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MP10 Shield Review (Pico Aquariums)


Islandoftiki

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Islandoftiki

Ok folks, I just got my MP10 shield from Pico Aquariums on Friday and have had a chance to test it out over the weekend and give you some feedback.

 

If you have a shallow tank (Say around 10"-12" or less) you NEED one of these. One of the biggest issues I've had with my MP10 is that if it's too close to the water surface, it can draw in air from the surface through little vortexes. If it's too low, it makes a mess of the sand bed.

 

In my 10" tall tank, there's a trade-off either way. Too high and you have to turn it way down below 30%. Too low and yet again, you have to turn it way down below 30% or it'll make a mess of the sand bed, which is pretty coarse, BTW. It's either too high or too low. There's no sweet spot.

 

Then the other day, I heard Pico Aquariums was making a shield for the MP10 that will allow the powerhead to be placed quite close to the water surface without it drawing in air! I jumped on the opportunity to buy one, and on Friday, I received the MP10 shield.

 

My first impression was that the build quality was awesome. It's a really nice piece. It fits on the powerhead perfectly and stays put when installed. It takes 30 seconds to install and it does exactly what it's supposed to do. I raised my powerhead up to about 1 1/2" from the water surface with the shield installed and cranked it up. I mean really cranked it up! It was like a blender in there, but no air was sucked in from above and the sand stayed put! Woohoo! I love this thing! I turned it down to a reasonable level before I had sixline and shimp soup, but was impressed it how it worked.

 

I've had it running about 50% all weekend and I'm really happy with it. On top of it all, the surface movement on the water is amazing. It has to be really good for gas exchange.

 

Here are some pictures:

 

Here's the powerhead next to the shield.

DFCB3FFF-orig.jpg

 

And installed on the powerhead.

5BA5BF0A-orig.jpg

 

And in the tank... you almost don't even see it.

42D07CF6-orig.jpg

 

Here's a short video of the MP10 mounted high in the tank with the shield and without it. You can see how well it works:

 

If any of you are running MP10's in small tanks, I would highly recommend getting one of these.

 

A+ to Pico Aquariums for this great little product.

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I will rate this product an A+ as well. I installed it on my tank which is 18'' deep (not very shallow I know), due to the fact that I like a lot of surface stimulation. No bubbles or vortex yet! Great little product and an amazing price. All of the others out there on the market are too small and still cause vortex if turned up too high, and use unsightly nylon screws to hold it in place OVER the tank.

 

A+ from me!

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Islandoftiki

It's funny how sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. Of course, this piece would not be simple for me to build myself...

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PicO Aquariums

My wife thinks i'm crazy sometimes because I will sit and stare at things like the MP10 for example. "The answer is always there you just have to look for it" is what I say.

When I opened the MP10 unit I got to prototype the shield I felt I owed it to the damn thing to make it simple.

It is a beautiful little machine in it's own. So much so i'm keeping it! it's mine........"my precious"

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Islandoftiki

It is a beautiful little machine in it's own. So much so i'm keeping it! it's mine........"my precious"

 

I think that's what we all said when we first opened out MP10 boxes. LOL

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Islandoftiki

Shield for mp40?

That is in fact what we have.

 

 

EDIT: I can't read. This is for the MP10 only, but read my post several down. There could be a MP40 version in the works...

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Islandoftiki

out of curiosity, what size tank was this on? great review btw.

 

It's on my Micro-Reefs 10 gallon. 10"x10"x24".

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That is in fact what we have here.

 

 

It can't fit both.

 

Glad you corrected that Ben. I was like "ummmm no it won't fit the MP40." haha

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Islandoftiki

Yeah, I can't read. However, if someone has an MP40 wet side that they'd be willing to loan Pico Aquariums, I hear they would be willing to build one for the MP40 and possibly give the person who loaned the MP40 a free one!

 

This one is only for the MP10. :)

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PicO Aquariums

Yeah, I can't read. However, if someone has an MP40 wet side that they'd be willing to loan Pico Aquariums, I hear they would be willing to build one for the MP40 and possibly give the person who loaned the MP40 a free one!

 

This one is only for the MP10. :)

Yes if someone wants to send me a MP40 wet side for a week I will send it back with a shiny new shield.

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Islandoftiki

Yes if someone wants to send me a MP40 wet side for a week I will send it back with a shiny new shield.

 

That's what he said...

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  • 3 weeks later...

I was unaware of this product before reading your review. Thanks for sharing !

 

Great shield. I'm selling mine now. haha. I had to move my MP10 so I have no use for it anymore.

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  • 2 years later...

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