Maxi-Jet Powerheads...Not like they used to be? - Page 2

ejmeier · 02/03/2004, 07:28 AM

I think that with the "new" Maxi-Jets the most obvious difference (that I have noticed) has been the writing on the side of the pump itself. On the MJ 1200 it used to be a neon blue (quite ugly in a tank) but now they made the writing black so you can hardly notice it in the tank.

Other than that, I remember reading about a "thermal shutdown" thingamajig that was in the MaxiJets. I don't know why a PH would need this?

But the change that struck me the most, which outweighs all of the "benefits" was that they made the powercord really skinny. I don't know why, but when it comes to electrical components submerged in water, I REALLY want the powercord to be thick.

dc · 02/03/2004, 09:03 AM

LOL, I noticed the skinny cords also, but mine are over a year old and I've never had a problem with either.

GailKaitschuck · 02/03/2004, 09:14 AM

We've switched from Rio's ("hey look! The tank's on fire...dang; never knew water can burn!") to Hagen Aquaclear with great results (i.e, they work and we no longer have flames shooting out of the tank). Some good deals on these on ebay.

Gail

ejmeier · 02/03/2004, 09:24 AM

Had both the new and old maxijets out, so I figured, why not take a picture?

New one on left, old one on right. Notice the different lettering and cord size. Can't compare performance yet as I haven't used the newer one. At least the impeller seems to be the same.

Sloth · 02/03/2004, 10:53 AM

See my post here:

I'm done with maxijets

Before seeing this thread I thought it was just me. IMO - maxijets ARE the next RIO. They're garbage. Complete waste of time and money. I switched to Ehiem and have had 1 problem seizing so far, but I cleaned it and it works again.

jackson6745 · 02/03/2004, 01:31 PM

Sloth you're not alone

ejmeier
Thanks for posting the pics. Wanna sell the old one

FunkieReefJunkie · 02/03/2004, 09:04 PM

Kind of depressing to hear this about the aquaglobes. In the meantime I'll just watch and see what happens with mine. I like Hagens but they get larger with increased gph. Eheims are excellent but pricey. It would be nice to have a PH with low wattage, longevity, with a price which doesn't break the bank. Until then I'll be dreaming of a single pump, closed loop system. With the hobby growing so quickly I have a hard time understanding why no one company can get their "you know what together" and fit this nitch.

AquaticFins · 02/03/2004, 09:30 PM

thebigmg hit it right on the head.

Marineland bought Aquarium Systems and the quality went down the drain.

On the plus side, the packaging is nicer now.

montepora · 02/03/2004, 09:37 PM

Maybe this could be the MJ alternative???

Small and Powerful

nf4sevenw · 02/03/2004, 09:40 PM

i think we should all just closed loop our systems and all run mag 5's and mag 7's on wave makers. lol. at least it will last.(maybe)

BryanJ · 02/03/2004, 10:45 PM

If this is what happened to maxijets, I wonder what is going to happen to Perfecto aquariums? I was concidering getting one when I upgrade. Now I am not sure I want to take a chance on one.

FunkieReefJunkie · 02/04/2004, 12:28 AM

montipora I'm trying these out now. So far I like them, but it's too early for me to comment. Some negatives have been expressed. Need a few more people to give them a test drive.

nf4sevenw I just plan to stay home all day hovering over my aquarium, making waves with my hands, mimicing the sound of the ocean until I fall over exhausted.

gunsablarrin · 02/04/2004, 01:02 PM

I have 2 maxi-jet 1200s. I have been using them for only 3 months, but everything has been fine. They make almost no noise, even the one on my wavemaker. They are certainly much better then the Rios I had before. None failed, but they were incredibly noisy.

Creade · 02/04/2004, 01:30 PM

As a sidenote. If you watch Ebay, Some aquarium wholesalers still have an overabundance of the old model MJs they are pawning.
Just make sure you email them to make sure they are the old ones even if they are using the old pic.

Sloth · 03/11/2004, 08:28 AM

Update:
I don't like the new ehiem powerheads either. They don't start up 20% of the time. Then you have to pop them off the glass and the suction cups always come off. Then you have to kill your fingernails to get the casing open and fiddle with the impeller axel. If you push it too far in, the impeller will rub on the casing, too far out and it won't run. there is a button thing on the top of the pump that if you push it, it will shove the impellor down further. Dunno what thats all about. Anyway. I just decided that they aren't worth the trouble. The only powerheads I've had 100% success with for 2 years straight are minijet 404s.

