powerhead question (complicated)

pony_killer · 10/02/2006, 02:22 PM

Alright guys here goes...well this past weekend I replaced my 2 bak-pak protein skimmers with a coralife superskimmer 65. Well the superskimmer is awesome and VERY quiet, which I love, theres not enough flow in the tank like I had with the bak-pak 2's. Well I thought I would have to invest in a power head or two but as I was disassembling the bak-paks I noticed that they came with maxijet 1200 power heads...so I'm thinking sweet, now I can use those instead of investing in some new ones. Well I was looking for a way to mount them but theres nothing I can do. Now I was looking through a few threads on here and a couple of people use magnets on the outside of the tank and thats how they keep the powerheads in place. I called my LFS and they don't know or have what I'm talking about, but they did say that I can use suction cups to keep the powerheads in place. I think the magnets would be safer so I'm leaning more towards that idea...does anyone know where I can get the magnet at? Also does anyone have any pics of their powerheads mounted? And last has anyone ever used the powerheads that came off the bakpak 2? Thanks

seattlerob · 10/02/2006, 02:27 PM

Hi pony_killer: there is a retail consumer product solution for the magnet mount you want. Here is a link to one: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...Category_Code=

There are also folks on this board who have done DIY magnet mounts by ordering the magnets online & then creating some solution to encase them, etc. Unfortunately, I don't have any links to online vendors of magnets. Perhaps someone else will chime in with that.

I currently use the above linked magnet mounts for my seio powerheads. They are very powerful magnets & hold the powerheads VERY securely....albeit a bit on the expensive side.

hth,
rob

kisscouple · 10/02/2006, 03:39 PM

Hello Just glue it to a mag float. Just my opinion Bill

pony_killer · 10/02/2006, 03:46 PM

sorry bill but thats kind of ghetto...i just went ahead and purchased the magnet and mount from premiumaquatics. yeah it was kinda pricey for 2...but its for a nice investment/hobby which i really like.

serpentman · 10/02/2006, 04:02 PM

You will be very glad. Suction cups, well....suck!

tkeracer619 · 10/02/2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by serpentman
You will be very glad. Suction cups, well....suck!

And just when you realize this ouch, wish i could see that urchin in my southdown soup.

Good call on ordering those magnet mounts. One thing you forgot about the getto mag floats. When your glass gets dirty you have plenty of mag floats around =p. I know it works but now that there is a real product that works proper i'm all about it.

tkeracer619 · 10/02/2006, 04:17 PM

R/C's hardware driving me nuts today. I blame this double post on them.

pony_killer · 10/02/2006, 08:33 PM

hey guys and one more quick q about the powerheads...should i face them on opposite sides of the tank facing each other or should i put both of them on the back facing the front of the tank or does it matter?

seattlerob · 10/02/2006, 09:57 PM

Ideally, you'll place the powerheads in a fashion to create the most random flow patterns. One way to visualize this is to use the venturi on the PHs to inject air, which you can see. Position the PHs so the flow from each collide with each other & the flow will get pretty chaotic. In general, the more chaotic, the better.

FWIW, I have my PHs on the upper left & right sides of the tank, pointing towards the front glass but at an angle towards the middle. I try to point them slightly downward also, but keeping the sand from blowing around is the limiting factor with how far down I can angle.

hth,
rob

10/02/2006, 02:22 PM	#1
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	powerhead question (complicated) Alright guys here goes...well this past weekend I replaced my 2 bak-pak protein skimmers with a coralife superskimmer 65. Well the superskimmer is awesome and VERY quiet, which I love, theres not enough flow in the tank like I had with the bak-pak 2's. Well I thought I would have to invest in a power head or two but as I was disassembling the bak-paks I noticed that they came with maxijet 1200 power heads...so I'm thinking sweet, now I can use those instead of investing in some new ones. Well I was looking for a way to mount them but theres nothing I can do. Now I was looking through a few threads on here and a couple of people use magnets on the outside of the tank and thats how they keep the powerheads in place. I called my LFS and they don't know or have what I'm talking about, but they did say that I can use suction cups to keep the powerheads in place. I think the magnets would be safer so I'm leaning more towards that idea...does anyone know where I can get the magnet at? Also does anyone have any pics of their powerheads mounted? And last has anyone ever used the powerheads that came off the bakpak 2? Thanks

10/02/2006, 04:02 PM	#5
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	You will be very glad. Suction cups, well....suck! __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

10/02/2006, 04:17 PM	#7
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	R/C's hardware driving me nuts today. I blame this double post on them. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

10/02/2006, 02:27 PM	#2
seattlerob Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 464	Hi pony_killer: there is a retail consumer product solution for the magnet mount you want. Here is a link to one: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...Category_Code= There are also folks on this board who have done DIY magnet mounts by ordering the magnets online & then creating some solution to encase them, etc. Unfortunately, I don't have any links to online vendors of magnets. Perhaps someone else will chime in with that. I currently use the above linked magnet mounts for my seio powerheads. They are very powerful magnets & hold the powerheads VERY securely....albeit a bit on the expensive side. hth, rob

10/02/2006, 03:39 PM	#3
kisscouple Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Palestine, Illinois Posts: 144	Hello Just glue it to a mag float. Just my opinion Bill

10/02/2006, 03:46 PM	#4
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	sorry bill but thats kind of ghetto...i just went ahead and purchased the magnet and mount from premiumaquatics. yeah it was kinda pricey for 2...but its for a nice investment/hobby which i really like.

10/02/2006, 08:33 PM	#8
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	hey guys and one more quick q about the powerheads...should i face them on opposite sides of the tank facing each other or should i put both of them on the back facing the front of the tank or does it matter?

10/02/2006, 09:57 PM	#9
seattlerob Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 464	Ideally, you'll place the powerheads in a fashion to create the most random flow patterns. One way to visualize this is to use the venturi on the PHs to inject air, which you can see. Position the PHs so the flow from each collide with each other & the flow will get pretty chaotic. In general, the more chaotic, the better. FWIW, I have my PHs on the upper left & right sides of the tank, pointing towards the front glass but at an angle towards the middle. I try to point them slightly downward also, but keeping the sand from blowing around is the limiting factor with how far down I can angle. hth, rob