Brackets for powerheads

[CodeMonkey]

Anybody made their own brackets for PHs that don't have them or just don't work when you have a 2" brace bar.

I really hate the suckers as you just can't trust them. How many of us have lost things due to the suckers giving way at the wrong time.



Last edited by CodeMonkey at Sep. 05 2002,09:47

[LEEWINK]

i added in the other area under powerheads, don't know if it'll help, cheers, lee http://www.ultimatereef.net/ibv3/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[CodeMonkey]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">i added in the other area under powerheads[/b][/quote]

Yes I know - just posting in the forum for prosperity

All - Leewinks idea was to attach the powerhead to one of those glass magnets - so you can move it to where you like

[foxman147]

there are a few ideas on richard dursos site here (http://www.rl180reef.com/frames.htm)

[CodeMonkey]

well I've made my first brackets out clear acrylic and they seem to hold my maxi 1000 to the side even when the rubber suckers have lost suction. No more corals with a powerhead blowing straight at them ar a surprised clam with a powerhead intake landing on top of it.

piccies later if I can take any good ones

[keith hellyar]

I've used a 1" wide length of perspex/acrylic. With the use of a hot air gun its possible to soften the acrylic and bend it into a shape that fits snugly on the bracing bars. The powerhead (maxijets) is simply cable tied to the perspex. It works a treat and is adjustable for direction and depth.

Apologies for the crap explanation but if anyone is interested, I'll post a photo

Keith

[CodeMonkey]

Actually I did the same but use 2" wide and bent it using my toaster - used it to create a hook type shape but with some spring in it so that it pulls the powerhead to the side of the tank. I then drilled a small hole for the powerhead outlet to go through

I hope this piccie comes out - I don't have a digi cam just my phone camera

[Andy Hipkiss]

I made this for a Tunze Stream. The suckers are there to avoid vibration noise transferring thru to the glass of the aquarium although probably a good thick bead of silicone might work just as well. One thing that I must do on the next version is to use a couple of suckers attached to plastic nuts/bolts to allow the bracket to be more rigidly attached to the brace bar.


http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/ReefImages/Temp/bracketmk2.jpg

[Tim Hunt]

If you're using powerheads that can run externally (e.g. maxijets), why not hang them on the outside of the tanks.

With the use of rigid tubing and elbows, this creates a bracket as well as the plumbing. Sort of mini closed loop.

Then, no powerheads in tank, only pipe outake and pipe return that you can probably position better than a chunky powerhead. Thats gonna be my next move.

Tim

[CodeMonkey]

Originally posted by Tim Hunt@Sep 1 2003, 01:58
If you're using powerheads that can run externally (e.g. maxijets), why not hang them on the outside of the tanks.

With the use of rigid tubing and elbows, this creates a bracket as well as the plumbing. Sort of mini closed loop.

Then, no powerheads in tank, only pipe outake and pipe return that you can probably position better than a chunky powerhead. Thats gonna be my next move.

Tim
I think the bends and extra tubing may add too much restriction to the flow of the pump and thus reduce the overall water movement.

[Tim Hunt]

Do you think so? There'd be no head of water as the outtake and return could sit at the same level.

Be interested to see what others experience of this is as I know many are using closed loops.

Tim

[CodeMonkey]

Do you think so? There'd be no head of water as the outtake and return could sit at the same level.


any sort of bend will create resistance to the water movement - just make the bends shallow and smooth rather than sharp turns

[reefer]

i used some 1/2" tubing, just use a hot airgun to shape it, attache the ph with cable ties and hey presto..you can even have the ph at the bottom of the tank..just lift the tube to get the ph out for cleaning etc :ph34r:

[Tim Hunt]

Another idea.

I had a Project powerhead kicking around in the garage that I gave up using as it always created a humming noise and I could never fix it to the glass properly.

I wanted more water flow, so was determined to try and use it again.

On this, and other powerheads, you can remove/prize off the lid and there's a gap above the resin that fills powerheads. I drilled two holes in the plastic casing above this resin. Using the handle of a scraper, this passes through the holes and then spans the tank and sits on the front and back brace bars. Works a treat. I sleeved around the scraper handle with tube to minimise vibration and it now runs silently.

Tim

[autumcolours]

I have been gradually replacing my old suckers on the Maxijets with a type I found at Tropicals and Marines in Mortlake.

Think they are by Aquarium Systems and are much deeper than the old type, pushed right in they hold so well that you need to use the small lug on the side to remove them. Some of mine have been in use for many months and none have fallen off so far.

Keith