FAQs about Aquarium Systems Powerheads &
Marine Systems
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by Steven Pro, Inexpensive
Wavemaker Impressions, by Steven Pro Circulation, Aeration, Water
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Filtration, Flow-through
Live-holding Systems, Refugiums,
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Set-Up,
Related FAQs: Powerheads
1, Powerheads 2, Rationale, Selection, Application, Modification, Problems/Repair, By Manufacturer,
Makes/Models: Hagen (AquaClear),
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Pump Problems, Surge Devices,
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Question About Powerhead, sel. 1/28/10
Hi,
<Hello PD>
I have a 3 gallon Eclipse tank that doesn't seem to have enough
current. I am thinking of buying a mini powerhead for it but don't
know what to look for. Can you recommend a mini powerhead and how much
gph is proper for a
tank of this size. I'd like to have a nice current on top but not
too much that it will stir up everything in the tank. Any advice would
be gladly appreciated.
<Something around 30-40gph would work fine here. The Mini Maxi-Jet
would be a good choice here as it does have an adjustable flow rate and
will allow you to adjust the flow to your needs.
See here.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Co
de=MINI-JET404&Category_Code=Maxijet>
thanks.
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Fire in the tank, powerhead failure
19.01.09
Dear helpers of the fish,
I have had my 120 gallon salt water aquarium for 7 years, all has gone
well for the last 5 years. No issues, until tonight. Our powerhead went
haywire and exploded in a profusion of bubbles and smoke was billowing
out of our tank.
<Yeeikes!>
We got everything unplugged quickly and got the powerhead out of the
tank. Our whole living room filled with smoke and when we opened the
top of the tank it reeked of smoke - we did an immediate 65 gallon
water change but of our 6 fish and one starfish the only fish to
survive the ordeal is the Maroon Clownfish and the starfish. The
Orangehead Sleeper Goby looks very still but is still upright. I called
our fish store and they said they'd never heard of anything like
this happening.
<Save the burnt out unit... Contact the manufacturer...>
We have no corals, only live rock. Can you tell me what we could have
done to prevent this
<Perhaps nothing... but I would have all appliances wired through at
least a GFI, possibly a surge protector as well. Read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/gfcimarines.htm
and the linked files above>
- all seemed in good working order until the moment it started bubbling
like crazy. Also what do we do to keep the one remaining fish
alive?
<Either another set-up or doing what you can to salvage the present
one...>
Will our live rock be effected?
<Possibly, but worth trying to keep... Activated carbon, Polyfilter
use... IF through assay (your livestock not living), I'd bleach
all... and re-use>
Will we be able to add more fish or what would be your protocol to
getting our tank back in order. I did take our water in to be tested
and the levels all seemed ok but I'm nervous as to the long term
ramifications.
What a tragic night - I greatly appreciate any and all help and/or
advice you might give me. Not sure of what specs you need: 2 Magnum 350
canister filters, MaxJet1200 powerheads (had 2 now 1 but I'm
nervous about leaving it in the tank),
<MaxiJets are generally very reliable... again, I think the maker
would like to have this unit to examine>
we had a damselfish, a lipstick tang, a bi-color angel, and a 6 line
wrasse in addition to the Sleeper Goby and the Clownfish. We had Astrea
snails and some crabs as the cleaning crew.
Warm Wishes,
Amy
<I am very glad that no one was hurt, the house wasn't further
damaged. Bob Fenner>
Equipment/Power Heads - 03/22/06 I am planning on
setting up a 30 gallon reef tank with live sand (40 lbs) and live rock
(40 lbs). I want to house a few clowns, <Nothing larger than the
percula, and no more than two with your other choices.> a royal
Gramma, some snails and small crabs. I plan on adding some LPS corals.
I will be using an Aqua C Remora for skimming. <A big
plus.> My question is about circulation. When calculating tank
volume, do I subtract the volume taken up by the sand and
rock? I plan on using 2 Maxi-Jet power
heads. The small ones come in 106 gph and 160 gph. Which
ones would you recommend? Two 106's would give me 212
gph, two 160's would give me 320 gph? Would 320 gph blow stuff
around too much? <I like the Maxi-Jet by Aquarium
Systems, one of the very few that works well with wavemakers if you
ever so decide. Two model 600's (160gph) would work well
if this is your only means of circulation. If current seems
a bit strong, they are adjustable.> Thanks in advance for your time
and insight. <You're welcome. James (Salty
Dog)> Eric B. Tab A into Slot B I read in an answer
from P.F. <Speak my name and I shall be summoned. ; ) > that the
Maxijet-1200 was a great upgrade from the Rio 1400 for the Remora so I
bought the Maxijet. Now, can you please tell me how to go
about doing the change out from the Rio 1400? I know I am
not the sharpest tack on the card but have been able to keep salt water
fish for years successfully so I can't be hopeless. <We all have
things we're good at, and some we're not. Cars require gas, oil
changes, and air in the tires. After that... it's off to the garage
for me.> Is there some kind of conversion kit I need in order to
attach the Maxijet? <Nope, I just got some tubing from an LFS and
cut a short length of it (like 2" short) to act as a coupler. I
think it's 1/2" tubing, slip it over the short tube that come
with the Maxijet. Wish I had a working camera, I'd just send you a
picture. Now to sweet talk the wife into replacing the camera...> I
have really not been as impressed as I had hoped with the Aqua C and
thought maybe this would be the answer. Thanks for this
great resource. <Your welcome, hopefully that helps, if you have
questions about your unit, you can contact AquaC directly (not that you
can't contact us mind you) here: http://www.proteinskimmer.com/contact.htm They're
very nice and quick at responding. Have a good one, PF>