If you want to buy a pump and forget it get Tunze pumps. As long as you do not mind every year or so buying a wet side ($) then get a vortech. Don't believe it get on the big reef sites and search it. I bet at least 1/2 of all the vortechs sold have to get them fixed in a short time.
I refuse to spend the money for vortecs... what else?
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Physically impossible with out creating a cavitation. All pumps pull the same amount as they push. It may be more visible from the vortech because they do generate a lot of flow.
I vote closed loops for a large tank.
Here is my brief breakdown, as I've tried them all:
Maxi-Jet - The new models are absolute garbage in circulation mode. They continually come apart, they rattle violently upon start up, and are generally worthless, which is a shame, because they move a LOT of water. If Maxi-Jet cleans that idea up, they could be amazing flow for a very low price.
Koralia - I'm still unconvinced that the Evo series or the newest models are capable of running on a wavemaker, as they have always run backwards after a period of time from my experience. Yes, you can push a bushing back down to get them working again, but who wants to deal with this every other day? Wavemaker issues aside, if you're planning to just leave these on at all times, they are a good choice. They are quite bulky and take away from the look of the aquarium
Tunze - Don't have a large amount of experience with Tunze, but didn't they get busted for using antiquated testing techniques that GREATLY skewed their performance numbers? Other than that hiccup, most people seem quite happy with them. The only tunze I had in the past were very bulky, with lots of seemingly needless equipment.
Sicce Voyager - Probably my favorite choice around the $100 range, these powerheads put out lots of flow, and work great over long periods of time on a wavemaker. Unfortunately, they are quite large and don't create very much undertow. Sicce makes reliable pumps, and these are a great option if the vortech price point is a factor.
Vortech - Hands down the best technology out there. They are virtually maintainence free, low-profile, add no heat to the tank, and aren't a eye sore inside the tank. They produce an AMAZING amount of undertow, which to me is the key. I've yet to see any other powerhead that pulls detritus off the sandbed and rockwork with their power. Just running these on "reefcrest" 24/7 blows any other powerhead out of the water. With that said, the price point is almost laughable. Apparently, they aren't getting any cheaper either as the cost of producing the high-powered magnets is steadily increasing. I'd work my way to buying one over time, and then add another down the road. Find them used if you can to save money. Either way, I wouldn't settle for less (other than tunze) for my reef tank.
Maxi-Jet - The new models are absolute garbage in circulation mode. They continually come apart, they rattle violently upon start up, and are generally worthless, which is a shame, because they move a LOT of water. If Maxi-Jet cleans that idea up, they could be amazing flow for a very low price.
Koralia - I'm still unconvinced that the Evo series or the newest models are capable of running on a wavemaker, as they have always run backwards after a period of time from my experience. Yes, you can push a bushing back down to get them working again, but who wants to deal with this every other day? Wavemaker issues aside, if you're planning to just leave these on at all times, they are a good choice. They are quite bulky and take away from the look of the aquarium
Tunze - Don't have a large amount of experience with Tunze, but didn't they get busted for using antiquated testing techniques that GREATLY skewed their performance numbers? Other than that hiccup, most people seem quite happy with them. The only tunze I had in the past were very bulky, with lots of seemingly needless equipment.
Sicce Voyager - Probably my favorite choice around the $100 range, these powerheads put out lots of flow, and work great over long periods of time on a wavemaker. Unfortunately, they are quite large and don't create very much undertow. Sicce makes reliable pumps, and these are a great option if the vortech price point is a factor.
Vortech - Hands down the best technology out there. They are virtually maintainence free, low-profile, add no heat to the tank, and aren't a eye sore inside the tank. They produce an AMAZING amount of undertow, which to me is the key. I've yet to see any other powerhead that pulls detritus off the sandbed and rockwork with their power. Just running these on "reefcrest" 24/7 blows any other powerhead out of the water. With that said, the price point is almost laughable. Apparently, they aren't getting any cheaper either as the cost of producing the high-powered magnets is steadily increasing. I'd work my way to buying one over time, and then add another down the road. Find them used if you can to save money. Either way, I wouldn't settle for less (other than tunze) for my reef tank.
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Just keep in mind that the GPH is not the only factor to consider. Dispersing the flow and the ability to adapt to a changing system (growing corals) should considered as well.
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I've had my vortechs for over two years at this point and the only thing I've done is upgrade the drivers. No issues so far.
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Another reason the undertow is more noticeable on the vortech is due to their placement in the water column since they are unidirectional they have to be placed high in the tank to prevent a sand storm. They do not create any more flow back to the prop per gph moved than any other pump, it is physically impossible. . If they could pull more than they pushed,the world's energy problems would be solved.
