If you need a good powerhead for your aquarium to help move water around, you come to the right place. Right now, I’m going to take a look at the top five best powerheads for aquariums that your money can buy.
Best Powerheads for Aquariums
- Hygger Powerhead Wavemaker
- AquaMiracle Aquarium Powerhead Pump
- Marineland Maxi-Jet 600, Multi-Use Water Pump And Power Head
- Hydor Koralia Evolution Circulation & Wave Pump
- FREESEA Aquarium Power Head
Top 5 Best Powerheads for Aquariums: Reviews
Let’s now take a closer look at each of the top five best powerheads for your aquarium.
1. Hygger Powerhead Wavemaker: Our Top Pick
- 360° Flexible Head-Build in a 360 degree rotatable ball joint design, the wave maker can be easily...
- Circulation,Oxygeantion & Filtration-①Agitate water: Place the wave pump near the water surface to...
This is a simple yet effective powerhead that works for both freshwater and saltwater fish tanks. This unit features 1056 gallons per hour of flow rate that is ideal for tanks up to 100 gallons, although there is also a smaller option available for tanks up to 20 gallons in size.
What you might appreciate here is that this unit features a very simple mounting mechanism. Simply put the magnet on one side of the aquarium glass wherever you see fit, and attach the rest of it on the inside. This allows you to easily position the unit wherever you see fit.
Furthermore, there is also a 760 degree rotating ball joint which allows you to direct the water flow as you see fit.
This powerhead wavemaker also comes with a high-quality impeller, rotor, and a very durable ceramic shaft core. It’s certainly one of the more durable powerheads out there at this time. Keep in mind however that it does come in at 2.6 by 2.16 by 5.7 inches, so it takes up a bit of space in the tank. On a side note, something I really like about this powerhead is that it is very easy to take apart and clean.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to maintain
- Easy to mount
- More than enough flow for a home tank
- Very durable
- Adjustable
Cons
- Takes up a bit of space
If you’re looking for something extremely reliable, durable, and long lasting that will help circulate water in your tank, this is the number one option I’d recommend over all others.
2. AquaMiracle Aquarium Powerhead Pump
- SAFETY - Fully submersible with epoxy sealed motor. Each product has been submerged in water and...
- PERFORMANCE – Energy efficient with permanent magnet rotor and specially designed impeller. Max....
If you’re looking to create a bit of circulation in your fish tank, but you don’t need anything far too powerful, then this is a great option to consider..
What we have here is a powerhead pump that can circulate up to 265 gallons of water per hour, with it being rated for tanks between 60 gallons and 80 gallons. There are also other options available for tanks ranging from 10 gallons to 40 gallons, and for tanks ranging from 40 gallons to 60 gallons.
This unit features a maximum lift of 4.6 feet, which is thanks to the 12 watts of power it has. What I like about this model is the mounting mechanism, as it uses simple suction cups to attach right to the inside of the tank. It really doesn’t get much easier than that.
To make sure that it stays in good condition, it comes with an inlet strainer, so it doesn’t suck in any debris and break down. One slight downside here, however, is that you cannot direct the water flow in different directions. It just comes straight out of the power head.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Ideal for small and medium tanks
- Easy suction cup mounting
- Doesn’t take up too much space
- Durable build
Cons
- Can’t change direction
If you need something relatively small that can create some light water circulation in your aquarium, this is the option I’d recommend.
3. Marineland Maxi-Jet 600, Multi-Use Water Pump And Power Head
- Three Pumps in One
- Turns powerhead in to a prop style circulation pump
If you are operating on a tight budget, then this is a good option to go with, as it comes in under $20. This is a combination water pump and powerhead, and as a circulation pump it can move up to 750 gallons per hour, and up to 160 gallons per hour as a power head.
It should be suitable for aquariums up to around 50 or 60 gallons, particularly if you just need a bit of light water circulation.
Unlike the other units we’ve looked at so far, this one hangs on the side of your aquarium using a simple clip, therefore making life relatively easy as far as mounting and maintenance is concerned.
