Sea Swirls vs. Oceans Motions 4 Way

Nano.tanker · 06/30/2013, 12:12 AM

So I'm reconsidering a couple things before placing any equipment order. Any thoughts on which is a better unit?

I have a 120 gal peninsula and I'm thinking either 2 sea swirls or an OM unit. The OM unit is much more costly, but I'm willing to spend it if the reviews are better.

I've looked into a lot of reviews online for each and have been impressed. But I havent seen any comparison of the two. Thoughts?

Ron Reefman · 06/30/2013, 04:47 AM

Are OM4 units still for sale? I thought they went out of business?

I have an OM4 and it has run 16 hours a day for 4 years with zero issues, which is why I don't know if OM is even in business any more. Mine have the revolution heads and they have worked very well too (one cleaning in 4 years and just about ready for a 2nd.

But if OM isn't in business any more, and if I had your tank, I'd get 3 Jebao WP25 wave makers. I have a WP40 in my tank (along with the OM4). It's more powerful than I want so I have 2 WP25's coming Tuesday to replace the WP40. They are well made, quite flexible and rather inexpensive. BTW, my WP40 has been running 24/7 for over 4 months now and hasn't missed a beat.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Epicreefer · 06/30/2013, 05:23 AM

I have heard that OM can groove the barrel and stop working. Never used one before myself. OM seems to be geared more to closed loops while sea swirls are sump return but both could be used for either.

I have recently rebuilt a pair of sea swirls that were ten years old, one worked perfectly the other needed only to be "put back together". What causes the oscillation is two wheels connected by a shaft and the shaft simply fell out of it's seat on one wheel after a few million cycles. Simple little devices, if it ever stops running just gently take it apart and you'll see what's supposed to go back together. A little tricky as one wheel is connected to the top and the other to the bottom. 6 months later and it still up and running/ hasn't fallen apart again.

moondoggy4 · 06/30/2013, 11:11 AM

OM is not out of business health reason he is back you can find them at Aquarium Specialty.

ReefKeeper64 · 06/30/2013, 11:49 AM

I have an om-4 way. The unit is good but pricey and support is terrible. Poor, short relies to emails. The forum on their website is read only and outdated too. If I was building a new tank I would eliminate the om and used Diablo DC slow ramp up pumps the way David Saxby does. The price point is better. Just my experience.

slief · 06/30/2013, 12:54 PM

While I have never run the OM products, I have run a pair of 1" Sea Swirls for upwards of 10 years now and swear by them. They work great and are very reliable.

Nano.tanker · 06/30/2013, 04:37 PM

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I forgot to mention this will be on a closed loop. Yes, I think I've made my decision to go with the swirls. Primarily for two reasons. First, I'm not entirely comfortable spending $500+ on a company that most people don't even know is in business. Stability and customer service means a lot. Second, I can accomplish the same thing with the swirls but have less plumbing over my tank. Less points of failure in my eyes and if maintenance is required, it should be easier to fix, clean, etc..

Thanks all!

06/30/2013, 12:12 AM	#1
Nano.tanker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 35	Sea Swirls vs. Oceans Motions 4 Way So I'm reconsidering a couple things before placing any equipment order. Any thoughts on which is a better unit? I have a 120 gal peninsula and I'm thinking either 2 sea swirls or an OM unit. The OM unit is much more costly, but I'm willing to spend it if the reviews are better. I've looked into a lot of reviews online for each and have been impressed. But I havent seen any comparison of the two. Thoughts?

06/30/2013, 04:47 AM	#2
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Are OM4 units still for sale? I thought they went out of business? I have an OM4 and it has run 16 hours a day for 4 years with zero issues, which is why I don't know if OM is even in business any more. Mine have the revolution heads and they have worked very well too (one cleaning in 4 years and just about ready for a 2nd. But if OM isn't in business any more, and if I had your tank, I'd get 3 Jebao WP25 wave makers. I have a WP40 in my tank (along with the OM4). It's more powerful than I want so I have 2 WP25's coming Tuesday to replace the WP40. They are well made, quite flexible and rather inexpensive. BTW, my WP40 has been running 24/7 for over 4 months now and hasn't missed a beat. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

06/30/2013, 05:23 AM	#3
Epicreefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 238	I have heard that OM can groove the barrel and stop working. Never used one before myself. OM seems to be geared more to closed loops while sea swirls are sump return but both could be used for either. I have recently rebuilt a pair of sea swirls that were ten years old, one worked perfectly the other needed only to be "put back together". What causes the oscillation is two wheels connected by a shaft and the shaft simply fell out of it's seat on one wheel after a few million cycles. Simple little devices, if it ever stops running just gently take it apart and you'll see what's supposed to go back together. A little tricky as one wheel is connected to the top and the other to the bottom. 6 months later and it still up and running/ hasn't fallen apart again. __________________ Aquatic systems supervisor, somewhere around 100k gal. Current Tank Info: 40g breeder sps

06/30/2013, 11:49 AM	#5
ReefKeeper64 Wanna be a reefkeeper Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Tampa Posts: 1,158	I have an om-4 way. The unit is good but pricey and support is terrible. Poor, short relies to emails. The forum on their website is read only and outdated too. If I was building a new tank I would eliminate the om and used Diablo DC slow ramp up pumps the way David Saxby does. The price point is better. Just my experience. __________________ Reef Savvy 110g Tank \| GHL Profilux 4 Controller & Doser \| Royal Exclusiv Skimmer & Dreambox/Sump \| ATI 8x54 Sunpower T5 \| Ozotech Ozone Generator

06/30/2013, 12:54 PM	#6
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	While I have never run the OM products, I have run a pair of 1" Sea Swirls for upwards of 10 years now and swear by them. They work great and are very reliable. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

06/30/2013, 11:11 AM	#4
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	OM is not out of business health reason he is back you can find them at Aquarium Specialty.

06/30/2013, 04:37 PM	#7
Nano.tanker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 35	Thanks for the feedback everyone. I forgot to mention this will be on a closed loop. Yes, I think I've made my decision to go with the swirls. Primarily for two reasons. First, I'm not entirely comfortable spending $500+ on a company that most people don't even know is in business. Stability and customer service means a lot. Second, I can accomplish the same thing with the swirls but have less plumbing over my tank. Less points of failure in my eyes and if maintenance is required, it should be easier to fix, clean, etc.. Thanks all!