Not Happy With My MP-10's

mluntz · 12/03/2015, 08:01 AM

I'm running 2 mp-10 qd's on my 46 gallon bowfront. They are both non-wireless and are placed on opposite sides of the tank. I have tried just about every mode and I am just not satisfied. I have very little to no surface agitation. It seems like I have dead spots where there is very little water movement and other spots where the corals get blown off the rocks.

I am considering putting both pumps on the same side of the tank so that they can work in tandem rather than opposing each other. If that doesn't work, I might just put my rw-8's back in there. I was so exited when I got these pumps, but now the exitement is turning into frustration. I certainly don't want to own 2 $250 paperweights!

Hopefully someone can chime in with some thoughts and suggestions.
Thanks

mussel and hate · 12/03/2015, 08:45 AM

At the risk of stating the obvious you will get more surface agitation if you place them higher.

mluntz · 12/03/2015, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mussel and hate

At the risk of stating the obvious you will get more surface agitation if you place them higher.

If I place them higher they suck the water into a vortex.

ryeguyy84 · 12/03/2015, 09:33 AM

higher but not that high. you have to do some experimentation.

I have 2 mp-10's on my 60G cube and both at 100% one in lagoon and the other in reef crest. plenty of flow and surface agitation.

turn the pump on to constant mode and set it to the max setting you are going to be using. Start from the top and slowly move the pump down until it is just below the point it starts to suction from the top. that's your sweet spot for surface agitation.

zachfishman · 12/03/2015, 09:38 AM

Huh. I get tons of surface agitation on my 34 cube with a single MP10 running at 40%

mluntz · 12/03/2015, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryeguyy84

higher but not that high. you have to do some experimentation.

I have 2 mp-10's on my 60G cube and both at 100% one in lagoon and the other in reef crest. plenty of flow and surface agitation.

turn the pump on to constant mode and set it to the max setting you are going to be using. Start from the top and slowly move the pump down until it is just below the point it starts to suction from the top. that's your sweet spot for surface agitation.

Do you have your pumps on opposite sides of the tank? I've been considering putting both pumps on the same side.

ryeguyy84 · 12/03/2015, 10:17 AM

I have one toward the front of tank on the left, that one is in the middle in terms of depth so that really stirs up the bottom of the tank. the other one is toward the back on the right just high enough to agitate the surface.

none of my corals get directly hit with either of them but you can definitely see when they are both on the higher portion of the cycle things are moving.

d2mini · 12/03/2015, 10:19 AM

What about your tank's return lines? Those are providing a lot of my surface agitation.
In my lagoon you can see how high my mp10 is. And it's running less than 50%.
I only have the one and I have plenty of surface agitation between the mp10 and the returns.

Reef Frog · 12/03/2015, 10:58 AM

You may be getting a lot more surface exchange then you think. Those powerheads have broad flow and depending on what other pumps are running & where you have your MO10s mounted, you may not see the water "boiling". That little vortex you see is pulling down a lot of water that's been exposed to the air under these water. I can't imagine any scenario where oxygen exchange would be inadequate with that set up.

Two MP10s should provide PLENTY of water movement in a 48g. But live rock & other obstructions could still make for some slack areas. I'd just keep experimenting and see what works. I have a powerful LED flashlight that I like to stick to the glass panes at night sometimes when I feed small planktonic sized foods. Watching the particles swirl around gives me a good idea on what's happening flow wise.

bdsage · 12/03/2015, 02:15 PM

with a bowfront i would put them on the back far apart on reefcrest mode about 4'' below water surface

Esage · 12/04/2015, 11:39 AM

I running two MP10's on 68g half cylinder I have them on the back wall opposite sides about 6 inches down on reef crest 10 blue lights and I have tones of flow. I can't go to 100% without upsetting all my LPS.

