rotating power head deflector

[jcanute]

someone at dr. kliers meet asked about the deflectors on the powerheads. here is a link. http://www.petsolutions.com/Flo+Rotating+Water+Deflector-I-41400047-I-.aspx

 

[Lakeside518]

How are members experiences with them? I am considering adding one to a Nano reef.

Are they benefical- worth having?

Or best to use modular pipe and fittings and make a Dual outlet setup?

When they rotate vertical depending on pump flow do they splash?

Thanks

Kris

 

[Arik]

I've had two, and it is a great idea executed poorly. After about a month, the gears start to slip and it gets stuck into one position. You then have to take it out, clean it, put it all back together and then it will work for about another day. I took them both off because they drove me nuts.

The problem is that there is a plastic shaft that holds the rotating part on the powerhead that is a little too long, which means that when the water is pushing on it the gears don't make contact. It seems like an easy fix for Hydor, but as far as I am aware they haven't fixed it yet.

 

[PCIALF]

Mine worked go for a long time MO stocks them

 

[puffer_heaven]

Mine worked great for 2 weeks then started sticking. I finaly gave up on them. Also I could not get them to stay on the PH without popping off without a clamp on them. I used maxi 1200s.

 

[fat-tony]

The only problem i had with mine was with it sticking after several months. vinegar bath and as good as new. Mine was on a 25 tall and it was in the middle of the tank. I got a slight ripple, but it never got near splashing.

 

[NYBen]

I love mine. I have it glued to maxijet 900 and couldn't be happier. Mine only stopped once in 6 months. Even with it glued I pulled the front assembly (leaving the intake glued to the output of the MJ) quick rinse and back in business. I'm thinking of adding 2 or 3 in a 40 breeder frag tank I'm putting together. I found without gluing them, they tend to blow off in time.

 

[SuzLucky]

I have one that won't stay on the powerhead. I'm going to superglue it and see what happens. I've had it for a few months. Got it at MO. Great idea.

 

[NYBen]

For the cost of the MJ, I figured why not glue it. I could always dremel it off if it was terrible. But... it has been great.

 

[chrisguy]

I have two that are connected to ports in my closed loop and 1 I run in my sump to keep the water moving. They work great for creating random water flows without extra electrical equipment. I've had mine running for about 7 months. I clean them every 6-8 weeks and have not had them stop running on me yet.

 

[Arik]

Maybe I got mine during a bad batch, because the "axle" is definitely too long for the unit. If I had a small plastic washer it would work great, and when the unit did work I loved it.

I used a MJ 1200 and never had it pop off.

 

[dalbrecht]

they have to work better then the mag sweeps.

 

[Chrsnwk]

I have one also... much better unit that the powerhead I used to have with the sweeping nozzle. I have it on a timer such that it's stops for like 15-20 minutes every hour and a half or so, and almost without exception it starts back up rotating properly. it's been in there for about 5 months on a Rio 600.

 

[sheik_yerbouti]

i have small snails that go in the back of the wavemaker and get inside the gears...always have to get those little guys out.

very good idea and it works pretty decent especially for the cost....if you clean them like you clean your powerheads (in vinegar) they are pretty decent.