steven@reev.com

Too powerful for what is the real question. I wouldn't go and put an mp40 into a nano tank, but the size you choose is relative to the chosen application. Vortechs are amazing units allowing you to keep the heat and surface area of a traditional powerhead out of your aquarium. Only half of the unit goes within the tank and using magnets and an external motor the power is transferred to a propeller within the tank half.

Fully adjustable speed, and the ability to fully control the unit via programmable modes is what makes these units really amazing. I don't really understand how this would be thought of as being destructive any more than the constant blast of water from your return pump though.

I wrote a review about them some time back. Here's the link:
http://www.melevsreef.com/review_vortech.html

I'm using them on my vats currently (pardon the pun) to keep the livestock healthy.

I feel for the money they are well worth the price. The performance far out ways the expense. Like others have said the propper powerhead for the propper size tank and you shouldn't see any distruction. I love how you can have a "master" powerhead and make waves etc. or turn all powerheads to a lower level for feeding by a touch of one button. I started with MJ1200's went to Korilla 4's and finally the MP40W. I will never go back, the money I spent on the other powerheads could have been put towards a Vortech which I ended up with anyways. My new tank will have multiple Vortech's and battery backups.

Originally Posted by JABlacher

Too powerful for what is the real question. I wouldn't go and put an mp40 into a nano tank, but the size you choose is relative to the chosen application. Vortechs are amazing units allowing you to keep the heat and surface area of a traditional powerhead out of your aquarium. Only half of the unit goes within the tank and using magnets and an external motor the power is transferred to a propeller within the tank half.

Fully adjustable speed, and the ability to fully control the unit via programmable modes is what makes these units really amazing. I don't really understand how this would be thought of as being destructive any more than the constant blast of water from your return pump though.

This is why I was asking. I have never had them and I had read they were really powerful, I just thought that they would blow around the corels and such. I never really understood the concept of how you could make waves in your aquarium. I did not know they could be turned down.

Originally Posted by Blown76mav

I feel for the money they are well worth the price. The performance far out ways the expense. Like others have said the propper powerhead for the propper size tank and you shouldn't see any distruction. I love how you can have a "master" powerhead and make waves etc. or turn all powerheads to a lower level for feeding by a touch of one button. I started with MJ1200's went to Korilla 4's and finally the MP40W. I will never go back, the money I spent on the other powerheads could have been put towards a Vortech which I ended up with anyways. My new tank will have multiple Vortech's and battery backups.

Arent they like 400.00? that just seems like a lot esp if you need 4 to 6 in a tank. my tank is unfortunately right up against the wall on the left side so I guess I cant put any there. should have thought about that before. how many would I need in a 240 gallon? 96 x 24 x 24.

Originally Posted by melev

I wrote a review about them some time back. Here's the link:
http://www.melevsreef.com/review_vortech.html

I'm using them on my vats currently (pardon the pun) to keep the livestock healthy.

Thanks Marc.

i agree with blown76mav. the vortechs are awesome pump and are well worth the money. they have some very cool modes, like the nutrient export and the feed modes. they are also very well built and essentially maintenance free. if you have at least 3 inches behind your tank i would recommend running a couple of them on the back of your tank. you said your tank is all the way up against the wall on the left side, so can you put one on the right side? i really think you would only need about 3 of them for your tank, especially if you already have decent flow from your return pump. i would put 2 on the back and one on the right side and i think you would have sufficient flow in your tank. thats just my 2 cents on the vortechs, take it for what its worth.

Originally Posted by steven@reev.com

Arent they like 400.00? that just seems like a lot esp if you need 4 to 6 in a tank. my tank is unfortunately right up against the wall on the left side so I guess I cant put any there. should have thought about that before. how many would I need in a 240 gallon? 96 x 24 x 24.

I don't have 4 to 6 in my 150, at the moment I have one soon to be two. Yes they are around 400 but lets look at it this way a MJ1200 uses 20 watts and cost 25.00 and moves 295gph, a Korila 3 uses 7 watts and moves 850 gph and cost 40.00, and a MP40W uses 18w and moves 3000gph. If you do the math on how many you would need to match the performance on the MP40w I think you would see that over time it is the most bang for the buck. Not to mention the reduced heat. I couldn't imagine having 12 MJ1200's that cost 300.00 and using 240 watts in my tank for every one MP40w. Or 4 Korlia 3's using 28 watts at 160 dollars. At the end of the day its your choice, spend a little now and a lot over time or a lot now and a little over time.

