Which to get Vortech pump MP20 or Tunze ?

[robert J]

Is anyone here using a Marine Vortech pump MP20 ? Is it a good pump or is it not worth to buy ? I am thinking to get this pump instead of getting Tunze, but when I watch on Youtube video, the waves in the tank look similar to the wavebox. But the wavebox is much more expensive than this pump. I don't know should I get Tunze, or Vortech pump, or nano wavebox ? My wife loves to keep sps corals only, any suggestions which one I should get for her to make her corals happy.

[Trigger Man]

just tagging along to see what others reccomend, as I'm also trying to decide on new pumps.

[purplepolypeater]

i love my vortech mp40w with battery backup it saved my whole tank today as my landlord didn't pay hydro and i woke up to the power being out for like 8 hrs didn't lose a thing although keep it covered as i shredded an hellfire anemone and 2 legs off a starfish as it is really powerful didn't slow down a bit and sounded like a powersaw the starfish is ok tho.

[robert J]

Wow ... I am very impressed to know that

[Delphinus]

In my opinion, there's no comparison to a Wavebox and a Vortech - they are filling different non-overlapping functions. You could make do with one or the other depending on what you are looking for, or even both.

An SPS tank needs massive volume turnover - we're talking upwards of 40 times tank volume per hour - and up. A Wavebox simply isn't going to give you that. A Wavebox will just give you a back and forth effect that will remind you of what it looks like underwater but for SPS it will not be nearly enough on its own.

The more fair comparison is a Tunze stream to a Vortech. To me it comes down to a couple different things: The Tunzes seem to be more expensive, and are directional (ie., you can aim them or attach to a sweeper motor like a Wavysea). The Vortech sits half in the tank, half out. If your tank is inwall then no biggie. If not, then it depends on you whether that's acceptable or not (most people don't seem to mind it though). Also it is non-aimable, however this doesn't appear to be a detriment because the controller is more versatile. The Vortech has a battery backup option, however it looks like Tunze has this option as well (but you need your own battery - it's just a switchable power supply or something). To be honest I don't think you can go wrong with either Tunze or Vortech, they are both top-shelf products.

But if it came down to "Wavebox or Vortech" I'd say go for the Vortech first.

[andestang]

Yes both high end products. I'm in the middle of trying to decide myself. The main reasons for vortech is the motor and power cord out side and to have set-up in pairs or more is communication is wireless making for a very neat/cleaner look inside and outside the tank. For the tunze, I'm thinking Turbelle stream 2's, is they are able to make directional, which I think is the down side to the vortechs, which with coral growth can be very nice to have as your system matures.Tunze does carry with it a very good reputation for durability(I can say this myself as my pumps are about 5 yrs old and counting) Pricing for either is pretty close, but when the tunze is available I think they will work out to be slightly more. And as for the money spent to have a wavebox mixed with either of this power heads, I think the full effectiveness of the wavebox or power heads(2 or more) is lost. The different simmultations your able to do with these is great, not just off/on. JMO

[robert J]

I appreciate for all of this useful information. At least now I know I don't want to have a wavebox anymore. Just one more question, my tank is only 70gallons with 36" long. If I only use 1x Vortech MP20 in my tank alone may not be enough because according to Delphinus, sps corals need water to turn over at least 40 times. With Vortech MP40, do you think I will get overflow from that much strong flow with a short tank like mine. And if I get Tunze, what model do you think is the right one for my tank. I only can afford to buy just 1 for now with the one controllable with a single controller.

[andestang]

If you are just getting started and need to spread your money around for other equipment, I would for the money get a Hydor Korlia Wavemaker Controller and a couple of their power heads, that would be just over $500 But you would at least have two pumps, versus one pump for about the same in the Vortech or Tunze (controlled units) Or cheaper yet get the Red Sea WaveMaster Pro / Maxijet Powerhead Package (4 power heads) for $300 and put a couple of upgrade kits on 2 of the powerheads ($50 for 2) Then down the road upgrade to what you really want.

[parkinsn]

Originally Posted by robert J

I appreciate for all of this useful information. At least now I know I don't want to have a wavebox anymore. Just one more question, my tank is only 70gallons with 36" long. If I only use 1x Vortech MP20 in my tank alone may not be enough because according to Delphinus, sps corals need water to turn over at least 40 times. With Vortech MP40, do you think I will get overflow from that much strong flow with a short tank like mine. And if I get Tunze, what model do you think is the right one for my tank. I only can afford to buy just 1 for now with the one controllable with a single controller.

Fkshiu here you are

[fkshiu]

Oops, thanks for pointing that out.

Anyway, on a 70 gallon 3'-long tank the most economical Tunze option would be one 6055 Nanostream with a single controller. The price would be almost identical to a Vortech MP20 and once you do a 2-minute mod to the shroud, output will almost be identical as well.

Smart placement of the 6055 and your live rock would be key. Having a Gyre setup (think a whirlpool) leaving some open space around all sides of the live rock would be perfect.

I ran a 6-foot long (~120 gallon) mixed reef with nothing but an old Tunze 6000 Stream (which doesn't have much more output than a 6055) and about 400 gph from my return pump in a Gyre setup.