vortech or tunze

globaldesigns · #1 11-08-2011, 04:02 PM

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.

Parker · #2 11-08-2011, 04:13 PM

I run a closed loop so my opinion in this discussion is useless. However, if I had to choose one over the other I would probably go with the Vortech, and mostly for aesthetic reasons. In one of my smaller tanks I ran Maxi-Mods and I just couldn’t get used to look of them in the tank and the Tunze are even larger.

Sunee · #3 11-08-2011, 04:53 PM

I have had both and prefer the Tunze. I ran my MP40 in lagoon mode at 70% and the whine of the ramping to the higher speeds really annoyed hubby and me (aquarium in the living room).

I notice a difference in the flow too, the MP40 did not move the sand around but I am currently getting drifts with the Tunze (the max is set at 60%, random flow, sinus wave). I will have to work on the positioning and the Profilux program as I don't like having to unbury my rics and zoas.

bignose · #4 11-09-2011, 04:05 AM

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 · #5 11-09-2011, 06:35 AM

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 · #6 11-09-2011, 04:30 PM

Quote:

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 · #7 11-09-2011, 04:36 PM

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 · #8 11-10-2011, 07:26 AM

Quote:

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.

Ryan · #9 11-11-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

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.

bignose · #10 11-11-2011, 07:19 PM

I have about a month to wait until I can buy a pump. I have a friend who might lend me a mp40 just to try out. I like the tunze 7095 controller but I've never seen one in person though. I would only ever want 2 pumps for my tank.