Which sure grip magnetic powerhead holder for 180 aga?

[pancho]

I currently have a 55 gallon aquarium but will be upgrading to a 180 aga within a few months. I don't know the glass thickness of the 180 gallon. Will the sure grip 50 be strong enough for a 180 aga or should I go with the sure grip 100?

[yettihead]

pancho,

I would go with the 100 as I believe the 180 AGA has 1/2" glass. I can always measure when I get home to verify.

Chad

[pancho]

thanks for responding. I'll wait for you to measure.

[yettihead]

Pancho,

I did a search on RC and found this thread:
180 Glass Thickness (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=721010&highlight=180+glass+thickness)

It looks like I was right with the 1/2".

Chad

[pancho]

Thanks. That helps alot.

[dougchambers]

Just to throw something out there, but if you are upgrading to such a nice tank size, get rid of the powerheads and install a closed loop. Mount your pump externally and reduce the heat and maintenance added by PHs...

-Doug

[Lugnut]

I have an AGA 180. The glass is indeed .5 inch, and I have Maxijet 1200's mounted using both the sure grip 50 and the sure grip 100. While the ones mounted with the 100s are indeed more firmly attached, the ones mounted with the 50s don't budge at all.

[yettihead]

Lugnut,

I would agree that you can never beat real world testing. I guess it would depend on what PH he was using. I use Tunze 6100s and would not take the risk so I bought the 6200.5 for the Tunze magnet holders for when I transition to my 180 from the 125.

Chad

[hahnmeister]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8499002#post8499002 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dougchambers
Just to throw something out there, but if you are upgrading to such a nice tank size, get rid of the powerheads and install a closed loop. Mount your pump externally and reduce the heat and maintenance added by PHs...

-Doug

I would like to dispell this myth. External pumps do a better job at venting the heat they make to the outside air of the tank, true. They also make more heat to begin with. An external pump, lets say a Dart (considered the holy grail of high-flow/low-wattage by many), which makes 3600gph for about 140-160 watts. Then, consider the powerhead equal... a tunze 6100. About the same flow, but at a fraction of the wattage (what is it.. like 45watts?). Even if the Dart only manages to put half of its heat produced into the water, thats still more than the Tunze even generates.

If powerheads are making your tank overheat, you must be running some hot little powerheads.