Penguin vs Maxijet

Both powerheads are made by marineland. Maxijets are smaller, cheaper and less powerful.

Examples:
Model:Maxijet 1200
GPH: 295
Average Price: $18.95 (online)

Model: Penguin 1140
GPH: 300
Average Price:$34.95

From what I have read, the penguins are bigger and more powerful.

I personally use penguins, always have, and the reliablity is unmatched from what I have heard about other powerheads. Ive had 2 1140s in a 75g for 3 years and with regular cleaning, they still put out enough current to move my hand around the tank.

Anybody else have any info on the differences?

 

Always used Maxi's and they can be used with a wavemaker-with the turning on and off of the powerhead unit!

 

you can do the same with penguins though.

 

Maxijets are a much better pump IMHO. Maxijets are tried and true pumps. You see them used on protein skimmers. When was the last time you saw a penguin on a skimmer? I've never had a MJ wear out and have heard all sorts of bad stories about penguins breaking down. Plus the MJ's have great on-off capabilities and I have never had one lock up from magnetic lock. They are very quiet too. I would rather go with the Hagen pumps over the penguins.

MJ's did not use to be made by marineland. Marineland bought them out a few years ago and put cheaper 2 prong power cords on them instead of the grounded plugs and heavier wire.

 

I have never had a problem with my penguins. Honestly IMO, if you have no experience with a product or any FIRST HAND knowledge, then don't comment about it. For all you know your "source" could be a competitor who is running down the product. Im not trying to be a butt about it, but I am tired of people talking down about products when they have NEVER used it.

Penguins have been around a lot longer then MJ's and will continue to be around. If they were not better, then people wouldnt be willing to pay more for a quality product. I have heard several bad things about MJ's from years past, but I have never used one, that is why I posted this thread, to see if anybody has ever used BOTH. I am not trying to run down the MJ's, just trying to see a good comparison without having to do any product testing of my own, lol.

 

I also don't see why you cant "mod" a penguin like you can "mod" a MJ. I recently bought 4 penguins from a buddy of mine, and I am going to do the mod on two of them and see what happens. but they will be a whole new thread, lol.

 

What the hell, I'll bite.

$16 more for a pump that does only 5gph over the other? I've got no reason to leave maxi jets for a more expensive pump. I get what I need from the maxis and they've given me no reason to look elswhere.

 

See for me, I already have penguins, 6 of them to be exact, 2 of them are 3 yrs old, the other 4 are about 9 months old. 4x1140, 2x550 powerheads. I will not be needing any anytime soon, but was curious about the differences.

 

I’ve only had a SW tank for only a little over a year now but this is one thing I have noticed. I have 4 power heads (2 penguins & 2 maxi) and the maxi I have been slightly more keen on, vs the penguins. The penguins sometimes makes a rackety noise and stall out when I turn them back on during a water change and the mounting apparatus is more appropriate if you want to lower the depth of the power head.

I am wanting to do a mod on my maxi once I have a free time, here is a link to a video that explains how to DIY that I wondered upon that explains how to, step by step
: Reef Videos

 

Hmm, what makes you think I have had no experience with a penguin? I've used a penguin powerhead a few years ago. It was only one pump and gave it away because I like the smaller size of the MJ. I never had any problems with it myself except sometimes it did not start up after cleaning it sometimes. I had to unplug it and replug it a few times.