On that note, this powerhead is also quite easy to take apart, and therefore easy to maintain. It also happens to be built out of relatively durable materials, at least considering the low price it comes in at.
Pros
- Ideal for smaller tanks
- Simple mounting mechanism
- Multiple uses
- Great price
- Space efficient
- Quiet
Cons
- Somewhat limited durability
If affordability is what you’re going for, then this is by far the number one powerhead I’d recommend for your aquarium.
4. Hydor Koralia Evolution Circulation & Wave Pump
- New and improved vibration absorbing magnet and suction cup support. Can safely hold the Koralia...
- New shaft-less impeller technology with flow rate of 850 gph, ideal for tanks from 50 to 100...
This is a great circulation system that comes in various sizes. The smallest one can pump up to 550 gallons per hour, whereas the largest one can pump up to 1500 gallons per hour. You should be able to find a model that is suitable for any size of aquarium.
Just keep in mind that this item is fairly large, so it takes up a bit of tank space. What is however really cool is that it can be used for both freshwater and saltwater tanks.
When compared to similar models, this powerhead features up to 20% more flow rate combined with 50% less power consumption. Even better is the fact the flow rate on this model can be adjusted, as well as the direction of the water flow.
What also stands out to me is the overall build quality and durability of this power head, which are very high. That said, you get what you pay for, and what you get here is extremely high quality. What I’m trying to say is that this is quite the investment, as it’s by far the most expensive unit on the list today.
Pros
- Very powerful
- Superior durability
- Many sizes to choose from
- Adjustable flow and direction
- Easy magnet mounting
Cons
- Quite pricey
If you don’t mind investing a bit extra into something very high quality, then this is certainly a powerhead worth considering.
5. FREESEA Aquarium Power Head
- [ Aquarium Water Supply Circulation ]: This wave pump simulates gentle water flow and helps the...
- [ Powerful & Quiet ]: 8W, 1600GPH diving power head, higher flow rate, and lower energy consumption....
Here we have a very large and powerful wavemaker powerhead that can move up to 1600 gallons of water per hour. There are also some smaller options available.
A powerhead of this size should be more than enough for any home aquarium, especially thanks to the 8 watt motor and the twin heads that produce powerful waves and circulate water with both efficiency and quietness. On that note, this is one of the quieter units out there.
I personally like the fact that there are two heads here, because you can direct the water flow in two different directions at once. The heads can also rotate 360 degrees and face any direction that you see fit.
Furthermore, this unit is also very easy to install. It comes complete with a magnetic stand, so all you have to do is put the magnet on the outside of the aquarium glass, with the rest of the unit on the inside.
I also like how it’s made with extremely durable materials, and even comes with a 12 month warranty to back this up. The corrosion-resistance titanium impeller is one of the most durable impellers that can be used for a product like this, and it’s so high quality that it can even be used for saltwater aquariums.
Pros
- Moves a whole lot of water
- Durable design
- Easy to mount
- Quiet
- Cost effective
- Safe for fish
Cons
- May be too large for some tanks
If you need something super big and powerful, this is the best option I can recommend.
Powerheads for Aquariums Buyers Guide: What To Look Out For
Let’s quickly take a look at some of the most important factors that you need to pay attention to when choosing powerheads for aquariums.
Flow Rate
Always pay attention to the flow rate of the power having question. Of course, exactly how much water flow you need depends on your exact aquarium, so be sure to have your aquariums requirements in mind before making a purchase. As you can see from the reviews above, these power heads have greatly differing flow rates.
Mounting
These powerheads come with various mounting mechanisms that you can use. Some feature magnetic mounting, some feature hang on back clips, and some come with interior suction cups. You should compare these three mounting methods with each other to figure out which one works best for your aquarium.
Durability
When it comes to something like this that will be submerged in the water, I always recommend investing a bit more money into something high-quality. You don’t want these powerheads breaking after just a few days because they’re working overtime.
Safety
You should always get something that is rated 100% safe for fish and aquariums. Something that is very durable, has a solid shell, and is guaranteed not to expose any of the electronics to the water is required. You don’t want any electrical currents making contact with the water, or else your fish will pay the price.