Originally Posted by Blown76mav

I don't have 4 to 6 in my 150, at the moment I have one soon to be two. Yes they are around 400 but lets look at it this way a MJ1200 uses 20 watts and cost 25.00 and moves 295gph, a Korila 3 uses 7 watts and moves 850 gph and cost 40.00, and a MP40W uses 18w and moves 3000gph. If you do the math on how many you would need to match the performance on the MP40w I think you would see that over time it is the most bang for the buck. Not to mention the reduced heat. I couldn't imagine having 12 MJ1200's that cost 300.00 and using 240 watts in my tank for every one MP40w. Or 4 Korlia 3's using 28 watts at 160 dollars. At the end of the day its your choice, spend a little now and a lot over time or a lot now and a little over time.

Ok but at some point you have to have several to move the water in different directions right? I mean it not only about how many gallons per hour you get. what would you recommend if I cant put them on the end of the tank? one end of my tank is right against the wall and the other is open so you can look into it. can these MP40w's be angled like the corralias? so I can put them on the back wall?

If you read the comment just 3 above this one i'm pretty sure someone already gave you the answer to the questions you just asked.

And no they cannot and do not need to be angled.

You can put two on the one end and you don't need to angle them as the flow is extremely wide as compared to a traditional power head.

Originally Posted by JABlacher

If you read the comment just 3 above this one i'm pretty sure someone already gave you the answer to the questions you just asked.

And no they cannot and do not need to be angled.

Sorry somehow I missed that comment. the right side of my tank is clear for looking into just like the front. I would rather not put one there. also what size would be good for on the back wall if I have 24 inches front to back? I dont want to blast my sand all over the place.

thanks,

You would have to go with the mp40 because the Mp10 can only go up to 3/8" glass. They are completely adjustable as far as speed goes so you can turn them down enough so you don't blow sand around.

Originally Posted by Mccoy85

You would have to go with the mp40 because the Mp10 can only go up to 3/8" glass. They are completely adjustable as far as speed goes so you can turn them down enough so you don't blow sand around.

Gotcha.
-Steven

The beauty of Vortech pumps is:

1) With the wireless controller, they can talk to each and pulsate to get various effects. That is how you can make the waves in larger tanks.
2) Individually they have different modes that allow you to determine how they pulse, which gives different flow effects that corals love. (verses a constant stream)
3) Not only is the flow out wider than most pumps, (verses a strong, thin jet stream) but the intake is from all around the pump, which IMHO gives you better flow on all sides of the pump as well. (less dead spots)

Yes, they are expensive at first, but if you factor in the power consumption and output, they are not that much more expensive in the long-run.

One thing to note: you might have to pay $20-$30 a year on maintenance. I equate this to owning a high-performance car, they need to go in the shop more than your Accord might. The base of the propeller on the wet side does tend to crack over time and will need to be replaced. I think it varies how often this happens depending on how aligned the wet side is to the exterior motor. My theory is that there is a slight torque or vibration that slowly cracks and breaks the propeller over time.

I have had them for years and love the results. SPS especially love good flow and the Vortech pumps really do a good job with that.

--Ed

Originally Posted by rEd86

The beauty of Vortech pumps is:

1) With the wireless controller, they can talk to each and pulsate to get various effects. That is how you can make the waves in larger tanks.
2) Individually they have different modes that allow you to determine how they pulse, which gives different flow effects that corals love. (verses a constant stream)
3) Not only is the flow out wider than most pumps, (verses a strong, thin jet stream) but the intake is from all around the pump, which IMHO gives you better flow on all sides of the pump as well. (less dead spots)

Yes, they are expensive at first, but if you factor in the power consumption and output, they are not that much more expensive in the long-run.

One thing to note: you might have to pay $20-$30 a year on maintenance. I equate this to owning a high-performance car, they need to go in the shop more than your Accord might. The base of the propeller on the wet side does tend to crack over time and will need to be replaced. I think it varies how often this happens depending on how aligned the wet side is to the exterior motor. My theory is that there is a slight torque or vibration that slowly cracks and breaks the propeller over time.

I have had them for years and love the results. SPS especially love good flow and the Vortech pumps really do a good job with that.

--Ed

Thanks Ed,
on my tank it is 96 x 24 x24 at this point without doing some modifications to the wall. I really only have the back wall to put them on. how many do you think I need to provide adequate water flow?
on the left end my tank is right on the wall. if I did cut into the wall to put a couple there, does the piece on the outside of the tank need a lot of ventilation? could they reside "inside the wall"?

-Steven