Are power heads required?

[scuba nat]

Hello everyone! I Just joined this forum when I decided to finally keep discus. I scoured the forum on this subject to find an answer but I couldn't find much.

I would like to know if power heads are required in a large tank set up for discus. I have researched and watched the simply discus video how-to for care but they did not mention it.

Here is my possible set up:
125 gallon (Glass Aquarium: 72.5 in L x 18.5 in W x 23.75 in H Black Stand: 72 in L x 18 in W x 28 in H from petsmart)
Fluval fx4 canister filter
two 300 watt heaters
sand substrate (people recommended silica pool sand from home depot?)
florescent lights ( LED light upgrade sometime in the future)
two airstones

two power heads for flow (not sure if required or optional??)

Thanks so much for your help.
Let me know if any of my equipment sucks and needs changing as well, ( people seem to really like sumps and eheims here)

Nat

[Akili]

Hi Natalia, Welcome to SimplyDiscus! You can use to move the water from one end to the other, I would placed it at the top as not to have the flow in the path of the fish. You have a long tank and could try one or two small powerheads to circulate the water better and if you notice the fish hiding or a change in behavior take them out.

[scuba nat]

Thanks so much for your input! I'll try out the power heads, since it seems like the fish would enjoy the flow and the plant movement is appealing.

[bluelagoon]

I have a FX6 on a 72" tank and that produces enough water movement for that size tank.Put the outlet at or near the surface for better gas exchange.This will increase the surface area= more O2.

[scuba nat]

ok I won't get the power heads just yet

you have an fx6 on your 125 gallon?
why not get the fx4? it's good enough for a 125 gallon aquarium.

[bluelagoon]

Not familiar with the FX4.I have never heard of them.But the FX6 is perfect.I had smaller filters on the tank and they didn't get the job done.

[scuba nat]

fx4 has capabilities for up to 250 gallons
your fx6 has capabilities for 400 gallons

fx6 is just the pinnacle of all their filters.

[bluelagoon]

PS..... maybe that's way I don't need power heads and extra equipment.

[scuba nat]

Good point,

I think I will get the fx6 now!

[bluelagoon]

They are great filters for a 125 gal.;lots of turn over,something I like.

[Ryan925]

Rather than a power head you can use something like a hydor nano pump. They are a great little pump for added circulation. As others have suggested put it towards the top so that the discus can easily get out if the current if they need to

[DatDiscusDude]

I was always led to believe that discus do not like current and are bothered by it as they aren't strong swimmers and prefer to just "float"

That being said, I have had groups of fish that loved to play and frolic in the return water from a water change. If you are just looking to break the surface, your filter should be fine for that, or an airstone will do the trick with a much cheaper price tag.

[bluelagoon]

I would not say that I have much of a current in my tank.I have a lot of surface movement but not throughout the tank;the discus still "float",so to speak.It is a six foot tank.

[donnacona]

I use a small power head on top of a good sponge filter it polishes the water very well
Stu