seio powerhead

robszar

New member
whats the verdict? do you have um, do you like um? I'm thinking about replacing my 4 maxi-jets 1200's for 2 seio 820. any thoughts?
 
I wouldn't do it. Given the increasing bad experiences others have posted on RC. Specifically with them not restarting after some time.


D.
 
I've got 3 of them in my 58, an 1100 and two 820's.

They are OK I guess, but mine do have problems restarting. That's despite almost monthly cleaning in vinegar baths.

I think for the budget reefer, they are a good alternative. But they appear to require more maintainence then the MJ's, for instance.

If you do go for them, I'd seriously recommend you consider the 1100's at least. That seems to be the minimum size people are using w/ 75g tanks. You can always dial the flow back if necessary.
 
wow, 1100 the smallest? really. i figued the mj1200 puts out 300gph and the seio 820 would give me 800 so i only need 2 of those? no?

so people complain that they don't start up after time, hum, that sucks. maybe i'll just stick with the mj's
 
I have three of the 820's and they all work great. The only downside is they do need almost monthly cleaning, but IMO that is true of any powerhead. I also have a 620 in my tank. I prefer the size of the 620, but the 820s are more effective.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6686786#post6686786 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by robszar
wow, 1100 the smallest? really. i figued the mj1200 puts out 300gph and the seio 820 would give me 800 so i only need 2 of those? no?

so people complain that they don't start up after time, hum, that sucks. maybe i'll just stick with the mj's


Rob,

check out the maxi-stream mod where you and turn the Maxijets into something much better than the SEIO's :)

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=717034
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6686823#post6686823 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Entropy
I have three of the 820's and they all work great. The only downside is they do need almost monthly cleaning, but IMO that is true of any powerhead. I also have a 620 in my tank. I prefer the size of the 620, but the 820s are more effective.


I dunno.... I haven't cleaned my MJ's in months and they start and restart without a problem. Never heard of a restart problem with Tunzes either.

D.
 
I never have any problems with my Seios not restarting, but that was not my point anyway. I meant the you need to clean your powerheads fairly often (once a month is good IMO) to keep them flowing at their best. Otherwise the slots and blades start to get growth on them and that reduces the flow. This is true of Maxijets and Tunze and pretty much any other piece of equipment that is hooked to an aquarium.


Your avatar makes my nose itch. :p
 
Can't beat the price! Though, don't plan to run them on a timer/wavemaker. Don't expect to see the kind of flow you get from a traditional powerhead. The flow is great though, just broad and turbulent, not a focused stream. I run mine with the bottom off (i've seen others call it Tunze style). Have you checked out wave2k?
 
I have 5 of them. 2x820, 2x1100, and 1x1500. The 820s work great the 1100 have had problems starting since right out of the box. But, a lot of people have had problems with the 820's too. I was ready to through an 1100 against the wall last week and be done with it. The problem is probably with the tolerance in the inmpellers but these things have been out for quite a while and they don't seem to have it fixed. I know a bunch of people in the club here that have had problems with them. The tunze is expensive as hell but everyone I know loves them.
 
Have 2 of them on my 120 sps reef, and they don't restart after the slightest power blip. You have to take them out of the water and slap them. Very messy. These are the same Rios I threw away by the dozen (exactly one dozen) a few years ago. Stupid me though they must've fixed them.

I bit the bullet and bought a tunze for my 125 mixed reef.

The 2 1100's in my 120 will be offered for free, in a few months when I replace them with tunzes.

Just like tools, you buy cheap, you get cheap.
 
tools are a good comparison. I see you like woodworking. I feel the same way about tools. My prize tool is my big VSR Jet lathe.

On the seios you can use a bamboo skewer to move the impeller and get it to strart. It's like the poles on the magent are just spaced too far apart. It seems there is a big market for someone to come in between tunze and seio.
 
Yup! after you throw away poorly made products, you learn the hard way to do your homework, and buy what has the best reputation for your application.

I tried the nudging / pushing the impeller on these. Just like the dozen rios I threw in the garbage. I remembered that trick. These guys actually need to be slapped. Just like me for buying them.

Someone suggested a ups so they won't have a power interruption. For the additional cost and headache of a ups just for the seios I'd rather just bite the bullet on a tunze.

fwiw, there's already two folks in line for the free 1100's that will be available around late March.
 
We are fortunate to have a great club in Orlando of which I've been a member for almost 5 years and have developed some great friendships from. There are a couple of really good reefkeepers that I asked what has made the biggest impact on your tank and they have replied TUNZE. One guy told me if he needs something and Tunze makes it he will buy it. A long time ago I used to sell very high end audio equipment and some of the philosphies I saw there were incredible.

Now, my seio 820's work great and one hasn't been cleaned in a really long time. My 820s have never failed to start snf are the reason I bought the rest of them. But the 1100s are an excercise in frustration. But, I know others that have reverse situations.

Too bad you aren't in Orlando Coralnut. I could use a great accountant.
 
I'd seriously recommend you consider the 1100's at least.
You could go with the 1100s or even 1500s. You can dial them back should the full flow be too much - better to have too much and turn it down, than to have too little.

I have a SEIO 1500 and haven't had too much trouble with it. The restart issue has happened only 2-3 times in a year's time. I've also only cleaned the pump twice. Mine has been pretty reliable.

They produce good flow at a good price. I like 'em.
 
I Have 2 of the 1100 as well and never have had a problem with either one of them and i'm running them on a 220.

I do despite cleaning them once a month though
 
Personally I think it's great that folks that have had good or reasonably good luck with Seio's chime in here. No product can be a complete failure. This is how RC truly becomes a useful tool. People sharing their experiences / knowledge, and you can make your decision based on what you choose to consider.

Having said that..........My experince with Taam products has been a complete failure. I guess that's just my hard luck, but with the no-restart issue, and some folks having them explode in their tanks, I can't ,in good conscience, recommend them. And if I buy another one I should be committed!
 
I used em for 6+ months, they had to be cleaned once a week or they would stop working (ca and Kalk reactor) after I had one burn up I canned em..

It burned up just like a Rio except it didn't pollute the tank.
 
Back
Top