Modification of Maxijet Powerhead

[reef92109]

I modified my 1200's after reading here about cutting the outlet nozzle down on the Maxijet powerheads would produce a varied and better flow.

What a difference. The flow seems better (more spread out or wider pattern) the direction also alters depending on what direction the impeller decides to run (clockwise or counter clockwise). Obviously, you need a tool to switch the power on and off the get this benifit like using a wave maker.

Spinning one direction the flow is just off center of the outlet and spinning the opposite way the flow comes out at about 45 degrees from the outlet.

Pretty cool and more random movement. I highly recommend this modification .
:spin1:

 

[clutchcargo]

Interesting, I suppose you could also cut slots in the impeller housing to spread the flow even more.

 

[bch3425]

Can you talk a little more about modifing the maxijets? Where and what are you cutting to get this varried flow? Thanks!

 

[reef92109]

I removed the plastic impeller housing which has the inlet and outlet on it. I just cut down as far as I could on the oulet side. The cut was just past the little ridge that I think helps hold the nozzle attachment (which would no longer be used after this mod).

Real easy!


I hope this helps.

 

[phishlet]

Any pictures?

 

[gcvt]

I'd like to see a pic too. I'm pretty sure I know exactly what you're talking about, but a pic would be cool. I have an old Maxijet 400 I might like to try this on.

 

[reef92109]

Just saw off the outlet nozzle as far down as possible--very simple.

Here was the tread that inspired me:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=311581&highlight=maxijet+AND+stream

Here is a web site showing the direction flow change (just put your mouse over the picture to see the change).

http://www.geocities.com/nivenboug/Cutmaxijets.html

 

[phishlet]

I don't think I'm getting this yet. Are you talking about sawing off the cylinder shaped tube that currently is output spout? Looking at the picture on the geocities site it looks like that is the case. But when you mouse over the picture it looks like the whole casing that covers the impeller is spinning back and forth. Is that what is really happening?

 

[reef92109]

Yeah, cut the output spout. The impeller housing isn't moving what is happening is the impeller spins clockwise or counter clockwise when power is applied. The dirrection varies dending on resistance I would quess. This happens on all the Maxijets regardless of any modification. By having a long spout the water is routed in the same direction all the time and once it is removed the water shoots out the impeller based on the directional spin.

Someone discovered that by cutting the output spout/nozzle off that you get a varied output (two different directions depending on the direction the impeller spins) as you see in the geocities site picture.

After trying the mod on one of my 1200's, I immediately modified the rest.

I did this after ordering a Tunze 6010 kit and now I do not know if I really need it but I'm sure I'll use both.

 

[phishlet]

Very cool! I think I'll have to try this. Thanks for the tip!!

 

[gcvt]

So there's no real benefit to doing this unless you have a wavemaker though, right?

 

[reef92109]

Yeah, you need a way to switch the power on and off.

 

[Rebels23]

I have a RedSea wavemaker, would that do?

 

[reef92109]

Yes, that would work great.

 

[lakerfan]

so how much of the nozzle part can you cut off? any pics>?

 

[Happy]

powerhead impellors start in either direction, it depends on how the magnet ends up when it stops. this is why the impellor and casing are such poor design, it needs to work either way. for fun, maybe you should drill holes in the housing, and/or glue more than one nozzle on to the housing. should be able to get water to go all over the place. also, even if you have no wavemaker, you can do all kinds of things to the outlet of these powerheads, like attaching nozzles, bent tubing, etc to get them to do what you want. plastic is easy to work with, if someone can make a perfect model of a battleship from it, you can modify it the same way.

 

[thedogofwar]

so how much of the nozzle part can you cut off? any pics>?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=2564450

Even using an electronic timer would stir things up a bit.

 

[reef92109]

I have about 7 maxijet 1200's and a couple are older so I think an experiment is in order. I will cut slits in the side and/or drill holes to see what happens.

The problem may be keeping the water suction from the bottom.

I'll probably do it this weekend so we'll see.

 

[aznDragonX]

nice mod!! reef92109
can you post some pix of how it's done?
thanks
- Jason

 

[mandktod]

My Chauvet will arrive next week and now I have something else to look forward to, now I will have to get a couple more MJ's and replace the old Rio's I have so that I can do the mod on them as well. I have been looking for an excuse to switch out the rio's for MJ's now I have it, OH honey.......