due to this unique design and flow pattern and a pump many of my friends in the professional aquarium maintenance and design business like for certain applications. These applications are generally tanks under 80 gallons where this flow design is advantageous for crowded reef aquariums and a strong current is desired without the strong smaller diameter column of water generated by most other pumps is not desired.
These propeller pumps (or better the Seio) are also excellent and reliable for use as wave makers (unlike most power head pumps, that are not designed for this type of application as they have too “heavy” a designed for “on/off” applications

HOWEVER, this pump is not without its faults and unfortunately there are several.
Here are a few problems as noted by these professionals:
(1) Low quality design that easily breaks including the impeller if debris (which is easily brought into it) comes in contact with the impeller. Also if the unit falls from the glass, it cane break easily.
(2) High price per actual performance; the Hydor Koralia 1 generally sells for twice what a Via Aqua 1300 sells for of the same performance and quite bluntly has a much less durable design than the VA 1300. The newer Seio 320 Propeller Pump is a vastly better choice when value is considered
(3) The magnets can let go and often do in aquariums with 3/8 inch or thicker glass (although this is a rare problem in tanks with ¼ inch glass which is why they are a reasonably good pump choice in tanks under 80 gallons
(4) In Larger tanks standard power heads such as the Via Aqua 2600 are simply a more durable and better choice.
(5) When used as a wave maker many report a lot of noise (although many pumps can have this problem).
(6) They are purely water movement pumps and CANNOT be used to run UV Sterilizers, Sumps, or any other application where a pump with a standard outlet that can be hard plumbed or added vinyl tubing is necessary.

Seio Propeller Pump

*Seio (Rio) Propeller Pumps; The Seio Propeller Aquarium Pumps are finally past the testing phase in aquarium maintenance use (at least the model 320).
Unlike my recently hoped for but disappointed tests with the internal UV Sterilizers (marketed by Jebo, JBJ, Killing Machine) where I was really hopeful for a new cutting edge product, but let down after use; The Seio Propeller Pumps have passed with the quality I hoped for.
The Seio Propeller Pump is vastly more economical than the Hydor Koralia with a better ceramic design as well as a more compact size. As with most other propeller pumps, the Seio is the best design for use with wave makers.

I would strongly recommend this propeller pump over the Hydor Koralia, although at this time the model 320 is all that I can back (others are still being tested). This model is best for ¼ inch thick glass.
The Seio 320 (320 gph) is slightly less flow than the Hydor Koralia, but is also almost half the price with a more compact reliable design. If you in need of a propeller aquarium pump, this is definitely the pump you need.


SUMMARY:
I have had persons also ask me why many brands such as Via Aqua are not as commonly available as Hagen and does that make them of lower quality as no one really wants them?
The answer is quite simple; Hagen is sold through a larger network of mainline Pet Store distributors (although they are now transitioning to their own in house distribution system). This system promotes an all or nothing approach to marketing their products basically meaning you carry the whole line (good and bad) or not get discounts or even sell anything at all. This marketing system has been very successful (not to mention slick packaging), however this does not mean a better product.
Via Aqua (among many other high end brands) does not sell through traditional marketing distribution methods and systems, rather it sells many high end Marine fish importers and similar without all the expensive marketing gimmicks. This in particular places their products in the hands of Aquarium Maintenance Professionals who do not care about slick marketing or whether it is the fad, rather whether it works or not which is why Via Aqua and many other similar high end companies choose to sell this way.
Here are a few more manufactures that sell only (or partly) through high end distributors as well: Sanders, Tropic Marine, Liquid Life, ReSun, SeaChem, SPS, Marc Weiss, and many more.

If no stores in your area sell Via Aqua, Rio (Taam), Seio, ReSun, Tropic Marine or similar it is that they choose to buy from the one size fits all mainline distributors that also are the primary stockers of stores such as PetCo as well.


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Labels: about.com, Aqua Clear, Aquarium Pump, Hagen, Koralia, Maxi Jet, Power Head, Rio, Seio, Submersible Pump, SunSun, Taam, thereeftank.com, Via Aqua