MJ Powerhead: Suction Cup Problems

[iCam]

I have used little pieces of Duct Tape to adhere the chords to the back rim of the tank. That way, should one come loose, at least that will hold the chord, and keep it from falling onto the sand. Make sure there is no moisture, or salt spray, on the trim before you put the tape down, though.

 

[BigBert96]

This is probably obvious, but try cleaning the glass or acrylic where the suction cups will stick to. The slightest bit of algae will cause poor performance on your suction cups. The above mentioned zip-tie also works. Just take all the slack in the power cord and loop it together, then zip tie or tape it. So if your powerhead falls, it will dangle harmlessly where it was mounted.

 

[botp2k1]

Another method is to sandwich the PH between two LRs pointing where you want it to. Of course make sure everything is solidly balanced and won't fall due to any vibrations.

 

[AJP]

I have had my magfloat in my tank for the last year. No problems here.

 

[surfjeepzx]

I never trusted the suction cups from the get go. So I took some pieces of plexiglass. Cut them to the width of the pump. Turned on my stove and heated the end to the shape I needed to hang over the top frame of the tank. Used marine epoxy by 3m to glue the pump to the plexiglass. (use sandpaper to scuff the plexiglass so the glue will hold) I can move the pump to any point along the top of the tank to alter the flow and never had a problem. The nice thing about the plexiglass idea is that you can always go back and heat the plexiglass to point the pump in a specific direction.

 

[petergillett]

This is probably obvious, but try cleaning the glass or acrylic where the suction cups will stick to.

If glass, scrape it with a razor blade.

 

[Nuhtty]

When I used powerheads I mounted them to cleaning magnets. The TopFin brand, 4" size worked great.

 

[browardreefer]

i had the suction cups for slose to a year w/o problems. scrape all algae off the area you will stick it to and push it on to the glass hard. no problems. ( except when i pulled on the cord really hard)

i took down my tank last week and thats is why i said for close to a year

 

[petergillett]

I think my brittle star dislodges them when on a rampage. His legspan is about 12" diameter though.

 

[Nuhtty]

Mag-Net! Mag-Net!

 

[raskal311]

Yeah I had the same problem with the suction cups now im using the hangers that come with the power head.

Good Luck
Kakan

what he siad

 

[woninil]

I have less problems now that I make the two cups of the triangle on the bottom with one on the top. I had been using it the reverse way(2 on top)

Also, glass has to be spotless

Like the tie idea though IN CASE

 

[jgln]

I started buying those coat hanger hooks that you hang over the top of a door. You can buy them many places like Home Depot or Lowes. I then use tie wraps to attach them. The hangers take some modification, but with a dremmil it's easy. Solved my problem for PHs without their own hangers.

 

[bristopher]

Scuba Oz

What kind of glue did you use to glue the suctioncups to the tank? and was it a glass tank?

 

[R33f3r]

For me, soaking them in vinegar for about 20 mins solves the problem and they re-stick perfectly.