203g Tank: What powerheads??

[Tmoriarty]

Alright moving along with my build and im looking for powerhead ideas. I feel the tunze are to direct and the MP40's are a tad overpriced for me to see the real benefit of them.

Im thinking about 4 koralia evo 1450gph power heads. I currently have one in my 55g and it provides pretty decent flow. I feel that 4 of them would work well on the 203 gallon. Also they would allow for me to add a koralia wavemaker in the future to control them.

Any other ideas? The koralias just seem really cost effective. Flow in the center part of the tank will be covered by the return lines while the koralias if I go that route will provide flow to the rest of the tank.

[jimsplace]

I personally would look at 2 MP60's or 1 MP40 and 1 MP60. Yes they are pricey, but they would be worth it in the long run, you will never regret it. If you have never experianced the MPxx line of pumps, there is no other pump on the market which even come close to their preformance.

[Tmoriarty]

I have heard that many times jim, but my goal is water movement not breaking the bank. At some point I may go that path for a christmas present or something but 500+ dollars for powerheads just seems insane to me. Also they are not directional, which means I have to have them mounted on the side of my tank if im not mistaken (at least to make the best use out of them) I feel this is semi limiting.

Tunze looks very directional..... so they are pretty much out. Koralia is the only other pump that looks decently priced but still decent. 4 koralia 1400's comes out to just over 200$. If later down the road I add the wavemaker Im sitting at around the cost of the one mp60 kit (with less control).

The ability to break the costs up makes it more reasonable to the wife. Seeing a 500$ hit to our bank account makes her not a happy woman. The cost of a 200 gallon tank is already quite high, If I can avoid spending money in areas where a similar cheaper product can do the same job I will. Dont get me wrong I want the right stuff, I just dont want to pay an arm and a leg for a name.

Any reason the mp's are that much better then the koralias (if I had 4)??

[RedStangGA]

Originally Posted by Tmoriarty

I have heard that many times jim, but my goal is water movement not breaking the bank. At some point I may go that path for a christmas present or something but 500+ dollars for powerheads just seems insane to me. Also they are not directional, which means I have to have them mounted on the side of my tank if im not mistaken (at least to make the best use out of them) I feel this is semi limiting.

Tunze looks very directional..... so they are pretty much out. Koralia is the only other pump that looks decently priced but still decent. 4 koralia 1400's comes out to just over 200$. If later down the road I add the wavemaker Im sitting at around the cost of the one mp60 kit (with less control).

The ability to break the costs up makes it more reasonable to the wife. Seeing a 500$ hit to our bank account makes her not a happy woman. The cost of a 200 gallon tank is already quite high, If I can avoid spending money in areas where a similar cheaper product can do the same job I will. Dont get me wrong I want the right stuff, I just dont want to pay an arm and a leg for a name.

Any reason the mp's are that much better then the koralias (if I had 4)??

In my very limited experience with a nano I started with a koralia and then went with the MP10 a couple of months later. I don't regret that decision as the koralia's are inexpensive and a powerhead is one of the easiest things to upgrade. If it was me, and our wives sound very much alike in at least one regard, I'd go koralia and slowly upgrade to MP's over time.

[Tmoriarty]

Minus the level of control do you notice any diffrence in flow pattern from the koralias and the MP10? Do they both move water sufficiently? I know the largest reason to get the MP series is the high level of control.

[Tmoriarty]

Mmmmm..... Looking around at the MP40/60. Could I get away with using Just one? I might be able to find just one on ebay for around the cost of 4 koralia without the wavemaker.

Has anyone used the koralia's hooked up to the wavemaker? if so how is it control wise?

[Gandolfe]

not to push e-bay again but if you look on there for cheap powerheads they have a couple that are 3200 GPH for under a $100, with two fans that can be placed at different angles independant of each other. They are very cheap so if they last long enough for you to save up for the more expensive ones it's worth it

[Tmoriarty]

Koralia's are pretty in-expensive and there is a wavemaker you can buy to use with them. So they are an option that allows future upgrading. This tank will house quite a few nems most likely, so flow is pretty important.

I Do not want to have deadspots If I can avoid it, but I dont want to brake the bank either. I have the money to buy the mp60's if I want, but it just seems like a waste of money if the 4 Koralias would do the same job just as effectively.

There will be multiple angles of flow in the tank from 4 koralias and the returns, Not trying to push Koralias, just want to know the true value of the MP40's over the name.

[Chromey316]

if you like the look of 4 big powerheads in your DT, then go for it...

i think they look ugly as sin, and have no place in a properly set up tank.

[Captainfester]

Try this guy. http://www.justphish.com/ for the koralia. I have a 1400 and two 750 in my 90 and have great flow.

