The Multipurpose Marineland Maxi-Jet Powerhead - Top 7 Ways To Use Your Maxi-Jet
Maxi-Jet style powerheads have been a staple in the aquarium hobby for decades because they are affordable, compact, and useful for a wide variety of aquarium tasks. Every tank owner can benefit from having a Marineland Maxi-Jet pump on hand because it is the kind of utility pump you will eventually use for water changes, cleaning, mixing, aeration, flow, and more.
The latest Maxi-Jet pumps are especially versatile because they can be configured as a centrifugal utility pump or an external propeller-style circulation pump. That flexibility makes them useful far beyond basic water movement.
| Model | Flow Rate | Circulation Flow Rate | Maximum Head Pressure | Watts | Inlet/Outlet | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxi-Jet 400 | 110 GPH | 500 GPH | 3 Ft. | 8 | 3/4" Tube/1/2" Tube | 3.25" x 3.5" x 2" |
| Maxi-Jet 600 | 160 GPH | 750 GPH | 3.5 Ft. | 8 | 3/4" Tube/1/2" Tube | 3.25" x 3.5" x 2" |
| Maxi-Jet 900 | 230 GPH | 1000 GPH | 4 Ft. | 10 | 3/4" Tube/1/2" Tube | 3.25" x 3.5" x 2" |
| Maxi-Jet 1200 | 295 GPH | 1300 GPH | 6 Ft. | 20 | 3/4" Tube/1/2" Tube | 3.25" x 3.5" x 2" |
While there are four different models with different flow rates, all of them share the same compact pump dimensions and include a useful selection of accessories. Those accessories are what make the Maxi-Jet such a flexible pump to keep around your aquarium.
Top 7 Ways To Use Your Maxi-Jet Pump
1. Transfer Water During Water Changes
Using the standard pump cover, flexible tubing can be slipped onto the outlet so the Maxi-Jet can move water from one container to another. This is one of the most common uses during water changes, especially when filling or draining buckets, mixing stations, or small aquariums.
2. Power A Media Reactor
The utility pump configuration is a simple way to feed aquarium equipment like media reactors. The small footprint, included fittings, and steady flow make it a practical choice for running carbon, GFO, or other reactor media.
3. Vacuum Detritus From Your Sump
Attach the VCA Vacuum Attachments and a length of tubing to pull detritus, settled waste, and loose debris from the bottom of a sump or filtration chamber. This is especially helpful in tight areas where a siphon hose is awkward to use.
4. Blow Debris Off Rockwork
Remove the tubing and use the pump by hand to blast detritus out from behind rockwork, under frag racks, or inside hard-to-reach filtration areas. Vivid Creative Aquatics makes clever 3D printed attachments that slip onto Maxi-Jet pumps for these types of cleaning jobs.
5. Add Aeration And Surface Agitation
Using the directional nozzle, with or without airline tubing, and the included suction cup mount, a Maxi-Jet can be used inside a quarantine tank, holding tank, or display aquarium to increase gas exchange and surface movement.
6. Create Internal Aquarium Flow
The standard impeller and pump cover can be swapped for the included propeller and propeller cover to create a wide-flow circulation pump. The suction cup mount attaches directly to the aquarium wall, while the ball socket allows for easy directional adjustment.
7. Mix Saltwater
The wide flow pattern created by the propeller attachment is also useful for mixing batches of saltwater. Drop the pump into your mixing container to keep salt suspended, improve circulation, and help create a more consistent batch of new saltwater before a water change.
Bonus: Keep One Around For Random Tank Jobs
Part of what makes a Maxi-Jet so useful is how often it comes in handy. From emergency water movement to cleaning, mixing, transferring, and temporary equipment setups, it is one of those simple aquarium tools that earns its spot in the fish room.
With more than 25 years of hands-on aquarium experience and a long, successful career in the saltwater aquarium industry, Robert brings a unique blend of practical reefing knowledge and professional eCommerce marketing expertise to the hobby. With nearly two decades of experience as a content creator, author, and eCommerce marketing professional, he focuses on creating educational content that helps hobbyists make informed decisions, better understand reef aquarium husbandry, and enjoy greater success...
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