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

[jackson6745]

Over the past 4 months I had 3 MJ 1200's cease up on me. I clean them regularly with vinegar to remove calcium build up, and they still look relatively new when they stop working. I have had MJ's that have lasted 4 years. Seems that every new one I buy is not made with the same quality?

Have I just had bad luck with them or is anyone else having the same problem?

 

[KRAZ4REEFS]

I had 3 out of 4 new ones lock up in about 1 month. I just cleaned them in a vinegar soak and 1 is still not working.

 

[jackson6745]

same here. If I take the cover off and give the impeller a little push it starts spinning again but as soon as I put the cover back on it stops

 

[MattG]

aquarium systems and marineland merged (i dont know if merged is the official term). i know the maxijet box now say marineland on it and the powercord is much thinner then it use to be. it seems i have read of quite a few problems with maxijets lately which leads me to believe that more then the powercord and box was changed. anyone have any definitive information???

 

[jackson6745]

I noticed the power chord is thinner also....

I think i'm going to have to switch to another brand....but which one?

 

[MattG]

you cant go wrong with hagen or eheim.

 

[jackson6745]

Anyone ever try an eheim aquaglobe mini powerhead? The model I was look at pumps 300gph (MJ100-295gph) and it supposed to be very small. I can't seem to find much info on them but it looks like they come with a remote power supply.

 

[jscarb2]

i hope this is not true i just bought a case of maxi jet 1200's cause my hagen 802 where so old the make some noise now when the wave maker switches them of and on.hope these mj1200 are all right. the ones i got still say aquarium systems on them nothing about marineland is there a way to tell? maybe i got a case of the good ones!

 

[jackson6745]

Fat chord or skinny chord?
Not sure if this method of telling is 100% but all the new mj's that gave me problems have skinny chords

 

[jazztown]

I have 3 MJ 1200's,2 are the older ones and nice and quiet i just got one of the new ones running on a wavemaker makes a load rattle everytime it comes on plus a load humming noise.Last mj 1200 i'm buying,i'm going to try an Ehiem next.
Bill

 

[jackson6745]

OK, well I'm glad it's not just me experiencing these problems. I didnt even wash my old mj1200's and they worked perfectly for years....I just don't get it.

 

[BRG]

Same here, I have three of the new ones and they rattle when they come on

I have been using MJ's for years and they have been good pumps, hope that has not changed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bg

 

[Medaka]

Anyone ever try an eheim aquaglobe mini powerhead? The model I was look at pumps 300gph (MJ100-295gph) and it supposed to be very small. I can't seem to find much info on them but it looks like they come with a remote power supply.

Aquaglobe make Rio's look good.
I actually used to like aquaglobes, but after replacing about 10 of them every month or two, I got tired of the hastle. Sooooo many problems with them. The two main problems is that the impellers rust and fall apart within months and the other is that the plastic used to make the powerhead is extremely cheap and deform easily, so doing things like soaking them in vinegar will deform the plastic (some are deformed when there brand new so you need to glue them or they will fall apart when there on).

 

[bergzy]

the maxi-jet 1200's i recently purchased 8 months ago are still okay. i hope that they don't die. they are on the wavemaker and i do notice that one rattles a little every so often when it turns on.

i'll post if/when they die.

 

[ensley]

Another company lost to climax capitalism. The McDonald's syndrome. "Reduce quality to the lowest point the public will still accept." The dollars have all been squeezed out and it will soon be sold to the guy who has my pension fund. He dosen't know they will be living on reputation alone. I will discover the pumps are no good, quit buying and encourage my friends to do the same. The company will go broke and I will work 20 more years to pay for my brokers retirement.
Did i say that out loud?

 

[Agent Powder Tang]

Wow, I was going to buy MaxiJets today because my 3 month old Rio died on me. Now I don't know what to buy.

 

[Wind]

i've got one a few months back and it is thinner. i was like huh??... but i hope its okay..

sigh @ the companies now a days.. and i used to preach maxijets... i dunno now....

 

[jackson6745]

i've got one a few months back and it is thinner. i was like huh??... but i hope its okay..

sigh @ the companies now a days.. and i used to preach maxijets... i dunno now....

Same here dude. I also used to preach how good they were etc...
I miss the "old" days when the MJ's came in that Pink box

SO What model and brand pump would you guys consider a good replacement for an mj' 1200 ( 295GHP)???

 

[Wind]

ya im curious what to replace..

there's that TUNZE but dang 100 bucks .... poor peeps like me, need alternatives.. i duno though.. i've saw the power sweep but some say they get stuck..

i really dunno.. maybe something made elsewhere... ehein is 265

 

[BryanJ]

If maxijet is the next rio, I sure hope eheim steps up the circulation on the aquaball. The most powerfull ball is only 171 gph.