The "Hitchhiker's Guide" to the Maxi-Stream mod

[Critter]

this one... So which end should be point out/away from the MJ? and if using two do the same ends point out?

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCTD0&P=0

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6393071#post6393071 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
What black propeller are you using? What brand? And yes it does matter which end you point the propeller.

A photo would help

D.

 

[Worldwithin]

It is not the shaft that is wobbling, it would be the prop assembly. Due to physcis, if the inside of the tubing that is glued to the prop and impeller magnet ever come in contact with the shaft, friction will occur. If that friction is great enough and the materials are not strong enough (which was what happened in my case), one of them will begin to wear. In my case, it was the plastic tubing that wore out and made the wobble worse. I will eventually take a picture of it, but you can see the groove that the shaft cut into the plastic tubing due to the prop being imbalanced.

I am by no means saying that this mod is full of issues... In fact, I see it as a great mod, one that I am willing to continue to pursue at a later date. I am just hopefully giving some insight to my failures help others try to avoid them.

:fish1::hammer:

 

[dhnguyen]

Yep the props should point outward and the same goes if you use two of them.

 

[dhnguyen]

It is not the shaft that is wobbling, it would be the prop assembly. Due to physcis, if the inside of the tubing that is glued to the prop and impeller magnet ever come in contact with the shaft, friction will occur. If that friction is great enough and the materials are not strong enough (which was what happened in my case), one of them will begin to wear. In my case, it was the plastic tubing that wore out and made the wobble worse. I will eventually take a picture of it, but you can see the groove that the shaft cut into the plastic tubing due to the prop being imbalanced.

...

It just occured to me that maybe the problem with your mod is the plastic tubing that you used, the "inside of the tubing that is glued to the prop" bit kinda gave it away

What are you using to connect the prop to the magnet?

I am using rigid airline tubing and I don't see any wobbing there at all.


D.

 

[Critter]

I've never used props so what end is the end that goes out? The end with the slit in it and that is more pointy.. or the end that doesn't have the slit and is flatter... if looking at the image in the link I gave, the end you can see is what i'm referring to as the no slit less pointy end. My guess would be the end with the slit and is more pointy. thanks and sorry for the noob questions.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6393384#post6393384 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
Yep the props should point outward and the same goes if you use two of them.

 

[dhnguyen]

No no you got it backwards. The groove in the prop is the inside.
The prop should be pointing outward like this

 

[Worldwithin]

The tubing that I am using is similar, if not the same stuff that was recommended at the beginning of the initial thread. It is a white plastic tubing. It probably isn't very resistant to wear which might be the issue, but its what I have at the moment. Hopefully I will get some of my garage back from the clownfish breeding entertainment that currently absorbed most of my work space, and I just might be able to tinker around with this some more.

Ahhh... Reef tanks... gotta love 'em!

:fish1::hammer:

 

[Critter]

Well, thats probably the deal then.. my props were on backwards lol.. actually they were both directions with the outmost one with the slit outward.. jessh.. i probably couldn't have gotten that more wrong if I tried. Well now I know.. was easy enough to take back apart.. so maybe i'll go with the double again.. both pointing in same direction with slit inward.. lol. thanks D.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6393580#post6393580 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
No no you got it backwards. The groove in the prop is the inside.
The prop should be pointing outward like this

 

[Critter]

success! I redid the shaft, and changed the direction of the props. Also measured more closly the distance left and right of the brace and bingo! I got a pump that is rocken and maken no noise... I took out two of my 402's. had to run the 900 length wise cause of the power it was pushen. its wild to see debrey comming from the far end heading for the ph. Thanks for all the help!

 

[dhnguyen]

Congrats. Any pics to share Critter?

 

[TAMU Reef]

dhnguyen,

So how long does the 0.098" OD carbon fiber rod last. The reason I ask is because I have a DIY kalk reactor with a maxi-jet and I have been going through about 1 impellor assembly every 2-3 months. I am tired of buying replacements online and thought I would try your OD carbon fiber rod from towerhobbies.com. Is there anywhere else you can buy them?

TAMU Reef

 

[Critter]

Ok, I took the MJ out to take pics... meanwhile you can see how dead the current currenty is without the mj mod in there.

http://critter_pa.tripod.com/stream2.htm

I had to reglue the bracket for the hanger on the mod... broke it off trying to get out. so in about 30 minutes you will see the difference in the water movment. pics to follow.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6400865#post6400865 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
Congrats. Any pics to share Critter?

 

[Worldwithin]

TAMU, are you going through the impeller itself, or the shaft??

If it is the shaft, what sort of damage are you experiencing that would cause you to have to replace the impeller??

Lastly, I have been able to fine the carbon fiber rods at local hobby stores. Pretty much all the shops that I have visited in my area have the same display with the same selection of rods in them. I would look for any place that sells RC planes, models, or even some craft stores. They are pretty cheap too.

:fish1::hammer:

 

[Rothie]

TAMU Reef
It sounds like your impellers are freezing up from calcium build up.Just soak them in vinegar overnight to dissolve the calcium.

 

[Critter]

ok so now I broke the driver for my digi camera. gotta find the driver to reinstall. jeesh. anyway pics to come when i can get the darn thing working again.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6401211#post6401211 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Critter
Ok, I took the MJ out to take pics... meanwhile you can see how dead the current currenty is without the mj mod in there.

http://critter_pa.tripod.com/stream2.htm

I had to reglue the bracket for the hanger on the mod... broke it off trying to get out. so in about 30 minutes you will see the difference in the water movment. pics to follow.

 

[TAMU Reef]

Rothie,

The rods in the maxi-jet I am using is not breaking, but becomes VERY loud and rough sounding. I pull the impellor out and it is severly worn / thnner like someone used sandpaper on it.

TAMUReef

 

[Rothie]

TAMU-
I have no idea what is causing the wear.The impeller should last for 2+ years,in my experience.

 

[Critter]

*** when trying to put back in the tank, the pump had an accident and broke off both tabs that hold the pvc on... i'm begining to think this pump was not ment to be in the tank lol. gluing tabs back on. **

Finally got camera working again.... here are my pics. I used the rigid tubing for the crossbrase because it was easier to drill. I'll probably be putting it back in the tank now that the holder is glued back on.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6400865#post6400865 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
Congrats. Any pics to share Critter?

 

[dhnguyen]

I must say Critter. For a hand job (Hey get your mind out of the gutter), you did really well cutting those slots and the groove in the PVC. Very clean looking.

Try not to break the MJ pump in the process though
j/k


D.

 

[dhnguyen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6404101#post6404101 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TAMU Reef
Rothie,

The rods in the maxi-jet I am using is not breaking, but becomes VERY loud and rough sounding. I pull the impellor out and it is severly worn / thnner like someone used sandpaper on it.

TAMUReef

Due to the havey calcium build up, you need to soak the impeller in vinegar and clean it very well about once a month. This is common with all impellers when used in calcium or kalk reactors.

Also, you will want to clean and possibly soak the entire MJ pump body too. The inside of the MJ probably has ca build up as well and over time this will be enough that it will start rubbing against the impeller magnet acting like sand paper of sorts.


D.