I'm not saying anything bad about Eheim as a brand. I have a larger return pump and that thing is GREAT. Just the powerheads I don't like.

johnny1 · 03/11/2004, 08:55 AM

Here is to hoping my old MJ 1200's last forever.

K9 · 03/11/2004, 09:06 AM

I have two of the "new" MJ600s in my 30g, and I haven't had any problems yet. However they're both only 2mos old though, so we'll see. I bought them based on reputation, but that was before I learned of the "merger". Time will tell...

-K9

ejmeier · 01/25/2006, 11:20 PM

Thought I would drudge this thread up again.

I'm getting back into the hobby, and I want to see if Maxis are still a decent PH or not? Are these problems still occurring, or did they get the bugs out?

AllenFord_SC · 01/25/2006, 11:30 PM

What about Seio's? I know they are made by TAAM but they have a better rep than the Rio's do. Just a thought.

ejmeier · 01/25/2006, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AllenFord_SC
What about Seio's? I know they are made by TAAM but they have a better rep than the Rio's do. Just a thought.

Yeah, that's what I initially thought, but I guess they got some bad press too due to restart issues.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=591714

Maybe the problems with either PH aren't that big, and that it is just the minority who are reporting the probs and blowing it out of porportion?

02/03/2004, 07:28 AM	#26
ejmeier Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN Posts: 1,433	I think that with the "new" Maxi-Jets the most obvious difference (that I have noticed) has been the writing on the side of the pump itself. On the MJ 1200 it used to be a neon blue (quite ugly in a tank) but now they made the writing black so you can hardly notice it in the tank. Other than that, I remember reading about a "thermal shutdown" thingamajig that was in the MaxiJets. I don't know why a PH would need this? But the change that struck me the most, which outweighs all of the "benefits" was that they made the powercord really skinny. I don't know why, but when it comes to electrical components submerged in water, I REALLY want the powercord to be thick. __________________ Eric Meier Current Tank Info: 30g plywood/starphire pentagon

02/03/2004, 09:03 AM	#27
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	LOL, I noticed the skinny cords also, but mine are over a year old and I've never had a problem with either. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

02/03/2004, 09:24 AM	#29
ejmeier Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN Posts: 1,433	Had both the new and old maxijets out, so I figured, why not take a picture? New one on left, old one on right. Notice the different lettering and cord size. Can't compare performance yet as I haven't used the newer one. At least the impeller seems to be the same. __________________ Eric Meier Current Tank Info: 30g plywood/starphire pentagon

02/03/2004, 10:53 AM	#30
Sloth Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,667	See my post here: I'm done with maxijets Before seeing this thread I thought it was just me. IMO - maxijets ARE the next RIO. They're garbage. Complete waste of time and money. I switched to Ehiem and have had 1 problem seizing so far, but I cleaned it and it works again. __________________ I glue animals to rocks.

02/03/2004, 09:04 PM	#32
FunkieReefJunkie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: TotallyLostItville Posts: 781	Kind of depressing to hear this about the aquaglobes. In the meantime I'll just watch and see what happens with mine. I like Hagens but they get larger with increased gph. Eheims are excellent but pricey. It would be nice to have a PH with low wattage, longevity, with a price which doesn't break the bank. Until then I'll be dreaming of a single pump, closed loop system. With the hobby growing so quickly I have a hard time understanding why no one company can get their "you know what together" and fit this nitch. __________________ The Gerson Diet saves lives! May everyone be happy, May everyone be free from misery, May no one ever be separated from their happiness, May everyone have equanimity, free from hatred and attachment. Current Tank Info: Down to a 15 g from a 600g system. Nano is whole different ballgame.

