Choosing between a Koralia 4 and a Nanostream 6045

[Myka]

I worked for a short period at an LFS recently, and there were a TON of Tunze Nanostream returns. There was literally a HUGE box filled with them to go back on warranty work. Some of them ARE noisy, and need to be replaired, some break the propellers. I won't buy one. The Koralias are great for smaller tanks with thinner glass.

[Skimmin]

I'm the proud owner of two 6045 nanostreams and no problems yet. I believe the problems may have been worked out. Flow wise they are really gentle and have a super wide stream. I'm happy with them. Although I will be getting rid of them once I talk myself into spending the money on the Ecotech Vortech.$400+ dollars though.... Ouch!

[erikages]

Originally Posted by Skimmin

I'm the proud owner of two 6045 nanostreams and no problems yet. I believe the problems may have been worked out. Flow wise they are really gentle and have a super wide stream. I'm happy with them. Although I will be getting rid of them once I talk myself into spending the money on the Ecotech Vortech.$400+ dollars though.... Ouch!

The Ecotechs look very interesting; has anyone had experience with them? My only reluctance is that much of the cost seems to be for the wave algorhythms. I run a Profilux system that already runs wave features (providing the pumps are variable), so don't need this feature set. It's the combination of high output and heat reduction that look so great.

Have any of you who run these experienced noise and magnet drift with thick (.65") glass?

Erik

[Canadian]

Please keep in mind that when you see Roger going above and beyond on RC that you won't get that kind of service here in Canada. Roger will refer you to Tunze Canada if you contact him with warranty issues. I have 2 6025s that I've modded (shortened the shrouds and cut out the flow restrictor out to bring the flow rate up to about 1100GPH). The infamous clips have broken and I've fixed them. When I contacted Phil at Xenia (the Canadian distributor for Tunze among other German products) about getting the new and improved C-clips he ran me around, lied and then just ignored me. Worst warranty/customer support of any product I've purchased. And don't assume this is an anomoly - there are tons of threads about Phil's poor customer service on RC (warranty issues with Giesemann products as an example) and I've spoken with several LFS owners, employees etc. and they all say that Phil is a great guy to hang out with but his product support is atrocious. I'm sure things are busy for Phil with all the distribution stuff he does but it's incredibly frustrating to see the great customer service Roger provides to a much larger population in the US and know that you won't get that up here.

Keep that in mind if you decide to go with Tunze.

With that said, if I had to do it again I'd still probably go with Tunze and, again, modify the shrouds if only because the Koralias are ridiculously huge in comparison for a comparable flow rate.

[trilinearmipmap]

OK a couple of final questions.

Comparing the Tunze 6045 vs. the Koralia 4 vs. the modded MaxiJet vs. the Vortech: which would be quietest and which would be loudest in order?

Also what is the cord length for the nanostream and Koralia?

[Canadian]

Don't even think about buying the 6045 if you own a Dremel and have even the slightest amount of patience. If you mod the shroud on a 6025 you'll get the same 1189 GPH out of the 6025 that you will out of a 6045. The only difference between these two (the 6025 and 6045) is that the shroud on the 6025 restricts the flow - the "motor" for the 6025 and 6045 is the same. Roger has admitted this on RC. The restriction of the shroud on the 6025 was done so that there was a Nano Stream that could be used on small tanks.

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by trilinearmipmap

OK a couple of final questions.

Comparing the Tunze 6045 vs. the Koralia 4 vs. the modded MaxiJet vs. the Vortech: which would be quietest and which would be loudest in order?

Also what is the cord length for the nanostream and Koralia?

The K4 is silent and so should the Nanostream (Canadian is correct - get the 6025 and cut the shroud). Most people have no problem with the recent commercially modded Maxijet products such as the Oceanflows, but they will click on wavemakers and you have to understand that you are modifying something so there is a chance that you'll get some vibration. The Vortech is in a different league both price wise and performance. Some people find the two halves tricky to line up correctly resulting in vibration and noise.

The cord length on the nanostream is easily enough to reach across a 6-foot long tank.

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by Myka

I worked for a short period at an LFS recently, and there were a TON of Tunze Nanostream returns. There was literally a HUGE box filled with them to go back on warranty work. Some of them ARE noisy, and need to be replaired, some break the propellers. I won't buy one. The Koralias are great for smaller tanks with thinner glass.

Which is why I wouldn't buy a USED nanostream. Tunze obviously didn't do proper beta testing on the nanostreams until after the raft of returns on the first few batches of nanostreams. I've been watching the saga unfold over the last year or so on the Tunze forum over on RC.

To be fair, Tunze seems to be have been quite good about warranties and poor Roger Vitko has been handing out free replacement parts like a candy on Halloween. One reason why I waited until now to get a 6055 is because it appears that the build quality issues have finally been worked out on the nanostreams. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. So far I'm quite pleased with the 6055 - a bit pricey at $200 even on Boxing Day, but I already had a Tunze 6000 and wanted something to work in conjunction with that - meaning true variable speed control in a small package.

BTW, 30 secs with a Dremel tool on part of a nanostream's shroud will allow you to get at least another few hundred GPH out of them.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by fkshiu

To be fair, Tunze seems to be have been quite good about warranties and poor Roger Vitko has been handing out free replacement parts like a candy on Halloween. One reason why I waited until now to get a 6055 is because it appears that the build quality issues have finally been worked out on the nanostreams. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Yes, they do have very good warranties, but it's still a royal pain in the butt to have to wait for a replacement/repair. I'm not sure if they've ciphered out the build problems, but I am hoping you are right. They'll get it figured eventually.

Personally, I want my powerheads on full blast all the time, so I have no urge to spend that amount of cash on a variable speed powerhead. The modded and magnetted MaxiJets work for me.

[hershey]

I have a koralia 4 in my tank and it is quite noisy, I've had no problems with the magnet or the powerhead staying where it is tho. I myself am thinking of going with a tunze 6060