Powerheads, What one?

kdblove_99 · 03/27/2006, 08:28 PM

Was thinking of Seio or Maxijet but saw a Zoo med powersweep and i liked the way it moves from side to side. kinda like the Seio

Anyone own or have experience with the Zoo med powersweep?

smleee · 03/27/2006, 09:30 PM

Units like that typically end up stationary and not rotating due to calcium build-up etc. You can continually clean them with vinegar to reduce this effect though. The MJ900 is the powehead of choice (though it does not provide any rotational flow pattern unless on a wavemaker) behind the SEIO, Tunze, etc.

eee

Julio · 03/27/2006, 09:55 PM

Powerheads are better runned on a wave control system, even if they don't rotate like the power sweepers, you can put 2 on each side and you will get great water movement.

ledford1 · 03/27/2006, 09:56 PM

Like smleee said, MaxiJet < SEIO < Streams - I'd pass on the Power Sweep. The individual model and number of powerheads will depend on tank size and what you keep.

AZDesertRat · 03/27/2006, 10:19 PM

It kind of depends on how much and what type of water movement you are looking for. Maxijets are very dependable and move a decent amount of water although it is fairly concentrated, more like a pencil stream. You can put them on a wavemaker or controller and they start and stop pretty reliably though. There are posts her on how to modify them a little to get a better flow pattern but they still only move so much water.
Seios have a wide dispersed flow that is more gentle but moves gobs of water for the energy consumed and again are pretty reliable if you leave them running constantly. I understand there is a new controller just hitting the market that varies the speed from like 30% to full speed for a wave effect although I have not seen one yet.
I have owned a couple of powersweeps and they do require regular cleaning or they quit rotating. I was lucky and they were still working when I sold the tank they were in but some have not been so lucky.
I would say personally the best value is the Seio, it uses very little electricity and moves up to 1500 gallons per hour each vs the Maxijet which moves 292 gallons per hour at best and at about the same energy consumption as a Seio that moves 1100 GPH. They are kind of bulky and the suction cups can be a pain but it is very easy to glue them to a Magfloat cleaning magnet so they never fall off and can be moved around to suit your needs.

03/27/2006, 08:28 PM	#1
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	Powerheads, What one? Was thinking of Seio or Maxijet but saw a Zoo med powersweep and i liked the way it moves from side to side. kinda like the Seio Anyone own or have experience with the Zoo med powersweep?

03/27/2006, 09:55 PM	#3
Julio Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: New york Posts: 7,978	Powerheads are better runned on a wave control system, even if they don't rotate like the power sweepers, you can put 2 on each side and you will get great water movement. __________________ Thanks, Have a nice day. Julio Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef w/ 250 watt SE XM10Ks and AP1003, 12 gallon reef, 40 gallon reef

03/27/2006, 09:30 PM	#2
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	Units like that typically end up stationary and not rotating due to calcium build-up etc. You can continually clean them with vinegar to reduce this effect though. The MJ900 is the powehead of choice (though it does not provide any rotational flow pattern unless on a wavemaker) behind the SEIO, Tunze, etc. eee

03/27/2006, 09:56 PM	#4
ledford1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 2,241	Like smleee said, MaxiJet < SEIO < Streams - I'd pass on the Power Sweep. The individual model and number of powerheads will depend on tank size and what you keep.

03/27/2006, 10:19 PM	#5
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	It kind of depends on how much and what type of water movement you are looking for. Maxijets are very dependable and move a decent amount of water although it is fairly concentrated, more like a pencil stream. You can put them on a wavemaker or controller and they start and stop pretty reliably though. There are posts her on how to modify them a little to get a better flow pattern but they still only move so much water. Seios have a wide dispersed flow that is more gentle but moves gobs of water for the energy consumed and again are pretty reliable if you leave them running constantly. I understand there is a new controller just hitting the market that varies the speed from like 30% to full speed for a wave effect although I have not seen one yet. I have owned a couple of powersweeps and they do require regular cleaning or they quit rotating. I was lucky and they were still working when I sold the tank they were in but some have not been so lucky. I would say personally the best value is the Seio, it uses very little electricity and moves up to 1500 gallons per hour each vs the Maxijet which moves 292 gallons per hour at best and at about the same energy consumption as a Seio that moves 1100 GPH. They are kind of bulky and the suction cups can be a pain but it is very easy to glue them to a Magfloat cleaning magnet so they never fall off and can be moved around to suit your needs.