Help with Maxi Jet 1200

wizbang1231 · Sep 25, 2012

So I'm fairly new to reef keeping, and I have a question/problem. I purchased 2 of these cheap Walmart powerheads to start my 55g. tank out, knowing I would upgrade later AquaTech Power Head: Fish : Walmart.com . They've been doing marginally well, but I recently bought a Maxi Jet 1200 used, to exchange out one of the cheapos. Well, it works well. OK, toooooo well!! My 2 Ocellaris were pushed all the way to the other side of the tank, my Kenya tree, that was well placed, was shot out of it's nook and bounced around, and my Condy anemone looked like a cyclone!!! Am I doing something wrong? I read the 1200 was the right size for a 55. I even tried to point it at the back wall, but it's still way to strong. Any advice on the right size? Hints, tips or tricks for me?? Thanks!!

Reefltx · Sep 25, 2012

Well, wal-mart power head only pushes 170gph and the maxi 1200 does 295gph. If you have the kit to set it in "Laminar Flow" mode, it should help widen the flow.

Pkunk35 · Sep 25, 2012

For maxi jets i take the flow nozzle and turn it upside down. I then place the pump in the corner back wall of the tank and point the nozzle head so that it directs flow up and causes the surface of the water to break from the flow. This causes the flow to reduce in speed as it must break the surface and then come back into the tank. Generally this causes pretty good chaotic flow and a bonus is that it breaks up the surface film of your water/agitate the water surface better.

jonbar1 · Sep 25, 2012

I'd put it in a corner and aim it at the perpendicular wall so the flow rides the edge down the tank and causes a whirlpool effect. You want to use the powerhead to move the water indirectly, not blast things with the water coming out of the pump.

It sounds like you are used to a rather calm amount of water movement, it just takes some getting used to. You're still in the low-medium range. My clownfish always liked playing in the flow and would spend most of the day swimming up the current so they could get blasted across the tank and repeat. Just make sure your tank is covered because they will occasionally jump while playing.

wizbang1231 · Sep 25, 2012

Ah, ok! My problem I think is that being used, it only has the "fan" looking part, not the "powerhead" part, so there isn't a way to adjust it, is there? And if I aim it at the surface it literally creates massive waves that splash out of the tank LOL! I'll give it another shot, I want to do right by my tank

Reefer82 · Sep 25, 2012

By fan looking part does it have a sureflow add on? If so the flow is increased quite a lot. That would explain the tornado.

wizbang1231 · Sep 26, 2012

I'm not sure, so I found this pic, this is EXACTLY what it looks like, does this help?

Reefer82 said:
By fan looking part does it have a sureflow add on? If so the flow is increased quite a lot. That would explain the tornado.

Pkunk35 · Sep 26, 2012

Yup, that's a attachment to increase flow i believe, that's your problem. You need it to look like this for less flow (this is how they come standard):