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