Quote:
Originally Posted by bignose
would one vortech work for a 48" tank?
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Sure one will work, but as you mention in your first post, you'll need to continue running at least one of your Koralias on a tank your size.
My used 77 gal, 4 foot tank came with some real tiny AquaClear powerheads. I was a total noob & had no clue until after I set it up & started researching. Added a couple of larger AquaClears pretty quick, but it wasn't until I purchased my first MP40W that the tank really got the flow it needed. Just had a few fish, a BTA & no corals to speak of, but the strong flow of the single VorTech really started to clean things up. Water quality improved because of it.
I had purchased it just before they came out with the new wet side magnets that didn't rust after 6 months like the originals. Was a pretty cheap retrofit though and that's one of the things I've found pretty good about EcoTech's design. It's relatively easy to retrofit, repair & update your pump as improvements come along. Sure they didn't get the original magnet design down the first time, but the fix came & it was inexpensive to implement. Same idea with the pump drivers, you can update the driver to add functionality to an older model without having to buy the complete package all over again. Folks with MP20s could even update the pump to 40 with a power supply & driver.
A year after buying the new one, I snagged a used one for sale on one of the US forums. I couldn't afford two at once either, so bided my time before getting the second. I've upgraded the drivers for both to the ES versions and now run the two in the EcoSmart TSM (Tidal Swell Mode). Found this mode provided the most chaotic, random type conditions in my tank. In this mode, the pumps hardly ever run at the same speed at the same time, so the flow in the tank is constantly changing. I don't find it as annoying as the NTM (Nutrient Transport Mode) mentioned in a previous post. I do however, occassionally switch to the NTM to clear up the rockwork & sandbed. All it takes is one push of the mode button to switch back & forth between TSM & NTM.
I've never owned a Tunze, so can't really contribute much in that regard. Doubt that I will ever switch though, the VTs are working great for me & I'm not a fan of any kind of electrical cord in the water. I'd even lose my heater & another small powerhead used to feed my HOB skimmer, but haven't figured out how to do that. I like to keep the cords above the surface though. I cringe when I see folks fully submerge a heater, cord & all in their water.
Keep your eyes peeled on the for sale forums, there are currently a number of MP40Ws for sale so you could save a buck or two. Probably the odd Tunze as well. Either way, I'm pretty sure after you get one, you'll soon be looking for a second, especially if it's a VorTech. The ability of the wireless drivers to communicate & control the pumps definitely takes your flow options to a whole new level.