vortech or tunze

[bignose]

Wow lots of input thanks everyone.

Seems like the vortech would work perfect for me, I'm having problems with dead spots and funny enough it's directly below my powerhead.

edit. do the vortech and tunze have dead spots under the powerhead?

[Funky_Fish14]

I have 2 MP10wES... 1 is set to reef crest(at 100%) and 1 is in lagoon mode(at 80%)... Opposite ends of the tank. There are no dead spots below or around the powerheads (water flows fully all around the front 3/4 of the tank).

The newer one is fairly silent... yes I can hear it but its not bad. The older one (6 months?) is about 4 times as loud at the same settings as the new one. I dont know why, and plan to speak to the retailer or ecotech about it. I understand ecotech customer service is very good though.

Cheers,

Chris

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by Funky_Fish14

I have 2 MP10wES... 1 is set to reef crest(at 100%) and 1 is in lagoon mode(at 80%)... Opposite ends of the tank. There are no dead spots below or around the powerheads (water flows fully all around the front 3/4 of the tank).

The newer one is fairly silent... yes I can hear it but its not bad. The older one (6 months?) is about 4 times as loud at the same settings as the new one. I dont know why, and plan to speak to the retailer or ecotech about it. I understand ecotech customer service is very good though.

Cheers,

Chris

I always used mine in sync or ant-sync to each other, but they were linked on the same setting. HMMMMM.... I have just changed mine to what you have to see how it works. They have always created great currents and undertows, but maybe doing your way has more caos, and therefore even better undertows, etc.

Thanks for posting.

Also, I do believe you need to talk to Mike @ Aqua Digital.... And yes, the service is great!

[ponokareefer]

As a Koralia fan, I'd go with Tunze. My Koralia's have flow directly under then, so I would think Tunze's would as well. I had considered a Vortech for my RSM130, but after hearing a couple in stores, I went with another Koralia. Just way too loud. I like my tanks as quiet as possible. I had considered changing my Koralia's to Tunze's, but the price was just too high. Plus, I have 2 of my Koralia's on a wavemaker, and it works great.

[Funky_Fish14]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

I always used mine in sync or ant-sync to each other, but they were linked on the same setting. HMMMMM.... I have just changed mine to what you have to see how it works. They have always created great currents and undertows, but maybe doing your way has more caos, and therefore even better undertows, etc.

Thanks for posting.

Also, I do believe you need to talk to Mike @ Aqua Digital.... And yes, the service is great!

I like the effect from having them in different modes. I actually dont know which is reef crest and which is lagoon. The one with the second pair of lights on (lights 3 and 4 inward from the left) is at 100%, and the one with the first two lights is at 80%. This one ramps up and down more frequently (within a minute), while the other takes a couple minutes. It seems to bounce most often between 100% and down to 55-60% at the lowest... I like that the flow is different at any one time, like you said, more chaos. Its never too rough though.

I dont really like the stress from the Ecosmart Nutrient transport mode or pulse modes. Its a hard kick each time, I feel like it would wear out the pump too quickly. Let us know what you think of the opposing flow types!

Yeah, I'll talk to the retailer and see what they say, then speak to Michael if it needs to go further.

[Madreefer]

Originally Posted by Funky_Fish14

I dont really like the stress from the Ecosmart Nutrient transport mode or pulse modes.

Really? This is my favourite setting. With a half circle tank it makes a really nice wave in my tank. I really wanted to get the Tunze when I was in the market for a wavemaker. Nobody could answer me on how it would work in an odd shaped tank so I emailed Tunze asking how it would work. I was really impressed with their honesty when they suggested that I not buy their product as it may not work with the shape of my tank. So those with an odd shaped tank migh want to consider the Vortechs.

[bignose]

would one vortech work for a 48" tank?

[mike31154]

Originally Posted by bignose

would one vortech work for a 48" tank?

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.

[MarkoD]

If you want a brand new mp40es, I'm still selling mine. If not, it's going in my tank

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

About people saying Tunze's can be pointed and Vortech's can't, this is true, however I run 2 MP40's and they are able to create the undertows and currents required that lift the garbage from the bottom, behind rockwork, etc. So in my opinion, they don't need to be pointable.

For the noise, they make a slight noise in the pulse modes, this is the ramping up and down of the motor. Is it loud, I would say NO, but it is there. In Reefcrest or Lagoon mode, they are virtually silent for me.

My vote is for the Vortech's, they just have so much more power and capabilities over any other brand.

Edit: I have also used pointable wave devices (Koralia's #4 with wavemaker) and have recently removed to let the Vortech's do all the work, and can say much much better. Didn't need any pointable powerhead in my tank.

Id have to agree here. Alot of people dont remember the flow from a vortech isnt only about the stream it puts out but also the huge undertow the pump creates. I was running a MJ900 with SF kit & a K3 on my 4 foot tank since the beginning. A week ago I picked up 2 MP10w ES pumps, at first I put them on short pulse and was amazed to see even the polyps on my mille blocked by my internal overflow moving. I also had my frogspawn deep inside of a cove well out of the stream and its tentacles were pulsing back and forth as well. Once I set it to the Nutrient Export my jaw dropped with what was being pulled out of the rocks, so much so I had to change my filter sock the next day.

Also the none wireless complaint for the tunzes is a bad one. Being able to run up to 8 pumps on the 7095 controller means you dont need to sync 8 of the single controllers together.

Ive always thought of it like this, for moving water in shorter distances the Vortechs are tough to beat. But if you need to push water a long ways, such as if you have a peninsula style tank, a Tunze is going to be a better pump for this application.

PS. It wouldnt hurt to run a MP40 and when you can afford it look at a 6055 or 6105.