Maxi-Jet Combo for SPS tank

[Felixc395]

I want to get some new pumps for my 75 gallon and after researching I found the maxi-jets. At first I saw the original powerhead gph rare and I thought what a joke! But then I saw the upgrade kits that could turn a 200 gph rate powerhead into 1600 gph! I thought that's awesome and around $35 what a great deal!

Now for my 75 which will be sps dominate would I need 4 of the 1400, 1600, or 2100 gph rate powerheads for enough flow for sps? Another thing to take into consideration is that these pumps will be on a wavemaker so they won't be full blast all the time.

And sorry mp20's and mp40's are not in my consideration or budget for that matter

So guys and gals, what do you think?

 

[stanlalee]

A couple things:

a)throw in the price of the sureflow magnet holder which are pretty much required unless you want a 1400+ gph pump on your sandbed when the suction cups fail
b) the sureflow kit comes with large 2100gph prop and smaller 1600gph prop. the 2100gph only runs quiet and smoothly with the maxi-jet 1200. the smaller prop works with the smaller maxi-jets (400-900) and not well with the maxi-jet 1200.
c) none should be used on a wavemaker where they have to start and stop completely. some prop/maxi-jet model combo's have start up issues. others dont.
d) two of ANY variation will be enough for a 75g sps (no way you need 4). the 2100gph is noticeably more powerful than the small prop. not much difference with the small prop wether its on a maxi-jet 400 or 900 (or in between).

 

[saltygeek]

+1
Look into Koralias. Price is likely the same as the maxi jet once you put in the kit and magnet.

 

[firsttank]

maxi jets are very good pumps. But they do consume more electricity than the other powerheads. Also its a more focused flow.

You could use other powerheads which use less electricity and more spread out flow.

Higher the wattage, higher will be the heat transfered to your water, if heat is not an issue and you can work with the focused flow then mj's are excellent.

 

[wakeboardgeek]

FWIW, if you opt to do the sureflow mod on a K4...sometimes it starts in reverse so the wavemaker (on/off) might not be a good idea.

Until I upgraded powerheads, I was using 2 K3s and 1 K4 in a SPS dominated 90 gallon tank and it worked well.

 

[manix man]

You should look at the new design they have instead of the maxi-jet. The line is called NeWave and is far more efficent and have similar flow to Korelias without having to modify anything.

 

[MCCOOL]

A couple things:

a)throw in the price of the sureflow magnet holder which are pretty much required unless you want a 1400+ gph pump on your sandbed when the suction cups fail
b) the sureflow kit comes with large 2100gph prop and smaller 1600gph prop. the 2100gph only runs quiet and smoothly with the maxi-jet 1200. the smaller prop works with the smaller maxi-jets (400-900) and not well with the maxi-jet 1200.
c) none should be used on a wavemaker where they have to start and stop completely. some prop/maxi-jet model combo's have start up issues. others dont.
d) two of ANY variation will be enough for a 75g sps (no way you need 4). the 2100gph is noticeably more powerful than the small prop. not much difference with the small prop wether its on a maxi-jet 400 or 900 (or in between).

I agree with all points made here, I went through 7 or 8 maxi-jets on a wavemaker before I gave up, they were way too noisy, and the magnets are a necessity for sure. by the time you buy the pumps, mods, magnets and wavemaker, you could almost buy a couple used mp10's here on the board, and just use a koralia if you need a little extra flow.

 

[dvanacker]

Im gonna say Tunze

 

[evsalty]

Already moded MJ 1200's @1600 gph can be bought for $35 so you are already at $70 for just two. Mag mount kits are $25 so that is $50 then you have the price of a controller at around $50 or more. Then add in shipping. You have now paid more then the cost of a NEW MP10. So if you did want 4 sets then you are looking into the price range of the MP20.

 

[scottwhitson]

I won't ever use maxi-jet mods again. They are incredibly loud!

 

[GhostCon1]

MP10w ES? If so, where are you finding them for that cheap, I need two and $170 per is a lot better than $240 per. lol

 

[evsalty]

I did not say ES. DFS sells the MP10 for $175.

And the ES is only $220 shipped on ebay.

 

[manix man]

So can u guys in the US get the aquarium systems new circulation pumps, not sure why you would buy a maxi-jet when the same company now makes these?

http://www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk...ve-circulation-pumps-new-c-56_475.html?p=shop

 

[GhostCon1]

I did not say ES. DFS sells the MP10 for $175.

And the ES is only $220 shipped on ebay.

Thanks, I was wondering if it was accidentally dropped off or if you meant the reg. one. (Ok, I was kind of hoping that you did mean the ES... I can dream, right? :spin3

 

[Felixc395]

+1
Look into Koralias. Price is likely the same as the maxi jet once you put in the kit and magnet.

I thought that the higher Koralia gph rate pumps couldn't be used on a wavemaker?

 

[Felixc395]

d) two of ANY variation will be enough for a 75g sps (no way you need 4). the 2100gph is noticeably more powerful than the small prop. not much difference with the small prop wether its on a maxi-jet 400 or 900 (or in between).

I've read that having a 60-75 times turnover rate is what's needed in a healthy sps tank. Is this wrong? How much flow do I need?

 

[CleveYank]

IF the new coralvue doubles for $44 are correct on NON-wavemaking run can really push 3000gph I'd go with those.

Put in 2 of those, one in the far left back and one in the far right front and the laminar flow for $88 would be pretty good. Then when you have the jack dump for a vortech or TUNZE controlled setup. Something like that would give you phenominal turnover and if the vortech didn't cash it in (I will never buy vortech products until the NEED for support drops off a tad more) you'd have constant flow and a pulse that would be the cats behind.

 

[Felixc395]

Can those coralvue's be run on a wavemaker?

 

[veocool]

I've got 3 modded maxis and 1 regular maxi with a jbj quadra wavemaker in a 70 gallon custom. They work great but sure take up alot of space. i have to use the suction cups. The flow is good but I would love to have more space in the tank and can't use a Vortech because the magnets won't work on 1 inch thick acrylic. I wish they changed this.

 

[stanlalee]

I've read that having a 60-75 times turnover rate is what's needed in a healthy sps tank. Is this wrong? How much flow do I need?

I have that in mine because thats just what it is on paper (two 1189 tunze nano's and a 775gph return pump on a 30g long). I've also had a single 2100gph maxi-jet mod in there and feel pretty comfortable saying it caused more havoc as it was virtually impossible to position where I could use it without blowing something around too much. I lived with a single 1600gph prop in there long term without problems. two small prop maxi-jets are going to be sufficient for a 75g sps dominated mixed tank trying to keep lps and other corals and I'm confident two 2100gph props will be enough regardless of what your doing. Four maxi-jet mods are typical for a 120g (4'x2'x2') which is significantly deeper and wider than a 75g.