those with vortechs?

am3gross · 10/04/2009, 06:53 AM

i have a 210... putting 2 vortechs in there and i want to know if

1 this is going to be enough flow?
2 is this going to cause a sandstorm with all the flow that they put out?

have not bought the vortechs yet, but will be in the next week or so...

JAustin · 10/04/2009, 08:03 AM

Two will be a good start. I've got 1 MP40 in a 24" cube and no sand storm here. It's all about where you place the pump. You'll need more flow than just two MP40's but it's a good start. I would do what your doing and then get some Tunze or modded MJ pumps to place where you need a little more flow. The two Vortechs will provide enough ramdome flow that having some extra non controllable pumps would still be ideal.

DSB07 · 10/04/2009, 08:17 AM

You'll be fine with 2 vortech's, I have 2 in my 120 fully cranked up with no sandstorms. They will provide plenty of flow in a 210.

am3gross · 10/04/2009, 08:38 AM

thanks for the quick replys! i do have some other pumps that i could put in there. i was also thinking about doing a closed loop also... just nervous about drilling holes and the fact that i may put the holes where they are not needed...

RokleM · 10/05/2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSB07

You'll be fine with 2 vortech's, I have 2 in my 120 fully cranked up with no sandstorms. They will provide plenty of flow in a 210.

Sorry, but without further details from the original poster, that isn't necessarily accurate. I have a marineland 200 cube (4x3') with 4 MP40's. I would actually like more flow. However, my tank is 100% SPS.

am3gross, what do you plan to keep? SPS? LPS? Combo? If you put them on opposite sides, anti-sync, with short pulse you could get a pretty hefty wave going. LPS, I think 2xMP40's will be a good start as JAustin mentioned. SPS, you'll likely end up looking for more flow sooner rather than later.

If you hit the Ecotech section here, they're pretty good about giving you an idea for placement and numbers if you supply a little more information.

am3gross · 10/05/2009, 11:59 AM

thanks for the link! that really helps. i am wondering though if it will be worth the hassle of going wireless. i have seen alot of complaints about them here lately. i dont want to spend that kind of money and not be happy.

Urchinhead · 10/05/2009, 02:02 PM

Depends on where you put them and what output setting you have them on. I run two MP40's in my 60 gallon but then I subscribe to the motto "never enough altitude, never enough fuel, never enough runway, and never enough flow!"

Seriously though I have two in there and they are on reef crest mode running at about 70% of full speed. I would get divoting in the sandbed where it would suck all the sand out of an area and this was caused by the flow around my rockscape as well as the position of the 40's. By moving the position of the two 40's around I was able to minimize this issue. So you will most likely have to do the same. Move and rotate them until you find the sweet spot.

As to enough flow for a 200+ gallon tank... I would think so. They do a very good job of creating a turbulent and distributed flow and should be fine as your primary source of it. My tank is also a SPS/LPS tank and all corals seem to do well with it. Even the Cali Tort that sits RIGHT in front and about 2" away from one of them. It gets good polyp extension and good color.

The one thing I did find out the hard way was that it can peel the flesh off of certain corals. For example I had a nice stylo that literally had the flesh fly off of it from the MP40 hitting it so keep that in mind when you are placing the power heads as well as any corals.

am3gross · 10/05/2009, 02:08 PM

thanks for all the replys... this is really giving me some stuff to think about.

am3gross · 10/05/2009, 02:19 PM

just cant leave it alone!!!! here it is with the sump where it is going to be. i need to get a bulkhead and decide on a return pump. return pump i want to be something that will do atleast 1000 to 1200 gph. i am thinking about having a manifold where i can add other stuff if needed. 1 thing i am going to try and incorporate is a valve where i can hook up a hose and run it out side to make the water changes a tad easier... we will see.

what external return pump is silent and can do what i want. i would like to have some personal experiances here....

10/04/2009, 06:53 AM	#1
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	those with vortechs? i have a 210... putting 2 vortechs in there and i want to know if 1 this is going to be enough flow? 2 is this going to cause a sandstorm with all the flow that they put out? have not bought the vortechs yet, but will be in the next week or so...

10/04/2009, 08:03 AM	#2
JAustin Acropora Nut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,628	Two will be a good start. I've got 1 MP40 in a 24" cube and no sand storm here. It's all about where you place the pump. You'll need more flow than just two MP40's but it's a good start. I would do what your doing and then get some Tunze or modded MJ pumps to place where you need a little more flow. The two Vortechs will provide enough ramdome flow that having some extra non controllable pumps would still be ideal.

10/04/2009, 08:17 AM	#3
DSB07 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Indy Posts: 28	You'll be fine with 2 vortech's, I have 2 in my 120 fully cranked up with no sandstorms. They will provide plenty of flow in a 210.

10/04/2009, 08:38 AM	#4
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	thanks for the quick replys! i do have some other pumps that i could put in there. i was also thinking about doing a closed loop also... just nervous about drilling holes and the fact that i may put the holes where they are not needed...

10/05/2009, 11:59 AM	#6
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	thanks for the link! that really helps. i am wondering though if it will be worth the hassle of going wireless. i have seen alot of complaints about them here lately. i dont want to spend that kind of money and not be happy.

10/05/2009, 02:02 PM	#7
Urchinhead Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Gabriel, California Posts: 681	Depends on where you put them and what output setting you have them on. I run two MP40's in my 60 gallon but then I subscribe to the motto "never enough altitude, never enough fuel, never enough runway, and never enough flow!" Seriously though I have two in there and they are on reef crest mode running at about 70% of full speed. I would get divoting in the sandbed where it would suck all the sand out of an area and this was caused by the flow around my rockscape as well as the position of the 40's. By moving the position of the two 40's around I was able to minimize this issue. So you will most likely have to do the same. Move and rotate them until you find the sweet spot. As to enough flow for a 200+ gallon tank... I would think so. They do a very good job of creating a turbulent and distributed flow and should be fine as your primary source of it. My tank is also a SPS/LPS tank and all corals seem to do well with it. Even the Cali Tort that sits RIGHT in front and about 2" away from one of them. It gets good polyp extension and good color. The one thing I did find out the hard way was that it can peel the flesh off of certain corals. For example I had a nice stylo that literally had the flesh fly off of it from the MP40 hitting it so keep that in mind when you are placing the power heads as well as any corals.

10/05/2009, 02:08 PM	#8
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	thanks for all the replys... this is really giving me some stuff to think about.

10/05/2009, 02:19 PM	#9
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	just cant leave it alone!!!! here it is with the sump where it is going to be. i need to get a bulkhead and decide on a return pump. return pump i want to be something that will do atleast 1000 to 1200 gph. i am thinking about having a manifold where i can add other stuff if needed. 1 thing i am going to try and incorporate is a valve where i can hook up a hose and run it out side to make the water changes a tad easier... we will see. what external return pump is silent and can do what i want. i would like to have some personal experiances here....