12/03/2015, 08:01 AM	#1
mluntz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Millersville, Md. Posts: 727	Not Happy With My MP-10's I'm running 2 mp-10 qd's on my 46 gallon bowfront. They are both non-wireless and are placed on opposite sides of the tank. I have tried just about every mode and I am just not satisfied. I have very little to no surface agitation. It seems like I have dead spots where there is very little water movement and other spots where the corals get blown off the rocks. I am considering putting both pumps on the same side of the tank so that they can work in tandem rather than opposing each other. If that doesn't work, I might just put my rw-8's back in there. I was so exited when I got these pumps, but now the exitement is turning into frustration. I certainly don't want to own 2 $250 paperweights! Hopefully someone can chime in with some thoughts and suggestions. Thanks __________________ 46 Gallon Bowfront, (1)Ocellaris Clownfish, (1)Carpenter wrasse, (1)Coral Beauty, (1)Kole Tang

12/03/2015, 09:33 AM	#4
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	higher but not that high. you have to do some experimentation. I have 2 mp-10's on my 60G cube and both at 100% one in lagoon and the other in reef crest. plenty of flow and surface agitation. turn the pump on to constant mode and set it to the max setting you are going to be using. Start from the top and slowly move the pump down until it is just below the point it starts to suction from the top. that's your sweet spot for surface agitation. __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

12/03/2015, 09:38 AM	#5
zachfishman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 3,577	Huh. I get tons of surface agitation on my 34 cube with a single MP10 running at 40% __________________ Patience is a reefer's best tool. Secret Xenia lover. M.S. Marine Biology Staff - Marine Discovery Center, St. Petersburg FL Tampa Bay Reef Club BOD 2018 Current Tank Info: 34g modded Solana

12/03/2015, 10:17 AM	#7
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	I have one toward the front of tank on the left, that one is in the middle in terms of depth so that really stirs up the bottom of the tank. the other one is toward the back on the right just high enough to agitate the surface. none of my corals get directly hit with either of them but you can definitely see when they are both on the higher portion of the cycle things are moving. __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

12/03/2015, 10:19 AM	#8
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	What about your tank's return lines? Those are providing a lot of my surface agitation. In my lagoon you can see how high my mp10 is. And it's running less than 50%. I only have the one and I have plenty of surface agitation between the mp10 and the returns. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

12/03/2015, 08:45 AM	#2
mussel and hate Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: location location Posts: 701	At the risk of stating the obvious you will get more surface agitation if you place them higher.

12/03/2015, 10:58 AM	#9
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	You may be getting a lot more surface exchange then you think. Those powerheads have broad flow and depending on what other pumps are running & where you have your MO10s mounted, you may not see the water "boiling". That little vortex you see is pulling down a lot of water that's been exposed to the air under these water. I can't imagine any scenario where oxygen exchange would be inadequate with that set up. Two MP10s should provide PLENTY of water movement in a 48g. But live rock & other obstructions could still make for some slack areas. I'd just keep experimenting and see what works. I have a powerful LED flashlight that I like to stick to the glass panes at night sometimes when I feed small planktonic sized foods. Watching the particles swirl around gives me a good idea on what's happening flow wise.

12/03/2015, 02:15 PM	#10
bdsage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 265	with a bowfront i would put them on the back far apart on reefcrest mode about 4'' below water surface __________________ Easy does it... Current Tank Info: 40b. sps, Metal Halide,big skimmer,lots of flow, barebottom, natural seawater.

12/04/2015, 11:39 AM	#11
Esage Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Knoxville Posts: 526	I running two MP10's on 68g half cylinder I have them on the back wall opposite sides about 6 inches down on reef crest 10 blue lights and I have tones of flow. I can't go to 100% without upsetting all my LPS. __________________ Deep Blue 34 Gallon Shallow /AquaMaxx ConeS CO-1 Skimmer/ 2 Kessil A350w / Vortech MP10 / Sicce Syncra Silent 1.5 return pump /JBJ ATO / Eshopps RS-100 Sump /