How to Change a Fish Pump to Suction

Power heads are totally submersible fish pumps that are typically used to increase circulation in an aquarium. These pumps are secured against the inside of the aquarium with the use of adhesive suction cups. In these positions, they circulate the water, but they can also operate an undergravel filter once the original air stone has been removed from the undergravel filter's uplift tube. You can place the power head's intake pipe into this vertical uplift stem to improve water flow throughout the gravel, which lies on top of the thin, perforated undergravel filter plate.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Power head
  • Undergravel filter
  • 8-inch, 0.75-inch-diameter transparent air line tubing
  • Plastic aquarium clamp
  • Aquarium gravel siphon
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn off the vibrator pump that is operating the undergravel filter. Unplug the vibrator pump from the power source and store for future use.

    • 2

      Remove the air stone from the undergravel uplift tube and place in storage once dry.

    • 3

      Place an 8-inch piece of 0.75-inch-diameter transparent air line onto the intake nipple of the venturi section on the outflow nozzle of the power head.

    • 4

      Place a plastic aquarium clamp onto the 0.75-inch-diameter transparent air line. Use this clamp to regulate the amount of fine bubbles produced by the power head once it is operational.

    • 5

      Position your power head into its mounting bracket. Place the intake pipe of the power head into the open end of the vertical undergravel uplift stem, then use the adhesive suction cups on the bracket to secure the power head to the inside glass plane directly behind the undergravel uplift stem.

    • 6

      Angle the adjustable outflow nozzle of the power head to deliver water in the area of your choice. It is best to direct the water flow across the aquarium and toward an internal overflow box, if one has been installed in your tank.

    • 7

      Plug the power head into a wall power source and turn on.

    • 8

      Regulate the amount of bubbles produced by the venturi by adjusting the plastic aquarium clamp.

    • 9

      Use a gravel siphon to vacuum your substrate once weekly. A power head is more powerful than a vibrator pump-driven air stone, and far more detritus and debris will be drawn into the aquarium gravel after you have installed the power head. Cultures of beneficial nitrifying bacteria that grow on the gravel will break down most of this accumulate organic matter, but it is best to assist the bacteria by removing excessive amounts.