Suction Cup woes

[Morg591]

I repeatedly keep having the suction cups that hold my powerheads in place in my tank come loose. The powerheads then fall into positions that mess up my tank blowing sand all around and blasting my corals that dont like to be blasted.

Does anyone have any kind of trick that works?

 

[Anonymous]

ya know, i've heard a lot of people complain about that same problem. i've been using maxijets on the same suction cups for 1.5 years and have only recently had just one cup come loose.

 

[OodleyBoodely]

The only ph that comes with decent suction cups, IME, is the Maxijet ph. I have used several types of phs, but, the MJ have the only suction cups that work well for any length of time. The suction cup holders on the rest are just crap from day one.

 

[Morg591]

These are maxijet brand powerheads... they stay stuck on for about 5 hours total... then just fall .. Anyone use any kind of adhesive or anything?

 

[Anonymous]

I have used some type of plastic hook that goes over the top of a door (a wreath hanger) and some cable ties. Just fastened the PH to the hanger and hung it over the side of my tank. PH never moved again.

 

[Syris]

I have this same problem with my Rio PHs.
I was given the advice to use 100% reef safe silicone on the suction cups right in the water without drying 8O .
The source seemed very reliable but I still have issues with trying this.
Maybe someone else here has tried this?

 

[gman2]

I use aquarium silicone that I buy at Home Depot and place a little on each suction cup. I then mount the cups/plate in the water and let dry for 24 hours. You only have about 10 seconds once the silicone hits the water. I have done this for over a year and have seen no side effects to fish or corals. I use the large Tunze powerheads and that is how Tunze in thier manual recomends how to attach to a tank. It lasts along time, over 6 months unless you bump/hit the mount and can come loose. Just make sure you cleane the glass with a razor blade where you are going to mount or the acrylic real good.

 

[Tremelle]

Try cleaning the glass in the area you are going to stick the suction cups. They will get a good bond with the glass and hold longer. I have noticed if I don't clean the glass they do not seem to hold as long.

 

[tanzy]

I super glued a powerhead onto an algae magnet and just hold it there from the outside. I siliconed all the seems but I'm worried that water might get in and rust the iron in there. Anyone tried this? Is kinda cool cause it doesn't fall off and you can reposition it anytime. Mine's been in there for a week only.

 

[monkeyboy]

Try cleaning the glass in the area you are going to stick the suction cups. They will get a good bond with the glass and hold longer. I have noticed if I don't clean the glass they do not seem to hold as long.

Razor blade the glass where you are going to stick the cups and make sure that coralline hasn't snuck around and grown around the edges to break the seal.

 

[Anonymous]

all suction cups harden, over time.
try cleaning 'em first, to remove any biofilm,corraline(rub 'em with vinegar).
then soak 'em in hot water-sometimes this will re-elasticize the rubber.
no worries with small amounts of silicone curing in the tank.
the mounts supplied with the aquaclear powerheads can also be used- glued or cable tied, to other brands of pumps