| No to pick on (mentioned them in an
| |
| | they still are very good at starting up
|
| earlier post in Fish as Pets), however
| |
| | when used as wave makers and are properly
|
| after an email form a hobbyist about
| |
| | maintained. These pumps are also not
|
| aquarium power heads/pumps I thought I
| |
| | adjustable in their flow
|
| would investigate what is being said in
| |
| | *Maxi Jet Power heads; I will have to
|
| reviews and stumbled across an article
| |
| | agree the most with on their assessment
|
| with the reviews of five different power
| |
| | of these pumps. They are reliable and
|
| heads.
| |
| | economical and start back up easily even
|
| Either they are from another planet or I
| |
| | when used as wave makers. However they do
|
| must live in a parallel universe!
| |
| | have their cons and that is they have
|
| First they left off the list two of the
| |
| | poor head pressure and are not very
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| best aquarium and pond power head/ water
| |
| | versatile (unlike the Via Aqua, ReSun,
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| pumps then their reviews were quite
| |
| | and Rio pimps) as they are only power
|
| contrary to my extensive experience with
| |
| | heads and nothing more.
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| these pumps in literally 100s if not
| |
| | *Penguin Power Heads; I do not generally
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| thousands of aquariums over the years in
| |
| | agree with assessment by on these power
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| my aquarium maintenance business.
| |
| | heads. Although they do have a neat
|
| Here are six pumps I will review
| |
| | feature with the reverse flow power head
|
| (including refutations of their
| |
| | for UG filters (which are not very common
|
| comments):
| |
| | anymore though), the other nice feature
|
| *ReSun; this pump (power head) was
| |
| | is the adjustable flow feature.
|
| totally left off their list, although not
| |
| | However nice these features are these
|
| as well known in the USA/Canada they are
| |
| | power heads have a poor track record for
|
| very popular in Asia and Australia. ReSun
| |
| | reliability, they have very poor head
|
| has some sizes such as the #6 that are
| |
| | pressure, and do not re-start well after
|
| quite capable for very "mucky" pond
| |
| | the pumps have been in service for a
|
| environments and yet operate very well.
| |
| | while (in applications such as wave
|
| The stainless steel coated impellers
| |
| | makers).
|
| along with the ceramic shafts found on
| |
| | *Hagen Aqua Clear Power Heads; this pump
|
| the larger models) are extremely durable
| |
| | is also over rated by in my extensive
|
| and almost never fail.
| |
| | experience with them. I have used more
|
| These pumps are very reliable and start
| |
| | Aqua Clear power heads than ANY other
|
| up without a problem; they also have very
| |
| | (including the Via Aqua pumps I now
|
| excellent head pressure (in fact among
| |
| | generally recommend). When these power
|
| the best)! ReSun pumps can be submersed
| |
| | heads first came out they were industry
|
| or place in line.
| |
| | leaders in design, however they are of
|
| The models 3A, 5, and 6 are awesome in
| |
| | 1980s technology IMO and although they
|
| heavy duty applications such as ponds or
| |
| | are better than Penguins in reliability
|
| very large aquariums where high flow and
| |
| | and head pressure, they still would stop
|
| head pressure are necessary (as well as
| |
| | and not re-start in many of my
|
| ability to deal with large amounts of
| |
| | applications when power was even briefly
|
| particulates in the water).
| |
| | interrupted, making them a poor choice
|
| About the only con is that with their
| |
| | for wave maker applications. Aqua Clear
|
| heavy duty construction, these pumps can
| |
| | power heads also do not handle high
|
| be somewhat noisier than some others
| |
| | organic/debris loads well and need more
|
| (although still not bad here either).
| |
| | maintenance than the Rios that claimed
|
| ReSun power heads are also not as
| |
| | needed!
|
| adjustable in flow as some other power
| |
| | Bottom line with Aqua Clear power heads
|
| heads, but this a minor inconvenience
| |
| | is that they are reasonable "retro"
|
| IMO.
| |
| | pumps, but certainly NOT the latest in
|
| *Via Aqua; ; this is a real workhorse
| |
| | technology!
|
| line of pumps that is VERY widely used in
| |
| | *ZooMed Power Sweep; even though I sold
|
| the professional aquarium maintenance
| |
| | these in my business, I rarely
|
| community yet did not even get mentioned
| |
| | recommended them. They are basically a
|
| by (go figure!). These pumps in the power
| |
| | gimmicky power head with poor head
|
| head line (not the basic line) also have
| |
| | pressure and low output. They are not
|
| ceramic shafts and very durable
| |
| | real durable and the "sweeping"
|
| construction. Via Aqua pumps (along with
| |
| | directional output feature is run by
|
| ReSun) can be used in sumps or as a power
| |
| | cheap plastic gears that often fail.
|
| head and have excellent head pressure.
| |
| | These pumps do not handle high bio loads
|
| The Via Aqua power head line (such as the
| |
| | well and are best used in small aquariums
|
| VA 1300) can be submersed or used in line
| |
| | or better vivariums where not much is
|
| which adds to versatility that not all
| |
| | asked of them.
|
| pumps can match. For Aquarium sumps
| |
| | SUMMARY:
|
| (usually in marine applications) the Via
| |
| | I have had persons also ask me why many
|
| Aqua 2600 and 3300 are unsurpassed in
| |
| | brands such as Via Aqua are not as
|
| usefulness.
| |
| | commonly available as Hagen and does that
|
| Again the only con is these pumps are a
| |
| | make them of lower quality as no one
|
| little noisy, but only when used in line
| |
| | really wants them?
|
| (they are a little quieter than the ReSun
| |
| | The answer is quite simple; Hagen is sold
|
| line when submersed). Via Aqua power
| |
| | through a larger network of mainline Pet
|
| heads (as with ReSun and Rio) are also
| |
| | Store distributors (although they are now
|
| not as adjustable in flows as some other
| |
| | transitioning to their own in house
|
| power heads, but this a minor
| |
| | distribution system). This system
|
| inconvenience IMO. This inconvenience is
| |
| | promotes an all or nothing approach to
|
| more than made up for in versatility! I
| |
| | marketing their products basically
|
| will also admit to a couple of models by
| |
| | meaning you carry the whole line (good
|
| Via Aqua that I not recommend due to less
| |
| | and bad) or not get discounts or even
|
| than desirable durability and these are
| |
| | sell anything at all. This marketing
|
| the 2300 and 4900.
| |
| | system has been very successful (not to
|
| *Rio (by Taam); although no longer a
| |
| | mention slick packaging), however this
|
| preferred pump by me as the person who
| |
| | does not mean a better product.
|
| founded Rio started Via Aqua and improved
| |
| | Via Aqua (among many other high end
|
| on some of its problems. These are still
| |
| | brands) does not sell through traditional
|
| excellent pumps IMO and although I partly
| |
| | marketing distribution methods and
|
| agree with with their assessment, I think
| |
| | systems, rather it sells many high end
|
| they go overboard with their comments as
| |
| | Marine fish importers and similar without
|
| to high maintenance. Rio power heads are
| |
| | all the expensive marketing gimmicks.
|
| very powerful with excellent head
| |
| | This in particular places their products
|
| pressure (depending on the model).
| |
| | in the hands of Aquarium Maintenance
|
| The cons are the impeller (although very
| |
| | Professionals who do not care about slick
|
| durable), seem to have problems in
| |
| | marketing or whether it is the fad,
|
| environments (especially ponds or dirty
| |
| | rather whether it works or not which is
|
| aquariums) that have a lot of debris and
| |
| | why Via Aqua and many other similar high
|
| organics in the water column. However
| |
| | end companies choose to sell this way.
|
