Juwel tanks...The powerhead

[Yanbbrox]

I almost posted this a few months back but held off..

I have always had Juwel tanks, I can't fault them for price build quality, basic filtration, heater, lights etc. come as standard.

However I hate the powerhead that comes with them. When I started out in the hobby 10 years or so ago we got a tiny 70 litre tank, filled it up with various community tropical fish and they quickly out grew it. So the decision was made to go large and we bought the largest in the range the 400. This comes with the 'jumbo' powerhead. That tank has been up and running for about 9 years now and has gone through about 9 powerheads

Since then our tanks have expanded in numbers and we also have a 240 litre tank from Juwel that also has the 'jumbo' powerhead. That tank has been setup for about 5 years and has gone through about 5 powerheads.

A few years ago we got on well with a LFS guy that used to be able to supply the things reasonably cheap compaired to RRP, not much of a saving but enough to take the edge off the failures. He always stated that the weak link in the Juwel tank system was the powerhead and over the years, I've bumped into a few other people who have said the same.

He's no longer trading and I had to purchase a new one a few months back from a new place, who clearly stated the reason for all the failures was me, I wasn't cleaning the internal filter often enough. What this has to do with the powerhead I don't know as I rinse the internal filter media every month or so and there is hardly ever any mess in there as there is a big canister running on both tanks(running the jumbo powerhead).

So I'm sat there today and then starts the familiar buzz. These things are a pain to start up again after water changes(so much so I've changed the routine of the years to avoid switching them off).

I have found over the years 2 ways of restarting them.

1. Lift it out quickly and the resubmerge, 8-10 times it will restart(the powerhead is out of the water for about 0.5 of a second)
2. If that doesn't work, take a blunt knife and catch the spinner just enough to upset the thing and it starts working
3. If that doesn't work, remove the plastic casing it sits in and move the spinner to get the damm thing to work.

If 1-3 fail then replace.

Today a new chapter, after trying one to two in the tank, nothing worked. Then a distinct smell of burning came from the tank(powerhead submerged). So I switched everything off, removed the powerhead and put it in a glass of water. Left it for an hour and then moved it to a sink for step 3. Removed the outer platsic submerged it in the sink and switched it on, nothing happened, so I flicked the spinner and promtly flew back to the other side of the kitchen due to the electric shock

Is it just me who has these problems with these powerhead?

I'd just like to point out a this moment people unfarmiliar with the design will start off about removing the outer plastic and electric saftey, I understand what your about to say, If you can bare with me a few minutes I'll take a pic. Removing the casing is quite safe, until today


Is it just me who has these problems with these powerheads? I'm seriously considering removing the whole internal setup and adding another canister on both tank to get away from the damm things.

Comments opinions?

 

[cichlid2006]

lots of people have problems with the juwel filter systems. i have read more often than not that people cut out the filter, not only to give more space but because the filter systems are weak if you try to use them for anything over the size of a tiger barb. ok if you have your basic lightly stocked guppy based community but a waste of space and electricity for the more serious species.

im amazed you have replaced so many of them for so long, if it breaks twice i give up cos that usually means the equipment is substandard for the job or just completely substandard.

 

[Yanbbrox]

Here's the pictures:

Complete unit:


Plastic cap removed:


Outer plastic removed:


Power cord in:

 

[Yanbbrox]

lots of people have problems with the juwel filter systems. i have read more often than not that people cut out the filter, not only to give more space but because the filter systems are weak if you try to use them for anything over the size of a tiger barb. ok if you have your basic lightly stocked guppy based community but a waste of space and electricity for the more serious species.

im amazed you have replaced so many of them for so long, if it breaks twice i give up cos that usually means the equipment is substandard for the job or just completely substandard.

I did state that for basic filtration they are ok, I run a canister on both tanks that run that head. I'm guessing by the fact that you posted so quickly means I'm not alone, I think that's the plan going forward, when one breaks just rip out the internal and replace with another canister.

Thanks

 

[Yanbbrox]

Bump, for any other feedback

 

[evil_elmo]

i have two juwel tanks, one has been running since xmas with no problems

the second is a different story; had a small problem of getting it started but after that everything was running smooth for about 2 months then the noise started!

i get a annoying clicking sound randomly and i still havent been able to figure out what is causing it, took it apart, cleaned it and tested it in a bucket of water...no clicking sound but once i put it back into the filter the clicking sound comes back

its been driving me crazy for awhile but i've nearly saved up enough for a ehiem filter to replace the juwel internal

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

Most power heads and the one you posted is just a basic magnet drive pump. The only thing that spins the propeller is the magnet on the end of them. If the filter is getting clogged, that would heat up the motor to a point where the copper winding would burn into. But I have never seen this happen on a submerged pump. usually all you have to do is take out the propeller/shaft/magnet assembly and clean it really good along with the hole it goes into. And they will start back up. ----------If you are running a sand substrate then this could be the problem, as it only takes a few granules of sand to lock up a power head. i have burned up many many pumps, filters, and power heads before I learned my lesson with sand. When I had sand i could clean my power head and 10 minutes later it would be locked up again. i tried running denser foam filters onder them and all to no avail.

 

[Yanbbrox]

i have two juwel tanks, one has been running since xmas with no problems

the second is a different story; had a small problem of getting it started but after that everything was running smooth for about 2 months then the noise started!

i get a annoying clicking sound randomly and i still havent been able to figure out what is causing it, took it apart, cleaned it and tested it in a bucket of water...no clicking sound but once i put it back into the filter the clicking sound comes back

its been driving me crazy for awhile but i've nearly saved up enough for a ehiem filter to replace the juwel internal

Once the clicking starts that's the end of it. You may be able to keep it going for another month or so but in the end it will fail. After many years of this, the clicking sound is one of the most annoying sounds in the world. It will keep running but it's easier to turn it off to save your self the insanity of listening to it.

Most power heads and the one you posted is just a basic magnet drive pump. The only thing that spins the propeller is the magnet on the end of them. If the filter is getting clogged, that would heat up the motor to a point where the copper winding would burn into. But I have never seen this happen on a submerged pump. usually all you have to do is take out the propeller/shaft/magnet assembly and clean it really good along with the hole it goes into. And they will start back up. ----------If you are running a sand substrate then this could be the problem, as it only takes a few granules of sand to lock up a power head. i have burned up many many pumps, filters, and power heads before I learned my lesson with sand. When I had sand i could clean my power head and 10 minutes later it would be locked up again. i tried running denser foam filters onder them and all to no avail.

I'm using gravel substrate and the filter is enclosed anyway. I've even gone to the extreme of rinsing the clean internal weekly with no avail after the guy in the shop said it was my fault they kept failing.

The new plan is to move the intake of the canister to the tube that the power head sits in and the rig up the return to act as a power head and take off the spray bar.

Thanks for the input guys

 

[FSM]

Why do you keep buying terrible quality powerheads? Is there a reason you can't buy another brand that doesn't apparently suck?

 

[evil_elmo]

Once the clicking starts that's the end of it. You may be able to keep it going for another month or so but in the end it will fail. After many years of this, the clicking sound is one of the most annoying sounds in the world. It will keep running but it's easier to turn it off to save your self the insanity of listening to it.

i only had the tank since august so its still under warranty, just hope it dies soon so i can get a replacement unit