02/03/2004, 09:14 AM	#28
GailKaitschuck Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 29	We've switched from Rio's ("hey look! The tank's on fire...dang; never knew water can burn!") to Hagen Aquaclear with great results (i.e, they work and we no longer have flames shooting out of the tank). Some good deals on these on ebay. Gail

02/03/2004, 01:31 PM	#31
jackson6745 Yeah Yeah Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rockaway Park, NY Posts: 5,822	Sloth you're not alone ejmeier Thanks for posting the pics. Wanna sell the old one

02/03/2004, 09:30 PM	#33
AquaticFins Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 887	thebigmg hit it right on the head. Marineland bought Aquarium Systems and the quality went down the drain. On the plus side, the packaging is nicer now.

02/03/2004, 09:37 PM	#34
montepora Member of NJRC Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,695	HTH! Maybe this could be the MJ alternative??? Small and Powerful __________________ The only easy day WAS yesterday.

02/03/2004, 09:40 PM	#35
nf4sevenw Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: rochester NY Posts: 718	i think we should all just closed loop our systems and all run mag 5's and mag 7's on wave makers. lol. at least it will last.(maybe) __________________ i love fish tanks they are never the same twice

02/03/2004, 10:45 PM	#36
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	If this is what happened to maxijets, I wonder what is going to happen to Perfecto aquariums? I was concidering getting one when I upgrade. Now I am not sure I want to take a chance on one. __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH

02/04/2004, 12:28 AM	#37
FunkieReefJunkie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: TotallyLostItville Posts: 781	montipora I'm trying these out now. So far I like them, but it's too early for me to comment. Some negatives have been expressed. Need a few more people to give them a test drive. nf4sevenw I just plan to stay home all day hovering over my aquarium, making waves with my hands, mimicing the sound of the ocean until I fall over exhausted. __________________ The Gerson Diet saves lives! May everyone be happy, May everyone be free from misery, May no one ever be separated from their happiness, May everyone have equanimity, free from hatred and attachment. Current Tank Info: Down to a 15 g from a 600g system. Nano is whole different ballgame.

02/04/2004, 01:02 PM	#38
gunsablarrin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Southern CA Posts: 305	I have 2 maxi-jet 1200s. I have been using them for only 3 months, but everything has been fine. They make almost no noise, even the one on my wavemaker. They are certainly much better then the Rios I had before. None failed, but they were incredibly noisy.

02/04/2004, 01:30 PM	#39
Creade Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin Posts: 1,186	As a sidenote. If you watch Ebay, Some aquarium wholesalers still have an overabundance of the old model MJs they are pawning. Just make sure you email them to make sure they are the old ones even if they are using the old pic.

03/11/2004, 08:28 AM	#40
Sloth Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,667	Update: I don't like the new ehiem powerheads either. They don't start up 20% of the time. Then you have to pop them off the glass and the suction cups always come off. Then you have to kill your fingernails to get the casing open and fiddle with the impeller axel. If you push it too far in, the impeller will rub on the casing, too far out and it won't run. there is a button thing on the top of the pump that if you push it, it will shove the impellor down further. Dunno what thats all about. Anyway. I just decided that they aren't worth the trouble. The only powerheads I've had 100% success with for 2 years straight are minijet 404s. I'm not saying anything bad about Eheim as a brand. I have a larger return pump and that thing is GREAT. Just the powerheads I don't like. __________________ I glue animals to rocks.

03/11/2004, 08:55 AM	#41
johnny1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Meridian Mississippi Posts: 228	Here is to hoping my old MJ 1200's last forever.

03/11/2004, 09:06 AM	#42
K9 Go ahead, hop the fence. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,450	I have two of the "new" MJ600s in my 30g, and I haven't had any problems yet. However they're both only 2mos old though, so we'll see. I bought them based on reputation, but that was before I learned of the "merger". Time will tell... -K9 __________________ Planning a big tank comeback for the year 20xx.

01/25/2006, 11:20 PM	#43
ejmeier Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN Posts: 1,433	Thought I would drudge this thread up again. I'm getting back into the hobby, and I want to see if Maxis are still a decent PH or not? Are these problems still occurring, or did they get the bugs out? __________________ Eric Meier Current Tank Info: 30g plywood/starphire pentagon

01/25/2006, 11:30 PM	#44
AllenFord_SC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ridgeland, SC Posts: 703	What about Seio's? I know they are made by TAAM but they have a better rep than the Rio's do. Just a thought. __________________ We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl..... Roger Waters, Pink Floyd Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Mixed, 55 Gallon sump, 35 gallon fuge