power head wire routing?

[segraves1]

After months of trying to avoid power heads, I finally broke down and put one in the tank. INSTANTLY crap (ie: fish poop, dead stuff, etc.) went everywhere. So I am ready to concede and install power heads as need be. I THINK I can keep them behind the rockwork and blow the water through holes, valleys, etc. to keep the tank looking "un cluttered" (I can't stand the look of power heads). My question is:

- how do you guys hide/blend in (if at all) your power heads
- how do you route and hide the power wires going into the tank

[lReef lKeeper]

i just make a bracket for them to hang on. i don't hide the wires or anything, i think that will make my monthly vineger bath for them a little more difficult.

however, they do make fake rocks that you can install certain one in, let me try to dig up the thread for ya !!

[segraves1]

why a monthly vineger bath?

[dakar]

why a monthly vineger bath?

Vinegar removes the calcium buildup on the impeller magnet and the housing it lives in...

[segraves1]

Vinegar removes the calcium buildup on the impeller magnet and the housing it lives in...

how do you get buildup on the impeller if it spends 100% of its life entirely underwater?

[graphixx]

I know that Tunze makes a rock that hides PH's but its pretty expensive. check their website.

[lReef lKeeper]

calcium builds up because we keep our tanks at a certain calcium level. calcium in the water = calcium build up.

[segraves1]

calcium builds up because we keep our tanks at a certain calcium level. calcium in the water = calcium build up.

yes but calcium IN water shouldn't build up on something IN the water.....as the calcium atoms come out of solution, water should come along and re-disolve it

[dakar]

yes but calcium IN water shouldn't build up on something IN the water.....as the calcium atoms come out of solution, water should come along and re-disolve it

Way too much chemistry here for a complex explanation, something about covalent electrons and and whole slew of big words... but suffice it to say over time a calcerous build up will almost always form in your pumps and such. A dose of preventive maintenance goes a long way to prevent equipment failures.

About the re-absorbtion of calcium to the water, that is very dependant on your alkalinty, if it drops below the levels where calcium remains disolved int he water molecules, calcium will begin to precipitate from the water causing a cool snowstorm effect in your tank.