Question for those who mix water with MJ600 pumps?

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BavarianBuilt

AC Members
Jul 2, 2008
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Northern Virginia
Well I bought two MaxiJet 600 pumps about a month ago to mix water in my two five gallon buckets. I must say that these things are horrible, waste of money and I should have bought the 900 or 1200 pumps. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I can't get these to move water at all. When I place them in my buckets the water looks stagnant and all my unmixed salt settles to the bottom. People also say that they've used these pumps to pump water to and from the tank, I just don't see how this is possible. If I stick the exit tube just above the water it doesn't even have enough power to pump water out of itself. Any insight would be great. I was mixing up water just now and became fed up with these things not being able to mix my saltwater. Please tell me there is some valve that I'm missing here :D
 
The 600 is a small pump. I would have gotten a MJ1200 minimum, but then again, I use a mag 1200 in a 30g trash can.
 
Something is not working correctly. Have you pulled the pumps out of the water or just right to the edge while they are running? I have had them not start up right and I pulled the pump either right to the top or even out of the water and they start running (maybe they are starting backwards and the only way to get them to restart the right direction is to take them out of the water?). I bet if you opened them up while they are plugged in you would see that the impellor is not spinning correctly. I don't know if that will help, but my pumps do the same thing occasionally and it works for me.
 
Ah, I meant to add that you should consider giving it a good, long soak in vinegar while running. That may make a big difference.
 
Well, the amount of "power" is fairly relative. Short of the actual flow rate, whether or not it is substantial all depends upon the person. My idea of low water flow may be like a whirlpool to someone else (and I consider the MJ600 to be very low flow to begin with ;)) Sorry, I know that isn't necessarily helping things, but I just want to put a perspective on it.
 
I get what you are saying. I just bought these because I was told they are perfect for mixing water in 5 gallon buckets. I've been nothing but disappointed since I got them. Let me put it this way. If i put my hand directly in front of it I can BARELY feel any sort of current. This is the same for both pumps. Is this normal for a 600?
 
No, you should still be able to feel something. If the above measures don't work for you, you may want to consider returning it as faulty if possible or sending to the manufacturer. If you don't want to deal with that, there is always eating the cost of the 600 and getting a larger sized pump. I wouldn't blame you for either choice, but you should be getting more than that from the 600.
 
Found this info on the MJ600

http://www.reefs.org/library/pumps/pumps/mj600.html

What does max head mean? Is this the distance from the pump the water will travel?

EDIT: Is it safe to open the pump up and fire it up to see if the impeller is spinning?
 
If you cant really feel the flow if you put your hand in front of it, i would say there is a fault, as even with a 600, you should be able to feel it..

Max head is the distance the water can travel, upwards...
 
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