He is local to me but has been selling on eBay forever. Very good prices

[lordofthereef]

Koralias will work. I'd go with something more than 1400 gph, though I am guessing you are eyeing the evos. Anyway, it sounds like you are decided. There ARE better choices, but obviously they are far more expensive. I don't think you need much more validation at this point

[daplatapus]

I have 2 Koralia 1050's and 2-1450's. I really like them and they run nice and quiet. BUT, I don't have mine on a controller, they're on constant. A buddy of mine had 2 1450's on a controller and every time they turned on there was a slight "thump". He said when they sat down beside the tank it drove them nuts so he pulled the controller off. I don't know if the ones he has are the Evo's or the previous generation, but that is one draw back of the Koralia's I heard of.

[lordofthereef]

Originally Posted by daplatapus

A buddy of mine had 2 1450's on a controller and every time they turned on there was a slight "thump"..

+1

I forgot to mention that I had koralia evo 1400s on a controller. Supposedly they are made for controllers, but they did produce a thump when kicking on. Well, less of a thump and more of a crackling. Point is, it isn't silent and pretty annoying.

[Tmoriarty]

Uggghhh....Yah im not decided. Any other options than the vortechs and tunze? Two mp40s with controllers would run me over 1k dollars. U think I would need bigger then the 1400s if I went koralias? Should I go with two magnums instead? Im really confused about what to do.

[jimsplace]

Originally Posted by Tmoriarty

I have heard that many times jim, but my goal is water movement not breaking the bank. At some point I may go that path for a christmas present or something but 500+ dollars for powerheads just seems insane to me. Also they are not directional, which means I have to have them mounted on the side of my tank if im not mistaken (at least to make the best use out of them) I feel this is semi limiting.

Tunze looks very directional..... so they are pretty much out. Koralia is the only other pump that looks decently priced but still decent. 4 koralia 1400's comes out to just over 200$. If later down the road I add the wavemaker Im sitting at around the cost of the one mp60 kit (with less control).

The ability to break the costs up makes it more reasonable to the wife. Seeing a 500$ hit to our bank account makes her not a happy woman. The cost of a 200 gallon tank is already quite high, If I can avoid spending money in areas where a similar cheaper product can do the same job I will. Dont get me wrong I want the right stuff, I just dont want to pay an arm and a leg for a name.

Any reason the mp's are that much better then the koralias (if I had 4)??

I understand your concern on $, I had the same issue several years ago, but finally talked myself into 1 MP40. The multiple programs (flow options, power levels) the MP's provide are not matched by any other product that I know of. The under tow (water returning to the pump) sweeping across the sand is just awesome. I have yet to scrape up the $ for my second MP40 and yes my wife doesn't understand the high dollar amount either. I am running 2 koralia 3's across the tank from the MP40 no comparison. Maybe buy 1 MP now and supplement with koralia's like me until you buy the 2nd one, cause you will.

[dlp211]

Originally Posted by Tmoriarty

Uggghhh....Yah im not decided. Any other options than the vortechs and tunze? Two mp40s with controllers would run me over 1k dollars. U think I would need bigger then the 1400s if I went koralias? Should I go with two magnums instead? Im really confused about what to do.

Two mp40's shouldn't run you more then 800. I got two mp40wes's for 750 shipped brand new.

[Tmoriarty]

For each MP40 I more a less need a controller with it correct? In order to sync them to make the wave effects more effectively. Ill have to see if I cant find one online for cheaper. How well do they hold up, Would it be worth buying a used one?

[Tmoriarty]

dlp where did you get two mp40wes's for 750? I have looked everywhere and cant find a deal even near that good.

[jimsplace]

The MP's have their own electronic controls which provide the ability to increase/decrease the amount of flow and various preprogramed options which ramp the flow up and down (pluse) based on which program you choose. If you have 2, you can sync or unsync the flows of the 2 pumps to create waves, pulses ... Corals love it!

[JCE1980]

I have two sea swirls on top and love them. They create nice random flow. Then I have two korilia hide in caves on the bottom.I have lots of movement.
I found mine used,both for a hundred bux. 135g 6'

[Korrine]

I just put a seio 1100 on my tank and it produces really nice flow!!! Plus there are multiple ways to mount them.

http://www.marinedepot.com/powerhead...m_seio-ap.html

[Tmoriarty]

Ive settled between two options, either the koralia 1400's x4 on a wavemaker (around $270) or 1 MP40w w/es for a little over $400'ish (unless someone knows where to find one cheaper)

[laugh]

What about a closed loop system with oceans motions? It would be cheaper and you won't have those big ugly black powerheads in your tank.

[Tmoriarty]

Just looked at the closed loop systems with ocean motions. It seems decent but the added holes in the tank makes it more a of a potential leak hazard. Plus I would have to drill more holes and buy more bulkheads, the total cost would be more then the costs of a couple mp40's.

Its a PITA that the koralias are AC not DC, still torn between the two.

[sandwi54]

i got my 2 x MP40WES on ebay for $820 after shipping. That's a pretty good deal I though, but dlp211's $750 deal is amazing.