Best Powerhead

[fishheaded]

I've had my maxi-jet 400 for a year now and it has been blowing microbubbles everywhere, and it really makes the tank unattractive. I've tried everything from repositioning it, to cleaning the impeller and intake (I also turned off HOB filter). So today I purchased a brand new maxi 400 assuming it became defective overtime but the new one still blows these bubbles. So I have no idea what the problem could be...my tank just doesnt like maxi's. So anyone recommend a different brand of powerhead?

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

what size is your tank, there have been good reviews lately of Hydor Koralias and the new Seio powerheads, i use an Eheim compact and it doesn't blow out bubbles, its just what takes your personal preference e.g dont take up a lot of space etc.
Hope this helps

Will

 

[andywg]

If you want the best powerhead, go Tunze. They have been at the forefront of powerhead technology forever (producing the first ever powerhead designed specifically for aquaria). The Hydors are quite good copies of the Tunze nanostreams, but the Hydors do not look so solidly built and the price of the two is broadly similar for respective flow rates. Tunze also have a huge reputation for build quality.

 

[Musho3210]

tunze streams didnt have such a high build quality, many many people complaining of how they just literally fall apart, wont turn on, and spin backwards. There have been less of these complains since tunze has started to change their design i think. Anyway this is tunze in the US, might be different over in Europe. Hydors have been recieving better reviews over here, but no one knows for sure how long the hydors last since they are fairly new powerheads.

To tell you the truth, i would go with the hydor. There designs (on terms of looks) are better IMO.

 

[alexlark]

I agree. Go with a Hydor Koralia. I am using 2 x Koralia 2's. Only 4.5W each!! They were only 30 quid each too

 

[k.o.d]

We use 4 seio powerheads on our reef to give approx 48 times circulation, we find they have been very effective and reliable, though I would prefer the magnetic holder to be as standard like the koralia and the streams

 

[donporter]

I am using 2 Tiger shark power heads in a 30 gallon tank. They seem reliable and you can adjust the amount of air bubbles, or have no bubbles if you want.
They are made by Penn Plax in NY. I had never heard of them before, but so far so good.

 

[andywg]

tunze streams didnt have such a high build quality, many many people complaining of how they just literally fall apart, wont turn on, and spin backwards. There have been less of these complains since tunze has started to change their design i think. Anyway this is tunze in the US, might be different over in Europe. Hydors have been recieving better reviews over here, but no one knows for sure how long the hydors last since they are fairly new powerheads.

To tell you the truth, i would go with the hydor. There designs (on terms of looks) are better IMO.

There were issues with converting the Tunze to run on lower US Voltage. This (and superior German build quality) probably explains the lack of many US based electrics used over here.

The Hydors are ok, but if you turn it off it is just too easy for anything to wander in and get mashed when you turn it back on. Also, the Hydors that match the 6045 (the 4 IIRC) are a bit too big and ugly for my liking as well as using 11 or 12W instead of 7W. In fact, according to the sizes I can see, the Hydor 4 (1,200 US GPH) is roughly 3.25" by 6.25. The corresponding Tunze Nano Stream (6045) is a 2.7" sphere with an outlet protruding an inch at most. Even the Tunze 6301 is only 3.8" x 4.6", and that moves 7,925 US GPH (30,000 litres per hour)!

My biggest problems with Seio are their size relative to other similar sized pumps, and the fact they are made by Rio. I know they are not like the old Rio pumps, but Rio do have previous forms for making pumps that could fail and nuke a tank.

 

[Musho3210]

hmm i dont see how it would be easy for things to wander in and get cut up, plus the propellers arent cut up type, they are.... dunno how to explain it but not boat propeller type. Plus the opening is not that big at all.

 

[fishheaded]

Thanks for the replies guys. Got some questions though:
1) I have a aquaclear 30 hob filter with 150gph and a maxijet 400 with 106gph for a total of 256gph. By replacing the maxi with a nano hydor koralia with 240gph (total 390gph), will that be too much flow for a 10g?

2) Does the hydor spit micro bubbles out like the maxijets because I absolutely HATE microbubbles.

-FH

 

[k.o.d]

I dont understand why you have microbubbles unless you have the powerhead too close to the surface of the water and it draws down ( as I have seen my Seios do ) or too close to an outlet that disturbs the water pattern and allows water to be pulled in.
With any of the Seios or hydors it is not so much cut up as pulled in, I lost a split BTA from it going walkies and wrapping itself around the intake to the turbine.

Steve

 

[andywg]

hmm i dont see how it would be easy for things to wander in and get cut up, plus the propellers arent cut up type, they are.... dunno how to explain it but not boat propeller type. Plus the opening is not that big at all.

That front is more than easy enough on a decent sized Hydor for small fish or wandering inverts to get in. Just look at the picture below and how wide the opening is:

 

[Musho3210]

have you seen or had one in real life? My 2's opening couldnt fit my 2 small clowns, i mean it can fit the goby but im sure the tunze could fit a goby too.

 

[fishheaded]

Does it matter where I point my spray bar? Can it be near or pointed towards the surface?

 

[k.o.d]

Surface agitiation of the water will assist in keeping the pH stable due to CO2 degassing of the system