Vortech MP40 Worth it?

[goldmullet]

I have a 220 gallon fish only tank. Is it worth getting a Vortech MP40 for a fish only tank?

Or do you really only need them for a reef tank?

Let me know thanks.

[sng]

Don't waste so much money on the MP40 if your doing fish only. The only cool thing about the MP's is that you can change the settings of the flow. I would just get some cheaper power heads and use that extra money to buy more expensive fish.

[Allmost]

what kind of fish ?

triggers, can and will chew through power head wires ! in those cases MP40 is the only choice.

all animals can use good flow. and your rocks would accilimate less crap ... so its not a bad choice.

deciding factor is you and your budget and plan !

also check to see how much another power head system would work for your tank ... and compare the cotst, and compare the cisually apealing vortechs, then u can decide better.

[goldmullet]

That makes sense. The main reason i would want one is to not let crap settle on my artificial coral.

Does the flow make the fish healthier? Or do they not need flow?

[Allmost]

welll .... fish love oxygen rich water, so good amount of water movement is needed for them. but we can get that with a bunch of maxi jet too.

but do they NEED random flow like corals do ? probably not, they can swim about ...

so the fish do need flow, and some need ALOT of flow. but theydont NEED the wave or ... [or do they grow healthier and feel at home more ? ] I dont know.

GL

[Dr Colliebreath]

You can get a lot of water flow, including undertow to keep your tank clean, with the Tunze 6095 for about $200 less. If you don't need the programability of the MP40, the Tunze will serve you just as well at a lower price.

[scarface70706]

flow is key to any type of tank. i recommend the ecotech pumps. even though the tunze pumps are good they are not as good as ecotechs. I know tons of people that replaced their tunze pumps with ecotech pumps and couldn't be happier. also all of ecotechs equipment is 100% upgradeable and they give you room to grow unlike the tunze pumps. who knows you might want to get more ecotech stuff in the future and connect them all wirelessly. im a firm believer of you get what you pay for. good luck with your choice.

[geaux xman]

i'm assuming the 220g is a 6ft tank? i dont think you will get adequate flow on the other end of the tank with a single mp40.

[tkeracer619]

Allmost brings up a good point. If you are going to keep triggers then its either vortech or a closed loop.

Sure you can run other powerheads but IME its not worth buying something and having a trigger chew through the wire.

FO don't need a lot of flow but the fish sure love it.

[Dr Colliebreath]

Originally Posted by geaux xman

i'm assuming the 220g is a 6ft tank? i dont think you will get adequate flow on the other end of the tank with a single mp40.

Good point. The MP40 seems to have a broader flow that doesn't reach as far across the tank, while the Tunze reaches farther. I have one of each, and they are on opposite ends of the tank.

IMO, you need a lot of flow in the tank. The Vortex is very nice, but expensive if you don't use its programability. The Tunze is a less expensive alternative but very high quality. IMO, the Tunze is higher quality than the Vortech. The Tunze is quieter and the Vortex has a smaller footprint in the tank. The Vortech sound doesnt bother me but some don't like it. There are also some cheaper high volume, wide flow powerheads. I don't know whether they create the same amount of undertow current in the tank to keep the rockwork clean as I haven't tried them.

[Allmost]

I have a 6 foot tank, and a MP60 on one side, and a MP40 on other side, they barelly reach the middle.

but I keep SPS in that tank, so need alot more flow

[Reef1121]

I went from Koralia's to a old style MP40w that I picked up from one of the ppl on the forums and its pretty awesome. More than enough flow and undertow for my 55g. My fish love it and swim against it or sit in the wave that I created with the short pulse mode. But I mainly bought it for my LPS and future SPS that I get. The only concern I have with the pump is even though I tune it so it doesnt vibrate in the maximum speed like the directions tell you to, I still get some loud vibrations when I put it into some of the random modes, like reef crest (when its in lower speeds). So fine tuning it to have no vibe is like an art lol.

[laredo300c]

The vortech should not vibrate, humming noise at 100% yes, but no vibrating.

Vibrating is coming from not proper alignment or wrong spacer width on the motor part of the pump. Move the pump while it's on to find that sweet spot, mine are super quiet in the living room, but are heard at night, when everything is quiet.

Didn't believe in night mode, for the pumps until I recently added diy moonlights and saw how much life is actually in my tank that come out at night.

My thought is with night mode, pumps slow down, some gunk gets on the sand and cleanup crew eliminates it, I've seen this actually work pretty good on my tank

[Reef1121]

I ended up slightly adjusting the motor side of the pump and finding the sweet spot for it. Now I just hear the motor humming when its in short pulse mode. But I've noticed that with all the ecotech pumps on my buddies tanks. Overall its a great pump with plenty of flow.

[gweston]

I've talked to a few tank owners with MP40's and visited them. Its a mixed bag. Some love it, others don't. This is what I personally saw and heard from owners, and the sampling is relatively small. So take my comments with a grain of salt.

One tank had a pair of MP40'sn. They made too much noise for my liking. Especially at that crazy high price point. Additionally, at least in the past, the individuals I spoke to at least once had to get their MP40 repaired... and the MP40's weren't all that old.

That isn't to say other powerheads are better. From what is available I suspect the MP40 still tops the list and I may even snag one one of these days.

The alternative is a big return pump and a decent overflow (bean style, as one example). High flow rate through the tank minus the powerheads. But you could always do that AND add a few less expensive lower flow powerheads to supplement.

Suffice to say though, I like the MP40 design with the wet/dry side. Keeping wires out. For my newest tank (125 long), I have a pair of Koralia 1400's, a beananimal overflow, and an 1800gph return pump. Its still filling with water now, so I can't yet say how I like that combination I'll know soon.

[hkgar]

Is anything we do, or buy, in this hobby worth it? Only if you find enjoyment from it and that is why some of us buy the stuff like the MP40, we personally determine we will get more enjoyment form that on then something else, less expensive, that basically does the same thing. WE determine which we believe to be the best we can afford and go for it.

[richiero]

fro what i have been reading the vortech ph's are worth it...

[Caronte]

I have an MP 10 esw and really love it. Is good for Reef tanks that needs strong flow BUT it's also very good for a FOWLR tanks to remove detritus on sand and live rocks from death spots, Your Protein Skimmer is gonna tell you. Also it gonna exercise your fish from the boring current that they use to be.

[Playa-1]

Originally Posted by goldmullet

I have a 220 gallon fish only tank. Is it worth getting a Vortech MP40 for a fish only tank?

Or do you really only need them for a reef tank?

Let me know thanks.

You don't need them at all. They are expensive trendy powerheads. If you've got the Money and want some top of the line powerheads then take a look at the Vortech and Tunze products. They are excellent powerheads. There's no reason that you couldn't have a Show tank without either brand in the tank. Don't get caught up in all the hype.

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by Playa-1

You don't need them at all. They are expensive trendy powerheads. If you've got the Money and want some top of the line powerheads then take a look at the Vortech and Tunze products. They are excellent powerheads. There's no reason that you couldn't have a Show tank without either brand in the tank. Don't get caught up in all the hype.

Your response makes no sense. You call them trendy and then call them top of the line. Weird.

[hybridazn]

Originally Posted by Playa-1

You don't need them at all. They are expensive trendy powerheads. If you've got the Money and want some top of the line powerheads then take a look at the Vortech and Tunze products. They are excellent powerheads. There's no reason that you couldn't have a Show tank without either brand in the tank. Don't get caught up in all the hype.

Uhh, what?

[bongarone]

You only need them for a reef tank, specifically for SPS corals.