MagDrive pumps used as in-tank powerheads

[Gary Majchrzak]

Tunze, Vortech and other in-tank powerheads are usually better choices... but has anyone used a Magdrive pump as an in-tank powerhead/water circulation device?
I have a very large Via-Aqua pump/powerhead moving water in one aquarium. The shaft does wear after time if you use it in an on/off (wavemaker) type application. What about Magdrives? Somebody must have tried this before...

[rickh]

Years ago I tried a Mag7. Lots of water and lots of HEAT!! About 65 watts. Try a propeller pump. R

[Gary Majchrzak]

here are specs on a Via Aqua 3600 that I've been running as a powerhead in a 300 gallon aquarium for over a year:

VA3600
Maximum head: 11'
Dimensions: 7" L x 3" W x 4 1/8" H
Wattage: 80
UPC: 0069037118790
GPH: 1057
Variable flow control: yes
Output: 1"
Input: 1"
Maximum head:10'

as you can see, a Mag 7 would actually cause less heat than a VA3600
:)

another question. How might I variably control the output on this Via Aqua... what would it require?

late edit: now that I think of it those specs might be referring to the variable speed (output) valve included with each VA pump...

:(

[glassbox-design]

ran an occean runner "internal loop" in the old 125...it worked well, but i wouldnt do it again.

we'll be using a MJ1200 "stream loop" on the new tank. basically taking the output of a eco-mod and hard plumbing it to allow it be hidden and better direct flow. we got the idea from japanese reefers...they use powerheads inside the tank and hard plumb it under the sandbed and/or through rocks.

[datablitz]

get a maxijet and an eco mod and you can move more water than that with less space, heat, and wattage

[CaptHook]

I currently have a mag 7 in my 90 gal reef,along with a few bigger aquaclear 70's,2 aquaclear 30's and 2 maxijet1200...the mag is online all the time,Im not sure the ceramic impeller would handle the continous on off. Works nice for flow,but if the impeller needs servicing..hard to get to (buried behind rockwork) Ive also lost small fish,snails,and starfish to the magmonster..lol

[mg426]

I used a cou[le mag 5s in the tank for a while. With all of the Powerheads out now I would not do it again.

[hahnmeister]

Hagen Aquaclear 110... same as a Laguna 900. Awesome pump and less wattage than an eheim.

[Gary Majchrzak]

the Aquaclear 110 does approach the kind of massive water movement I'm looking to create...

[reefergeorge]

Someone in the diy had a mag 18 with a prop on it (like the sureflow kit) that was blowing rocks around in the tank. Maybe someone will post a link.

[Gary Majchrzak]

a link to a Magdrive prop mod would be kewl- I couldn't find it.
I still have more questions: will a magnet mount in close proximity affect the operations of a Magdrive pump?
Will a Magdrive survive a 40 minute on/off cycle for long?


Anybody :confused:

[Gary Majchrzak]

I've decided to see how this works for myself.
Here's a Mag 7 superglued to a Magfloat. It's on a 22 minute on/off cycle. This has been up and running for a couple of days now. The only complaint so far is that a Mag7's output @zero head (700GPH) isn't enough for the job I want it to do. It's raised the remperature of my 225 gallon tank one degree F., but in my particular case that's okay.
The magnet mount is having no apparent effect on ops.
I wonder how long this pump will last on the 22 minute on/off cycle. I might try and set up a longer cycle.
There's a MJ1200 on the right side of the pic for size comparison.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/gary334/IMG_5906.jpg

[rickh]

If that thing comes loose you would have a h@ll of a mess.

[Gary Majchrzak]

yep- but it's not going to break loose.
If any of my plumbing comes loose I'd have a hell of a mess- there's an Iwaki 100RLT pushing aprox. 1,100GPH of water through two penductors at the opposite side of the aquarium.
If you think about it you'll really appreciate Tunze Streams and Ecotech Vortech prop pumps. Most of those pumps are pushing a whole lot more than only 700GPH!