SuncrestReef Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 (edited) This might be a dumb question, but why are they called powerheads? Most other aquarium equipment is named for what they do; Skimmers skim. Heaters heat. Lights light. Was Powerhead originally a brand name, like Xerox is known for copy machines and Kleenex is known for tissue? It's just one of those nagging questions that keeps me up at night. 🤣 Edited March 10, 2019 by SuncrestReef Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 My guess would be... back in the day Hagen mad some pretty good pumps that were called “powerhead” 802/301 ect. The name just stuck. Could also have to do with head pressure(how much height it can pump with hose attached). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmas_one Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 (edited) My guess would be it was an upgrade to the airlift undergravel filters everyone used to run. Power because it has a motor and head because it goes on top of the airlift tube. Edited March 11, 2019 by xmas_one 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I call them wavemakers cause that’s what they do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milesmiles902 Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I believe it went from engine (Powerhead) -> Boat Pump (Powerhead) -> Water Pump (Powerhead) -> Wavemaker (Powerhead) "Head" is common with engines and usually relates to some type of cylinder shape. I just call them a pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I think Xmas nailed it. the first saltwater tank I had as a kid had an undergravle filter with airlines that drew water up. It was a salt creep nightmare!! It was like 1978? and my dad got all excited about the new "powerheads" that sucked water up through the UG filter. "head" because it sat on top of the tube. powerheads just move water. wavemakers oscillate power. I loved that tank as a kid but man, what a maintenance nightmare!!Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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