trying to justify cost for MP10

[Red254]

i need more movement in my 30G bow front, right now i have a maxi 400 and i could easily upgrade to a maxi 900 or 1200, but im really considering buy an MP10 but can get over the $230 price tag

is it really worth it? do the different modes actually help as much as people say they do?

[Peter Eichler]

Nope, doesn't help much vs. various other popeller based powerheads. But they sure are cool!

[scar79]

I love how clean they look - something a Tunze can't pull off as easily. The only thing better than an MP10 is 2 MP10's!

Yes they are quite pricey, but they do their job very well. A maxi jet 1200 isn't even close to comparable.

[d2mini]

The different modes are going to vary your flow intensity which I think is better than just one constant speed. The width of the flow is going to be much wider than the other pumps which have a more focused stream. You get a great push/pull movement without having to buy separate wave box contraptions. The wet side takes up much less space inside the tank. If you get more than one they can talk to each other and work in synced or anti-synched modes. And you get one of the best companies (and an American company as well as fellow hobbyists) in the biz standing behind their product. Only you can decide if any/all that is worth it.

They also sell a battery backup that is plug n play with the vortechs, which in the case of a power outage can save your entire tank.

[DetroitReefer]

I had one on my 29G biocube in my living room. bought it brand new. MP10ES. Waste of money on my part. I really hated the noise (I moved that thing all over and back. I know, sometimes the noise is from misalignment of the wet side and dry side). It was neat when it was on, but I wish I'd have saved the money.

I am setting up a 180 (6') now, and i am really considering two MP60 for this tank. Then I remember how annoying the sound from my MP10 was and reconsider.

[swcc]

I like my MP10.... one powerhead taking up hardy any space and doing it all. Feed mode is great... changing things up is cool too.
Is it worth the extra money... depends, one can ask is it worth buying an audi instead of a VW(maybe).
I think if the cost of the mp10 had been a concern, I would probably just buy a couple Tunze powerheads instead.(I don't think I would stretch my budget to buy one is what I am saying).

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by DetroitReefer

I had one on my 29G biocube in my living room. bought it brand new. MP10ES. Waste of money on my part. I really hated the noise (I moved that thing all over and back. I know, sometimes the noise is from misalignment of the wet side and dry side). It was neat when it was on, but I wish I'd have saved the money.

I am setting up a 180 (6') now, and i am really considering two MP60 for this tank. Then I remember how annoying the sound from my MP10 was and reconsider.

if you thought an MP10 was loud, don't bother with a 60.

[DetroitReefer]

I am leaning towards a SCWD and a larger return pump. The Vortechs are great. I just prefer something quieter.

[kenc87]

Hmm I honestly love my mp10s, they are very quiet and my corals love them. I even bought one of them used for 80 and it was two months old.

[Red254]

Thanks for the input , I think I'm going too suck it up and buy one the benefits seem to out weight the cost

[Doctareefer]

I have two the new version and the blue box. I know some people have problems with noise but mine are almost dead silent

[ojonas81]

One of the best improvements I done to my 28g JBJ. Love the flow and it is near dead silent. Hear my LED hood fans way more than the pump. Got even more use out of it after I connected it to my APEX. Can now change modes several times a day automatically.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[ryeguyy84]

Originally Posted by ojonas81

Got even more use out of it after I connected it to my APEX. Can now change modes several times a day automatically.

don't forget about the ability to have the pump automatically lower speed when you enter feed mode on the apex.

the only time mine is loud is when its on Nutrient export mode. you hear the pulsing sound.

[saliva911]

if the cost is already in your mind you shouldn't get it. cause then your gonna be banging your head against the wall wondering why you spent so much money. and all the things you could have gotten instead

[Allmost]

1. undertow.
2. the real state saved in a small tank.

the above are unmatched by the compatitors.

