Yes, any size MJ will work. Other powerheads cannot handle the continual on/off cycle.

Well, since suctions cups lose their suck after a while , I have always found other ways to mount powerheads. Mostly I use fishing line looped around the body of the powerhead. The line is hung on the tank by a hook or toothpick stuck around on the outside under the frame or the fishing line is tied through a small hole drilled in the inside lip of the frame.

In my current setup I drilled holes and stuck a couple of nails in the wood frame that goes around my acrylic fraggin tank and hung the fishing line around the nails.

Leaving the bracket with suction cups attached to the powerhead allows plenty of opportunity to loop the fishing line around the bracket and the suction cups dampen the vibration against the side of the tank as well as stabilizing it as it changes direction. I hope this makes sense. I try to remember to demonstrate the Poor Mans Wavemaker to everyone that visits.

Thanks to Jon Finch for showing me how to make it several years ago.

Mike Savage wrote: MaxiJet?

A MaxiJet is the only powerhead I know of that can be used. It works so slick that I wish I had been the one to come up with it.

Cut the nozzle completely off and put the pump on a timer. I have mine going off then quickly back on 4x/day. Each time the impeller starts up it has a 50/50 chance of spinning the other direction.

With the nozzle cut off, it sends water left one time and right the other. It's about a 90 degree difference in direction. For a small tank, this gives an amazing tidal flow effect with the water moving clockwise then couterclockwise around the tank.

It's so easy to do and only takes one cheap ungrounded timer. The tidal effect is just enough to make coral grow symetrically. They don't grow as well or as shapely when the flow is always going the same direction.

Now, about that "senior moment".

It's much more fun to poke fun.  More polyps are coming out of the gorgonian which is exciting.  I'm going to have to get more of a cleanup crew for this tank now.  You working at MS today?

JP

John, A poor mans wavemaker can only be done with a MJ. Since you said you tried it, I assumed that, from one of your visits to my place, you saw the one I made and that I demonstrated it for you.

I did get all the way home, but was planning on bringing in parts to take to hd to see what I could rig up

I hope you weren't all the way home before you saw the used pump

Maybe Mark is having a senior momment?  umm I mean . . . he's probably just got a lot on his mind.

Mike,

Thats what I thought except I don't own one or mention it.

Funny:  I opened my RIO600 (bought yesterday at BW) and found a venturi rio600 which was used.  Bird World exchanged it right away.  I only use rio pumps and thought I might have accidently grabbed the wrong box from home.