Rust on PH impeller magnet

[vol_reefer]

I was taking apart one of my powerheads today because it stopped working last weekend. It's an MJ1200 with the Sure Flow upgrade. I took the impeller out, and much to my surprise, a good 1/3 of the surface of the impeller magnet was covered in a coating of rust. Can't be good. I took out another one to compare (and to check for the same issue) - it was smooth and shiny grey, but the failed one was rough like fine-grit sandpaper and brownish-orange on part of the surface. Definitely didn't look like encrusted coralline.

I'd been noticing some STN on a big pocillopora colony and also on my green mille lately - only in low light areas (shaded branches) and progressing from the base up. Pretty sure it isn't AEFWs because of the pattern of tissue loss - not spotty like the photos I've seen of AEFW damage. I'm wondering if maybe the rusty impeller could have had something to do with it. Anybody have an educated opinion? I've got the offending pump out of the tank now, of course, but would activated carbon soak up any oxided iron ions still in the water?

I'm becoming less enthralled with these modified MJs over time. This is the third one I've had a problem with in the last month. The other two failed because (in both cases) the little plastic grommet under the top cover that holds the end of the impeller (the end furthest from the prop) broke off of the housing, causing the impellers to be un-centered and stop spinning. I do run my MJs on a wavemaker with 60 sec on/off cycles during the day. I wonder if the modded MJs are less durable for cycling than the stock MJs.

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[fishdoc11]

The rust could indeed be the problem. There are several old threads with rust being the suspected culprit in long term STN issues. Some of those were later found out to be AEFW's. Still it could be the problem. I know home made Maxi Jet Mods don't do well at all on a timer and the "inventor" warns against using them with one.
hth, Chris

 

[ct_vol]

Jeff~ I've had some problems with my SureFlow MJ Mods... I have one on a timer with my lights, and when I got back from my vacation, it wasn't working... I guess the prop had gotten stuck while I was gone, it is now demagnatized in those spots and won't start all the time... The brackets that came with them when we ordered them snapped... Mark at AlgaeFree took care of me on them though...

I guess as in everything else, you get what you pay for... I'll more than likely stick with Tunze from now on... I have had a couple problems with my 6025's, but Roger has warranteed all of them...

I don't know enough about water chemistry to offer an opinion... But as far as I'm concerned, running a little carbon never hurt matters...

 

[vol_reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12543314#post12543314 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishdoc11
The rust could indeed be the problem. There are several old threads with rust being the suspected culprit in long term STN issues. Some of those were later found out to be AEFW's. Still it could be the problem. I know home made Maxi Jet Mods don't do well at all on a timer and the "inventor" warns against using them with one.
hth, Chris

That's interesting that others have suspected an association. This STN I've had on 2-3 colonies has definitely been long term. I don't think it's AEFW, though, because the colony that has the worst of it is a big pocillopora. AEFWs only attack acros, right?

The one thing the affected branches on these colonies have in common is that they are all in the most poorly-lit parts of the colonies. So I'm thinking this actually could just be the colony allocating its resources where they can produce photosynthesis, shutting down parts that aren't productive. Does that make sense from what you know?

I changed my lights today - my 14K 400W Hamiltons had been in there for about 12 mo, so it was time. I upgraded to 20K 400W Radiums on a new HQI ballast, and things are noticeably brighter, so maybe the STN will halt. Of course I also removed the rusty impeller, so if things do get better I'll never know which made the difference...

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[vol_reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12543363#post12543363 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ct_vol
Jeff~ I've had some problems with my SureFlow MJ Mods... I have one on a timer with my lights, and when I got back from my vacation, it wasn't working... I guess the prop had gotten stuck while I was gone, it is now demagnatized in those spots and won't start all the time... The brackets that came with them when we ordered them snapped... Mark at AlgaeFree took care of me on them though...

Now that you mention it, a couple month ago (while I was out of town, of course), I had a SureFlow bracket snap on me too. I assumed it was my fault, though, because I had mounted it with a Sure Grip magnet to the underside of my tank's top acryllic panel - I figrued probably the bracket just wasn't meant to support the weight of the MJ partially out of the water.

I don't know enough about water chemistry to offer an opinion... But as far as I'm concerned, running a little carbon never hurt matters...

I think I will run some carbon just to be safe.

Jeff (vol_reefer)

 

[jcopp]

sureflow = JUNK

sureflow = JUNK

Those sure-flow MJ mods are junk. I bought 2 of them and within 6 months, both stopped working and had rusted out shafts. Interesting, b/c I have been dealing with some dying acros. (STN maybe). You def. get what you pay for. I even tried to put a negative review on Marine depot, but guess what, they never allowed it.

Jason