Power head problems

[RamJet]

Ok, here is the skinny. I have a power strip that kicks the power on and off to my power heads in random intervals. (This simulates natural currents) There are a total of three that do this, the left and right alternate every minute or so, and the middle one is totally random in 30 sec. intervals. The problem that I am running into is that the constant kicking on and off of the power head is taking a toll on the plastic parts that drive the impeller. It rounds the parts off, then they start clicking and driving me nuts, and the power heads out put drops. Anyone know of a good power head that wont do this, or have any ideas on what I can do? (besides getting rid of the power strip) I am getting really tired of replacing parts!
Oh, I am also very sad to say that my sailfin passed in the night, still trying to figure it out, it was in perfect form when I left yesterday. When I arrived home from work it was behind a rock and very stressed, I turned down the lights hoping this would help, when I awoke this morning I had found that he had gone to fishy heaven, or possibly fishy hell. (He did pick at the Xeana)

 

[ostrow]

If you actually saw the fish eat the xenia (as opposed to critters off the xenia), that could definitely have killed it. If all water parameters are fine and no other fish seem stressed or show signs of disease, it may have just been its time. I lost a lawnmower blenny suddenly too, recently. How old (and how large) was the fish? What size is your tank?

As for powerheads, you can go really expensive (Tunze Streams with controller, over $200), very expensive (Tunze powerheads with controller about $150), or somewhat expensive (Gemini Pump about $80). I have the Gemini. Puts out a hum but not bad at all. I have it on a cheap wavetimer not dissimilar to yours. It is fine.

The magnetic impeller pumps will all do what you said, and are not at all made for the wavetimers. But you can keep replacing them.

But the Tunzes and Gemini are your best bets, I'm afraid. Or you can go with a seaswirl or scwd (I hear they get gunked up easy though. They were all the rage a few months ago when they appeared. Now people are cursing...). I hear great things about the seaswirl. Also in the $150 range and you have to plumb it to a large pump like a Mag or external Iwaki or somehting.

 

[RamJet]

I did see him pluck the tips off of my xenia, all other fish are doing fine. I had the fish for a little over a year and his body was the size of my fist. My tank is a 75 US gallons.
The power heads that my LFS has in stock are the Penguins, I have been using the 550s, and I have also tried the Mini-jet mn 606, both run around $30.00 US. May be thats my problem. (inexpensive powerheads) Thankyou for the info, I will talk to my LFS and find out if they can get the Gemini or the Tunzes in for me.

 

[Adrinal]

I have maxijet 900s hooked up to a wavemaster... so far no noises... only been 3 weeks though..
Still at 15 bucks a shot if the others are 150 bucks a shot...

 

[Hazmat]

I have 3 Aquaclear 402's with a wavemaster and they are doing fine so far

 

[Great Lakes]

I have the maxis and rios. My rios outperform them size or size. There is much Dogma about rios, but all has been well with me.

GL

 

[ostrow]

Eventually you will be burned by the Rios.

I had a Hagen 402 but after about 8 months to a year it gets noisy, and microbubbles everywhere. Soon after will fail. Can't handle the switching on and off.

Online is a MUCH better place to buy the tunzes and geminis. I got my gemini from thatfishplace.com for $82. I really like that pump. At 900GPH it will give you the flow you want in a 75G (minijets and maxijets even are simply not doing anything for you unless you have loads of them. One Gemini with a spray bar or flare type nozzle will really give you flow.)

 

[Great Lakes]

Hey Ostrow, everyone says that about Rios, but mine have been running for 5 and 6 years now.

GL

 

[ostrow]

Link to Gemini:
http/www.thatpetplace.com/MainPro/itemdy...1=F78+0051+0094

Yeah, GL, but you never know and there are as you know a LOT of stories. Why take the chance?

 

[Adrinal]

I just got 2 mags to replace my rios 1700 and 2100.
I have a cpr sump (first buy getting into SW) now I would just dyi if I had to do again.... anyhow..
the mag isn't much differeent for noise... but the thing actualy starts.
My rio 2100 was such a pain to get going I would pull it apart and put it together so many times to get it started. Finally I got it down to a chopstick in the inlet pushing on the blade. STill, if the power goes of for any reason. I am SOL till I get home to restart things.
Rio.. Thanks, but no thanks.

Unfortunatly I was not able to get the mag to work in the skimmer where the 1700 is. now that thing is noisy!!! but I can't say another brand would be quieter... its the venturi. At least I don't have to manually start that one.

 

[Great Lakes]

Most of the electrocution stories were with the old rios devoid of the ground plug.

I am right now dreaming up a canopy with a surge system in it to avoid the powerhead troubles altogether.

I am considering 4 or 5 small 1 - 2 gallon tanks versus a pair of largish 5 gallon or so tanks.
I can run them all aff a mag 6 or 7.

GL

 

[ostrow]

GL I'd like hear your ideas on the surge setup. I had a friend with an ATS and while their tank was a mess, that ATS surge was awesome.

 

[Adrinal]

I've never looked into those but my initial reaction would be make a larger bucket with an over flow which drains into the tank about 3" under the surface. (overflow so you always have some sort of flow into the tank).
Then just have a timmer hit a flush every 20 -30 secconds.
I'm not a plummer but well looks cool in my head