[samstersam]

mp10 hands down.

i could not keep my blueberry gorgonian alive without it and its variable speeds and "wide" flow while minimizing heat, and being less intrusive than other submersible powerheads.

[mussel and hate]

Is it worth it? I don't own an MP10(yet) and so I may not seem to be qualified to weigh in but I'll speculate regardless.

You see I'm trying to talk myself out of buying one and having a difficult time doing it. Im hesitant because of the $259CDN buy in. While that's not a lot of money for a pump it's a lot for a power head... an AC powerhead that is. The MP10 has a brushless DC pwm controllable motor Like an RC car. and that motor is mounted externally. It costs about what I'd pay for a cordless drill with a similar though much more powerful motor and drive... oh and batteries, this thing isn't cheap.

The best argument against the MP10 is the same one it flaunts over a traditional powerhead. The MP10 is more bulky and conspicuous than a bulkhead fitting. As long as an external pump has a speed controllable brushless DC motor I don't need to clutter a viewing panel on my nano with ~200ml of techpr0n. I might buy a pump like the Waveline DC5000 for $50 less. I plumb it in place of my existing 20 yrd old external AC pump and voila I'm done!


I'm a cautious fellow. I don't like to have submerged powercords. Particularily those submerged in saltwater near a grounded reflector. My external pump came to be when it ceased to be safe as a submersible. Over 20 years the insulator hardened, cracked and copper leaching started to kill my tank. I'm glad the electricity didn't kill me, but I assure you it's perfectly safe now, I replaced the cord you see.

Is the MP10 worth it? How much is life worth? Yours, your animal's?

My pumps are external now and so shall they stay. I can't afford submersible cords. If the alternative is a bigger Maxi then I say hell ya, buy an MP10. Buy another when/if the first wears out and you can't fix it or have it replaced under warranty.

[Allmost]

Originally Posted by mussel and hate

Is it worth it? I don't own an MP10(yet) and so I may not seem to be qualified to weigh in but I'll speculate regardless.

You see I'm trying to talk myself out of buying one and having a difficult time doing it. Im hesitant because of the $259CDN buy in. While that's not a lot of money for a pump it's a lot for a power head... an AC powerhead that is. The MP10 has a brushless DC pwm controllable motor Like an RC car. and that motor is mounted externally. It costs about what I'd pay for a cordless drill with a similar though much more powerful motor and drive... oh and batteries, this thing isn't cheap.

The best argument against the MP10 is the same one it flaunts over a traditional powerhead. The MP10 is more bulky and conspicuous than a bulkhead fitting. As long as an external pump has a speed controllable brushless DC motor I don't need to clutter a viewing panel on my nano with ~200ml of techpr0n. I might buy a pump like the Waveline DC5000 for $50 less. I plumb it in place of my existing 20 yrd old external AC pump and voila I'm done!


I'm a cautious fellow. I don't like to have submerged powercords. Particularily those submerged in saltwater near a grounded reflector. My external pump came to be when it ceased to be safe as a submersible. Over 20 years the insulator hardened, cracked and copper leaching started to kill my tank. I'm glad the electricity didn't kill me, but I assure you it's perfectly safe now, I replaced the cord you see.

Is the MP10 worth it? How much is life worth? Yours, your animal's?

My pumps are external now and so shall they stay. I can't afford submersible cords. If the alternative is a bigger Maxi then I say hell ya, buy an MP10. Buy another when/if the first wears out and you can't fix it or have it replaced under warranty.

ok welll .... you are comparing apples and oranges ... [from perspective of one who has never tried an orange ]

Closed loop VS power head, is a totally different story, so when ppl ask about power heads, it means they do not want to deal with extra holes in their glass tank ! I personally have a simple rule, the more holes, the more things can go wrong so I prefer to have a power head.
now you need to compare power head to power head, meaning you compare vorthech to tunze and .... and MP10 comes out to be the smallest one so .....

secondly, wire submersed in salt water ? the dry side of the vorthech ecotech pumps stay DRY outside the tank, there are no cords in the water I am not sure what you mean again ... how can it kill you or fish ?

anyways, why make assumptions if you have never tried it ? cause trust me, once you see it work, you realize that no closed loop can move water like this [I mean the undertow]

PS. no offense, just didnt understand your points well and if I am missing something my bad.

