Maxi Jet Help

[jba6511]

I just purchased a maxi jet 400 for the tank and I have a maxi jet 600 on another tank. For the 600, I placed the longer filter longer undergravel filter on the one I already have, along with the venturi plug into the flow deflector and plug in. Works just fine. However, with the 400 I just bought, I tried to use the prefilter since it takes up less space, then the exact same setup as above. However, after a few seconds the deflector shoots off and floats around the tank. What am I doing wrong? The deflector does not seem to fit in as firmly. I placed the venturi plug into the deflector, then attached the deflector, placed into the tank and turned on then the thing shoots off. Any ideas? Can I change the undergravel filter for the prefilter on my maxi jet 600 as well?

 

[drummereef]

Try turning the venturi adapter around the other way. You should feel it "click" in. You do realize the amount of bubbles coming off the powerheads with the venturis is going to create a crazy amount of salt creep right?

 

[jba6511]

i am not using the airline thing, just the white small plug that fits in that hole. There are no bubbles. The problem is the diffuser itself shoots off after a few seconds (20 -30), I think the diffuser is a little to big for it.

 

[drummereef]

Ah, gotcha. When you are assembling it does it look like this?

 

[jba6511]

the one on my 10 does, and the 5.5 is almost the same except for that bottom part under the diffuser is the other filter option it comes with. That arm is what keeps shooting off.

 

[drummereef]

Very strange. Maybe it came with the wrong part then...?

 

[jba6511]

the manual says that the 400, 600, 900, and 1200 are virtually identical so the part should still work. I do not know whats going on. I am thinking about just using some krazy glue to hold it on, although I will not be able to take it apart again. Any other ideas???? I would run it without the diffuser, but the whole reason I got it was to agitate the water on the surface.

 

[drummereef]

Is it just the diffuser that falls off, or the diffuser and venturi adapter? Can you post a pic of what's going on? Still a bit confused, sorry...

 

[aquarius77]

They arent made to be turned upside down like that and almost always will come off. If you flip it the other way it will not come off. I understand that does nothing for your water agitation at the surface...
I flip mine and so far have had luck with just being very forcefull, if that starts to fail i will use teflon tape around the output to make the deflector fit tighter. HTH

 

[jba6511]

what is circled in red is what is popping off. That whole piece slides onto a little arm coming from the maxi jet.

 

[jba6511]

in the pic above, not the one I posted, is how I want to angle the MJ 400. Works just fine in that position on my 10 gallon.

 

[drummereef]

Ok. And the venturi hole (plugged) is on the side closest to the diffuser? That's what should be 'snapping' onto the output of the maxi. Sometimes you really have to push it on for it to snap.

 

[jba6511]

yep thats how it is setup. I will take it apart again tomorrow and triple-check, but I am sure it should be good to go.

 

[drummereef]

Ok, let us know. Just push the venturi adapter firmly onto the pump's outlet and hope for the best.

 

[pammy]

I was wondering what that little white plug (in the venturi?) was for in my MaxiJet 1200. Am I better off to have the plug in, or remove it? What is it supposed to do?

Thanks, Pam