Penguin vs Maxijet

I have run hagen maxi and penguins. I really like the maxi's the best! You just cant kill them.

 

Penguins are nice..

Thoughts on Penguin powerheads:
I always bought Penguins back in the day - probably because they were cheaper since I never had money. I bought a total of six (between 1990 and 1994 or so - we'll say 15 years ago to keep it simple) that I still have and three of those (2x550's, 1x660) are working and back in service in my reef now. At some point between then and now, I called Marinland due to problems I had with a few of them and they sent me some replacement impeller assemblies (for free - doubt that policy is still in effect) and got them all back up and runnning. I'm not sure, but it's possible that I could get some/all of these powerheads running again the same way - the 550's show zip on the Kill-A-Watt, the 660 will spin an impeller in air and has normal Kill-A-Watt readings, however only rattles in water, no pumping - but I'm considering them dead for now.

The 550's are running Hydor flo's (the 660 is too much for it in my 38gal). I was amazed when the Kill-A-Watt showed that both 550's with the flo's and the timer they run on only consume 16 watts total. (7 watt per 550 when run without the timer.)

So I hope this goes to the point that I'm happy with Penguin's longevity.

Having said that (and just purchased my first Maxi Jet - a 1200) they are probably less flexible than Maxi's in terms of plumbing due to their output shape. It's round on the outside (same size as the I.D. of 1" vinyl hose) but very oddly shaped on the inside - wide-rectangular with a small round indent leading from the venturi to the end of the exit "tube". I'm guessing this goes to operation of the integrated venturi, but I have no idea how I'd measure whether it makes a significant difference in any way. A photo is in order. See attachment #1. This unit has been separated from the motor for the photo - it would normally be on top in this photo. The MJ's venturi is removable, btw.

Personally it's never limited me. The only "gotcha" was when I got the Hydor flo's - their adapters are all made for standard round (probably MJ specific) outlets - which is why I know that the Penguin (and the flo) both fit nice and tight inside of 1" I.D. vinyl tubing. The 550's drive the flo's nicely with my own "adapter". Photo time again. See attachment #2. I will say the 660 tended to rattle on restart a lot (it's off the timer now) and I haven't heard the 550's or the MJ1200 do that. Also, I'd have to use plastic hose clamps on anything more powerful than the 550's with the flo's.

Thoughts on the comparison:
I was very surprised after throwing the Maxi 1200 on the Kill A Watt and seeing that it consumes 20 watts! That's 71% of what I measured my Quiet One 2200 using - which is rated at double the flow. My Eheim 1250 only measured 16 watts! I don't have a Penguin 1140 to compare apples to apples, but compared to the Penguins I can compare with, it seems like Maxi Jets might be pigs. (Solid, flexible pigs, but pigs none-the-less.)

Curerntly at drsfoster, Penguins are $17, $18 and $23....Maxi Jet's are $11, $12, $15 and $18 (currently on sale). Really only those top-price models compare directly in rated flow rate and even on sale that's only a $5 price difference.

I'd like to see a Kill-A-Watt rating for the 1140. That link isn't exactly to Kill-A-Watt ratings, but their numbers that correspond to those I've measured with the Kill A Watt do match. They rate the Penguin 1140 at 11 watts. The lower-end MJ's were much more efficient compared with the Penguins - the MJ1200 is the pig. Get the 1140 if 300GPH is your target pump size and the output is not an issue.

Summary:
I don't think the distinction between Maxi's and Penguin's is in terms of quality, but of form/function - and even this seems a slight distinction. To me the Penguins are a no-brainer if you're running a UGF for any reason - their reverse-flow kit is the way to go. Also in terms of power efficiency they seem to be a good (if not better than Maxi's) bet - especially if 300gph is your target. There are also fewer (any?) commercial mod kits for the Penguins.

On the flip side, there are commercial mod kits for Maxi Jets, more sizes of them, and they have standard round plumbing outlets. They may also be slightly less expensive to purchase.

Both are good products with long track-records behind them, as well as a good company. (That's still true in the case of the Maxi Jets.)

-Matt

As a footnote, it's odd that drsfoster doesn't list the Penguins at all on their pump or power head pages - only found them via search.

 

ive used both, i like both. but i do have a penguin ph 600, from the early 80's that still works, like its new

 

wow this is an old post of mine! I still have all the penguins in service, over 4 yrs now. Even have 4 from a buddy of mine who broke down his tank after 6yrs. Ive never had a problem with the impellors. If you're hearing a clicking sound, either something is caught in there like sand or something, or you have Ca build up in there, seen that happen too. Let them soak in white venegar for 2 hours, and run them in vinegar for about an hour, should clean them up.