Powerhead Meltdown...

I just wanted to share this experience...

I discovered a power head had "melted". Basically, it cooked itself and all
it's fried innards were realeased in to the water column.

Fortunately, this happened in my phytoplankton culture media bucket and not
in my reef.

The power head was actually from Perfecto. I havent seen them in stores and
to be honest, I'm not sure where this one came from.

If anyone out there is using one though, I'd suggest replacing it with a
reputable name brand.

Whatever was realeased was NASTY and I doubt a tank could survive it. It
was a dark oily SMELLY mess. I dont know for certain but from the way it
smelled, I think it is carcenegeous, kinda like the old capacitors.
I washed out the bucket three times with dish soap and I can still smell the
oil. I wont be using THAT bucket for anything fish related...

Anyway, what it a safe trust worthy powerhead?

~Mort

MaxiJet, Penguin, Mag....

Marc


Mort wrote:

I just wanted to share this experience...

I discovered a power head had "melted". Basically, it cooked itself and all
it's fried innards were realeased in to the water column.

Fortunately, this happened in my phytoplankton culture media bucket and not
in my reef.

The power head was actually from Perfecto. I havent seen them in stores and
to be honest, I'm not sure where this one came from.

If anyone out there is using one though, I'd suggest replacing it with a
reputable name brand.

Whatever was realeased was NASTY and I doubt a tank could survive it. It
was a dark oily SMELLY mess. I dont know for certain but from the way it
smelled, I think it is carcenegeous, kinda like the old capacitors.
I washed out the bucket three times with dish soap and I can still smell the
oil. I wont be using THAT bucket for anything fish related...

Anyway, what it a safe trust worthy powerhead?

~Mort

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

"Marc Levenson" wrote in message ...
MaxiJet, Penguin, Mag....

I can agree with MaxiJet, but Penguin 1140 failed for me twice
during last 2 years. The impeller cracked and bulged - some
magnetic stuff like iron dust or something came from it...
I would avoid impelers which are made with plastic coating.
This suggest they are not made from rust-proof material
and in the event of any lost of sealing they will rust inside
and eventually bulge out from the case...
I replaced impeller for my Penguin once, but after this
happened for the second time I would rather buy another pump.

From all MaxiJets out there I think model 900 is the best
in terms of amount of water movement created from the
amount of electricity consumed...

Mag pumps are quite big and kind of expensive as powerheads.

Just a follow-up...

Upon the advice of King Marc =) I replaced my RIO 2100 with a Mag Drive. I
am GLAD I did because after taking that RIO out I noticed that it smelled
like that other powerhead that had melted down. I dont know if it is a
prelude to expelling but is smelled like a burnt motor.

Thank You Marc!!!

~Mort



"Mort" wrote in message
m...
I just wanted to share this experience...

I discovered a power head had "melted". Basically, it cooked itself and
all
it's fried innards were realeased in to the water column.

Fortunately, this happened in my phytoplankton culture media bucket and
not
in my reef.

The power head was actually from Perfecto. I havent seen them in stores
and
to be honest, I'm not sure where this one came from.

If anyone out there is using one though, I'd suggest replacing it with a
reputable name brand.

Whatever was realeased was NASTY and I doubt a tank could survive it. It
was a dark oily SMELLY mess. I dont know for certain but from the way it
smelled, I think it is carcenegeous, kinda like the old capacitors.
I washed out the bucket three times with dish soap and I can still smell
the
oil. I wont be using THAT bucket for anything fish related...

Anyway, what it a safe trust worthy powerhead?

~Mort

Sounds like you made the right decision in a nick of time!

Marc


Mort wrote:

Just a follow-up...

Upon the advice of King Marc =) I replaced my RIO 2100 with a Mag Drive. I
am GLAD I did because after taking that RIO out I noticed that it smelled
like that other powerhead that had melted down. I dont know if it is a
prelude to expelling but is smelled like a burnt motor.

Thank You Marc!!!

~Mort

"Mort" wrote in message
m...
I just wanted to share this experience...

I discovered a power head had "melted". Basically, it cooked itself and
all
it's fried innards were realeased in to the water column.

Fortunately, this happened in my phytoplankton culture media bucket and
not
in my reef.

The power head was actually from Perfecto. I havent seen them in stores
and
to be honest, I'm not sure where this one came from.

If anyone out there is using one though, I'd suggest replacing it with a
reputable name brand.

Whatever was realeased was NASTY and I doubt a tank could survive it. It
was a dark oily SMELLY mess. I dont know for certain but from the way it
smelled, I think it is carcenegeous, kinda like the old capacitors.
I washed out the bucket three times with dish soap and I can still smell
the
oil. I wont be using THAT bucket for anything fish related...

Anyway, what it a safe trust worthy powerhead?

~Mort




--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com