Which to get Vortech pump MP20 or Tunze ?

[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.

[robert J]

I went to J&L today to look at their display tank, I didn't hear the noise from the Vortech pump may be the store was so noisy from the background, but the waves go back and forth in the tank and makes big sloshing sounds when the water goes down to the overflow box. I have an overflow box too but it is extremely quiet because water is going down constantly. Thanks Fkshiu, I am going to get Tunze 6055 with a single controller even though my wife likes Vortech more the way it looks ... Ha ... what a big relief for me to finish the wife's demanding Christmas gift ... Oh wait ... looking for a skimmer is the next one, I may have to open a new thread for that. Thanks all of you who took your time to help me out with all my questions. I greatly appreciate it because I know nothing about the fish tank. My wife owns the tank and that is her hobbies, not mine, but if anything goes wrong it will be my fault as usual Hope this time I get the right one for her.