PowerSweep power heads

[Water World]

Has anyone used the PowerSweep power heads?? Was wondering how well they work?? Are they worth it or should I use a Rio or Maxijet to move water?
Thx

[myreef]

Stick with the Maxijet. Can't go wrong. I am not going to get into the RIO debate I bought two of the powersweeps last year and no longer have them in my system. They stopped rotating after about 4-5 weeks. I have heard of some people that have good success with them, but I did not. I have also heard if you clean them religiously they will be OK. Once any debris or coralline gets on the wheel it has to be taken apart to make it work. HTH

[Water World]

Thx myreef: The comment I got from another board is... J U N K ! !
Don't waist time or $$.

Thx

[naser]

agreed i had one for like a week or two... it just wanted to stay in one direction then about 4 weeks later it wouldnt even pump.

[bongobrian]

Mine stopped moving after a couple of months. It still moves water, but the nozzle is stuck in one spot, so now I basically have another stationary powerhead. You're better off just buying a quality stationary ph. ;)

[icemark]

I have had good luck with them, however IMO they should be used only in specific situations that most people don't have in their reef tanks, such as:

1. Clean clear water, with minimal suspended matter

2. Regular cleaning is manditory, once a month disasembly and cleaning seems about right.

3. During cleaning you remove any coralin growing on the swing nozzle and pump assembly near the intake and output/swing nozzle.

4. You don't expect the suction cups to hold the PH in place for any length of time (but does anyone for any powerhead?).

Most people don't like taking their PH apart every month (even though they should for better flow) and reef tanks typically have a higher content of suspened matter in the water column.

[naser]

are you trying to say all of are water is dirty?

[icemark]

naser.. No I am not saying your water is dirty... I am saying systems that the powersweeps fail in tend to have more suspended matter in the water.

Can you see things floating around in the water? Thats what I am calling suspended matter.

I don't use them in some of my reef tanks, because there is a higher amount of suspended matter, including fine sand, bugs and pods, left over food after feeding, surface scum, fish poop, etc in these tanks.

But on the tanks where there is a lower load if particulate matter such as mentioned above, they tend to work much better and longer without cleaning for me.

[scubadude]

I bought it for my 20g reef....and I pretty much agree to icemarks statements....I think they are ok for small tanks that you want some oscillating current....but they are like 30bux right? well for around 80bux you can have a wave strip and a couple of MJ's....definately a better way to go for bigger than Nano's IMO

[naser]

that was supposed to be a joke.

[Water World]

Thanks for the input: From the feedback sounds like they work ok as a pump but don't expect them to keep rotating for any length of time. At least there were no stories for these frying and taking tanks out like the RIO's... Don't even want to go there.

Does anyone know who makes Aquabee?

Thx ALL!!

WW

[icemark]

Originally posted by naser
that was supposed to be a joke.

OHHHH.... Sorry...I didn't get it until now, thought you sounded pissed... still friends?;;