[TheGodParticle]

I battled this same debate in my head for a while. Ended up buying an MP10, I liked it so much that I bought another 2 weeks later. It wasn't even the different modes that did it for me, it was the width of the flow. It takes 2 Powerheads of any other brand to equal the width of flow on one Vortech. That to me sealed the deal. I have 2 MP10's on my 5ft 150 SPS dominate tank. If anything I don't see how people do the MP40's or 60's I couldn't imagine that kind of flow in a tank?


Buy one, if you don't like it take it back. I bought mine from Petco for this very reason. Kept my receipt and had 30 days to return it just in case I didn't like it.

[Spirofucci]

Originally Posted by d2mini

The different modes are going to vary your flow intensity which I think is better than just one constant speed. The width of the flow is going to be much wider than the other pumps which have a more focused stream. You get a great push/pull movement without having to buy separate wave box contraptions. The wet side takes up much less space inside the tank. If you get more than one they can talk to each other and work in synced or anti-synched modes. And you get one of the best companies (and an American company as well as fellow hobbyists) in the biz standing behind their product. Only you can decide if any/all that is worth it.

They also sell a battery backup that is plug n play with the vortechs, which in the case of a power outage can save your entire tank.

^Pretty much this, nothing else to say.

[JHawlz9989]

One of reasons I bought mine was the resale value. If you don't like it you can always get around 80 cents on the dollar for selling used, probably more if it's lightly used. The only thing I don't like is I have to keep it cranked up pretty high to get the flow all the way across my tank (20 long), which can make things a little turbulent on the side the power head sits. This problem is easily solved by purchasing another one.

I imagine with a 30 bow front you won't have near the issues that a 20 long would have, and what you want could easily be achieved with one MP10.

HTH,

Josh

[mussel and hate]

Originally Posted by Allmost

ok welll .... you are comparing apples and oranges ... [from perspective of one who has never tried an orange ]

Closed loop VS power head, is a totally different story, so when ppl ask about power heads, it means they do not want to deal with extra holes in their glass tank ! I personally have a simple rule, the more holes, the more things can go wrong so I prefer to have a power head.
now you need to compare power head to power head, meaning you compare vorthech to tunze and .... and MP10 comes out to be the smallest one so .....

secondly, wire submersed in salt water ? the dry side of the vorthech ecotech pumps stay DRY outside the tank, there are no cords in the water I am not sure what you mean again ... how can it kill you or fish ?

anyways, why make assumptions if you have never tried it ? cause trust me, once you see it work, you realize that no closed loop can move water like this [I mean the undertow]

PS. no offense, just didnt understand your points well and if I am missing something my bad.

I'm sorry if I confused you. The condensed version is that if the OP wants to have a submersible pump then I fully endorse the MP10. The caveate being it's way too expensive and still uglier than a closed loop.

I hope that was more coherent.

[mussel and hate]

Come clean Almost... you didn't really read my post did you?

[MBIETZ]

If your heart is set on it then get it but i had an mp-10 and 40 i disliked both i could constanly hear the ramping up and down on both sure the different setting are cool but i would personally go with a controllable tunze pump they take up more room but they are silent.

[Allmost]

Originally Posted by mussel and hate

I'm sorry if I confused you. The condensed version is that if the OP wants to have a submersible pump then I fully endorse the MP10. The caveate being it's way too expensive and still uglier than a closed loop.

I hope that was more coherent.

lol I did read your post, and this is what I understood too, but the point is, MP10 is not a submersible pump !

its OUTside the tank no wires in water, no heat in water.