Zoo-Med PowerSweep

[kjb]

I just read an archived message about the PowerSweep and wonder if they have improved this product at all? I would really like to find something to provide alternating current in a 20gal nano I am trying to start. Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

IMO they are not worth the annoyance. They always get stuck. Either get a wavemaker,seaswirl,or the Ociwave. Their cheap price says enough.

 

[MIKE NY1]

I agree with Dan, you get what you pay for. I never had one myself because I haven't heard anything good about them.

 

[toptank]

I bought 2 and worked for a few months and then stopped.

 

[kryn13]

I have one that's been cranking for 6 months now. I've left it in just to see how long it'll last.

BTW - I've never done any maintenance to it...other than pry the dead snails out of the intake until I rigged a screen for it.

Would I buy it again? No.

All my other powerheads are on a wavetimer.

 

[dmentnich]

I will answer your original question as I have one power head of that brand-If you want it to sweep back and forth forget it! From the minute I plugged it in it has not been able to complete more that 3 complete revolutions without help. If you take it apart you will find why it always gets stuck going from right to left- it is the leverage the nozzle puts on the drive gear when going that way, the other way is great. If they were to have put the "pin" on the gear closer to the middle or put the outlet 3 mm further out it would probably be a good design- it just would not go as far from side to side. I have not had a problem with the water movement- it always starts and pumps well, just do not expect it to rotate as the design is VERY flawed and IMO cannot work.

I figure that I will jump in with a topic that should be controversial. I recalled a post about seaswirls and wavestrips not being the best thing. Dr. Ron says "Variation in current flow - as opposed to consistent flow - has been demonstrated to facilitate hair algal growth."

He also says "I suspect in many cases, inappropriate variable current is as deleterious as no current at all."

Anyhow, I am not advocating following that advice as I quite honestly am not schooled enough in the subject to advocate one position or the other. Just trying to pass along some advice that is sure to be pulled apart and debated. The link to the whole thread is URL=http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48578&highlight=surge+device]right here[/URL]

-Danny

 

[kjb]

Thanks all...
Lately I have been considering putting a simple bubbler in a corner of the tank, just a small air pump and open-ended hose; no stone. Big bubbles seem to move a lot of water. This in addition to a regular, smallish PH.
I'm on a budget, and it is a really small tank.