help with water movement please
 

hi all,
i am currently building a 180g reef tank and would love an answers from pros.

i have to decide between 2 options for my mixed reef (sps top)
its a 72x24x24 and the two options are

either:
vortech mp40wes x2

or

tunze 6105x2 controlled with my reef angel


for both options i could keep the 2x 6045 i have currently but would prefer not to.

Welcome!

Have you considered the Jebeo option? If I were to start my build over I probably would have gone with them.

long story short im doing my best not to buy chinese products :wink:

To bad.I have 2 jebao pumps in my tank for more then a year and they are very good.move a lot of water very silent and not to mention a fraction of the cost..

...and that's just fine.

Both the Tunze and Vortechs are high end pumps. The Vortechs take up less tank space, have the motors outside (less heat), but are know to be noisier. I`m sure you've already researched this.
At this point you may just want to consider the cost (unless its a non-factor).
Also with a 72 inch tank, you may need to supplement them with even more pumps once that SPS addiction sets in, so consider that as well.

I would get the vortechs. They come with foam covers.

Another option to consider might be the new maxspect gyre. They seem to generate a surprising amount of water movement even in long tanks.

Having used Tunze for years, I'd go that route. I would never use ecotech, too noisy and you can't set direction.

thx guys

fact is i can get a used pair of those options for 400$ a pair.


crazy deal for both IMO

at equal price i just cant decide

If you go the VorTech route, you may wish to consider MP60s for a long tank like yours. I have 3 MP40s on my 4 foot 77 gallon and run them at about 80% in TSM as a master/slave group. The one in the middle of the back glass is speed limited to below 50% since the tank is narrow. On a tank your size with sps you'll need to run 2 MP40s at 100% at least some of the time, which means louder & more wear & tear. With a couple of 60s you'd be able to run them at a lower speed. Only caveat to that comment is that I've never seen an MP60 in person, so no idea what they sound like at various settings.

With the broad flow & undertow the VorTechs create, there's really no need to point them. Set them at a proper distance from the water surface to get the desired ripples for gas exchange & they'll take care of the rest. I also like to reduce the number of "live" electrical components submerged in my system, so the VorTechs cater to that preference nicely. I'm not a pro, but I've been running VorTechs for at least 5 years or more with no significant issues. I actually neglect them quite a bit other than an occasional scrubbing of the cage with a toothbrush. They are covered in coraline and actually seem to be running quieter as they age.... or I may be losing my hearing as I age....