I refuse to spend the money for vortecs... what else?

[jbdreefs]

I don't have the cash to drop on two mp40's. What other options are there? I have a RKE, but it sounds like most of the power heads out there either make the bad clicking noise when turning on and off or do not do well when cycled on then off over and over.

What have you tried, and do you like it?

 

[db366]

Tunze is the next best thing. Some may argue that it is the best thing.

 

[lilrobb]

What size tank?

 

[johniii]

Koralias can be cycled every 15 seconds according to the instruction. You could get the 12v koralias but they are also pretty high.

Could use a Scwd valve on your return also. Or a closed loop.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk

 

[bruce 1]

db366;756999 wrote: Tunze is the next best thing. Some may argue that it is the best thing.

NEXT BEST??? They are the best! China vs Germany it is a no brainier.

 

[db366]

That's a can of worms I didn't want to open. Say yours is better than someone elses and it's like one six year old telling the other theirs is better...

 

[bruce 1]

Well I have both and the Tunze is 100% better. Well the vortech is broke right now.

 

[acroholic]

If I couldn't have Vortech or Tunze, I'd probably go with modded Maxi-Jets or Koralias on a wave-maker, and penductors on my return pump, which would be bigger as well.

 

[spiderman097]

I've never had anything better than vortechs

 

[mustangcaleb]

ive always had koralias and maxijets and they did their job. but ive had my first vortech for about a month now and i love it. 1 mp10 isnt half the investment of 2 mp40s so i feel your pain tho. the new maxijets come with the flow mods

 

[stacy22]

spiderman097;757054 wrote: I've never had anything better than vortechs

^^^This.

 

[ff337]

Sicce voyagers

 

[jbdreefs]

Thanks for the input guys. It sounds like I haven't really missed anything.

LilRobb;757001 wrote: What size tank?

My tank is a 125, but I'm on the cusp of upgrading to a 5' 210+ tank. When I set it up, I'll probably go the closed loop route with a scwd or similar device. For now, I'll probably pick up a koralia.

Speaking of which the 12v controllable hydor koralias look pretty good. Anyone have experience with them or know how to DIY a connection to my RKE? I feel like I could use the light module to wire something up. 0-10 volts would cover most of the bvoltage range of the pumps, no?

 

[ripped tide]

John, I wish I had an extra vortech I could let you borrow for a week. My guess is that you would find the extra $$$

 

[lilrobb]

I have a set of Tunze 6100s with the 6095 controller on my 280 currently.
While I prefer the Vortechs - those Tunze's are close if not better about water movement...

 

[jef4y]

Vortechs are the best IMHO, but that said, on the 150 I'm building I will move over my one MP-40 and add 3 new Koralia Evos and the new "Smartwave Pump Controller"

http://www.amazon.com/Hydor-Smart-Wave-Pump-Controller/dp/B005TJCU0U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334323881&sr=8-1">Amazon.com: Hydor Smart Wave Pump Controller, 100 Watt: Pet Supplies</a>

3 pumps on a 'controller' for ~$150 + my existing MP40 should do well.

 

[jef4y]

I absolutely agree that Vortechs are the way to go. I picked up my MP40 NIB 2nd hand years ago for like $300, and it was WELL worth it. I also understand that sometimes you have to make due with what you can and $300-$400 on a single vortech is not possible.

 

[kirru]

Agree, I have used Koralias, Tunze, Maxi-Jets and I will be adding more Vortechs to my 125 build. I currently have one in my 40g and it was litterally night and day. My corals really came alive after starting to use it.. then i started using seachem salinity and they really started to take off.. hence why i am having to upgrade

 

[haninja]

There is nothing else...
No pump exist that is comparable to the water movement of vortechs. You see, the vortech not just pushes water but the suction created for the push actually generates more movement then the push itself... I had them all, MaxiJet, Koralia, Sieo, Tunze, and none of them generates flow like vortech. You just have to live with that fact.

 

[enderg60]

I use maxi jet mods for my fuge and mix tank, display I use a closed loop with eductors, and oceans motions with sea swirls and eductors for the return.

I have 12 outlets pushing over 1000 gph that cost less then 2 vortecs.