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What makes the tunze and vortex so good? I use two korilas and dont have a problem with them and only $40ish a piece. Thats a tenth of a vortex.... At the end of teh day, isnt the purpose to move water to simulate water movement in the ocean?
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Vortech pluses have been stated but:
- Less pump in the tank
- less heat transfer as the bulk of the powerhead is outside of the tank
- versatility with the different modes
- build quality (at least in my experience... and from the obvious demand/following they have).
I was in your camp until I got my hands on two at an incredible price.
- Less pump in the tank
- less heat transfer as the bulk of the powerhead is outside of the tank
- versatility with the different modes
- build quality (at least in my experience... and from the obvious demand/following they have).
I was in your camp until I got my hands on two at an incredible price.
The new Tunze pumps are not big. This question has been asked on many sites. Why does any one pay such high prices to have a pump that makes such loud noises? It is called the Jones syndrome......... they have to keep up with the Jones. I would not have a unsightly, loud, and large pump sitting on the side of my tank just so the next guy could say wow he spent tons on that ugly pump. I paid to have a tank built with 3 sides starphire glass so I do not want to have to look around them. And yes they have to be put on the sides since you can not direct the flow in any direction. I fell right into the Jones trap also. I bought a mp10 for my nano tank it was so loud I could not even think while working on my computer. So I did what everyone else does turned it down so it would not be noisy. Then it broke. Yes they replaced the wet side but the hassle of something that I knew was going to happen. Now I am going to run it on a frag tank so I will not have to look at the ugly thing.
And the demand thing?? Again the Jones syndrome look on R.C. everyday there are 2 or 3 or more listed forsale . Why because they did not live up to what the Jones said.
And the demand thing?? Again the Jones syndrome look on R.C. everyday there are 2 or 3 or more listed forsale . Why because they did not live up to what the Jones said.
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haha... tomato vs. tomato
I love my vortechs... nothing to do with anyone named Jones
I love my vortechs... nothing to do with anyone named Jones
Moral of the story. Do your research when you get good products everyone has a opinion about them.
Edit:
Grouper I do not understand how people do not understand that. You can put any pump of the same flow in the same spot and make them do that also. It is a no brainer.
Edit:
Grouper I do not understand how people do not understand that. You can put any pump of the same flow in the same spot and make them do that also. It is a no brainer.
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It is all relative as to what one considers "good" but yes the whole reason is to move water. If you want to move gross amounts of water in your tank you can do so with powerheads at a fraction of the cost. I have 2 of the e-bay korallia look a likes hid behind some rock that have been running on a 120 for over a year flawlessly total investment $25 . I know some who have a mp40 that has been repaired twice in the same year. Vice versa to both accounts. I'm not a big latest ,greatest, go go gadget reefkeeper.but some are. I've seen fantastic looking tanks with or without high dollar power heads.
Wow, didn't realize this would be such a popular topic.
I just realized that vortechs are certainly out of the picture for me because of the way my tank was built. The only place I have to mount one would be on the back pane of an 18" deep tank. I would never be able to stop the sand storm.
I read up on the sicce voyagers and I'm considering those. I'll probably go the closed loop route on my upgrade, but I'll need to drill some holes in an acrylic tank. Anyone done that before?
I just realized that vortechs are certainly out of the picture for me because of the way my tank was built. The only place I have to mount one would be on the back pane of an 18" deep tank. I would never be able to stop the sand storm.
I read up on the sicce voyagers and I'm considering those. I'll probably go the closed loop route on my upgrade, but I'll need to drill some holes in an acrylic tank. Anyone done that before?
I absolutely love my Vortechs, and the only repair I have ever done on one in the 3+ years I have owned any of them is I replaced the bearings on an MP20 (first Vortech I ever owned) that I did the MP40 conversion on, because it got loud.
You get an idea of the undertow these things create when you see fine detritus moving around in the tank, like when a goby starts sifting sand or you blow off the rock with a baster. It creates flow everywhere.
Money allowing, I'd never own anything else, period, unless someone comes out with something better (at least IMO).
That being said, whatever one wants to use is fine. Vortech pumps are not the only path to successful reefing.
You get an idea of the undertow these things create when you see fine detritus moving around in the tank, like when a goby starts sifting sand or you blow off the rock with a baster. It creates flow everywhere.
Money allowing, I'd never own anything else, period, unless someone comes out with something better (at least IMO).
That being said, whatever one wants to use is fine. Vortech pumps are not the only path to successful reefing.
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I can help you drill the closed loop if you want.
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Regular hole saw works fine.
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duh water? you having beers already?:yes:
