Vortech and acrylic tanks

triggerfish1976 · 11/14/2007, 12:35 PM

I am looking for feedback from anyone is using vortechs on acrylic tanks.
I am mainly trying to find out the following:

Heat problems: Has there been any problems with the tank associated with the excess heat given off by the driver? Any temp. increases or negative effects on the acrylic itself?

Scratching: Does your vortech scratch up the acrylic?

saltysupply · 11/14/2007, 02:14 PM

they do get pretty warm, although I dont think it should affect the acrylic

saltysupply · 11/14/2007, 02:15 PM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...ech+on+acrylic

Bebo77 · 11/14/2007, 02:23 PM

man they run at 150 degrees.. ouch....

triggerfish1976 · 11/14/2007, 03:01 PM

I read that thread already and it appears that there isn't any real long term data on what the extreme heat will do to acrylic over time since they are a fairly new product.
My main worry is if the heat will be comprable to what metal halides can do to acrylic over time as far as expansion and contraction. I am not really worried about it causing the tank to fail but there are other negative effects that can be caused by this.

jnarowe · 11/30/2007, 08:34 PM

Your message box is full.

invincible569 · 11/30/2007, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
Your message box is full.

lol. I already know what your going to tell him.

jnarowe · 11/30/2007, 08:41 PM

Don't spoil it!

kdblove_99 · 12/01/2007, 12:07 PM

MY LFS store uses one on his 300 gallon glass display and you cannot touch it for longer than few seconds, It gets super hot

sherm71tank · 12/01/2007, 12:52 PM

I think they all run at about 140 degrees at 100%, and yeah, thats pretty damn hot!

jnarowe · 12/01/2007, 02:54 PM

I wonder if that heat actually translates into adding heat to the water column on glass tanks?

sherm71tank · 12/01/2007, 03:29 PM

I'm sure it has to add some but most of it is dissipated into the room air (which also has an effect on tank temp). Overall I think it's minimal and for sure is better than having the motor in the tank water.

jnarowe · 12/01/2007, 03:56 PM

I'll have to do some tests and see what the temp. is on the inside of the glass.

GSMguy · 12/01/2007, 04:08 PM

Jnarowe you have WWD's yet?

jnarowe · 12/01/2007, 04:16 PM

got 3. 2 are working and one works but sometimes needs to be reset. Waiting on 3 more.

sherm71tank · 12/01/2007, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
I'll have to do some tests and see what the temp. is on the inside of the glass.

Your welcome to check my tank if you would like. I got back from town about 30 minutes ago and the roads a pretty bad (nobody around here can drive in the snow either). The temp has also dropped back down to 32 so I'm sure they are going to start freezing into a sheet of ice very quickly.

jaws_too · 12/01/2007, 05:29 PM

ok so i have a 3/4 inch acrylic tank, brand new not set up yet , should i be worried when i move all my livestock and the 2 vortechs i have running?

jnarowe · 12/05/2007, 08:14 PM

Check my thread:

sherm71tank · 12/05/2007, 08:30 PM

I can only add that I've seen Jonathan's tank in person and to call that "crazing" is the understatement of the year! I use the Vortech pumps on my tank but it's glass. NO WAY would I recommend them for acrylic tanks. He has multiple other spots where they have caused only cosmetic crazing as well, which would have been enough for me to crap a brick.

kdblove_99 · 12/05/2007, 08:33 PM

Thanks for posting this.
That is just crazy

BreadmanMike · 12/05/2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kdblove_99
Thanks for posting this.
That is just crazy

Amen to that.

Bebo77 · 12/05/2007, 08:42 PM

what the.. man i have to see your thread.. it did that to your tank? OMG

jnarowe · 12/05/2007, 08:50 PM

And with the earthquakes you have Gabriel, that's a SUPER NO-NO!!

We had a small one the other night, and as Sherman so aptly puts, I nearly crapped a brick. I tried to be "the Man" and ignore it, but at about 1 am I couldn't take it any more and got up to check on the tank.

triggerfish1976 · 12/05/2007, 08:54 PM

That crazing is unreal. I am surprised that you are still using these and looking to add more.

jnarowe · 12/05/2007, 09:07 PM

I would add more if Eco-Tech stepped up and fixed the heat issue. It would be a fairly simple add-on that cold be upcharged as well. I really like the flow from these pumps. But obviously there are some issues with them.

To be honest, I was sorely disappointed with the WWD as well. It is a sub-set of what one would expect in controlling high-end powerheads. Seriously no night mode? You can't even walk in between them without them losing communication, and what we saw in the old MACNAA video of a central controller...well that went "poof" now didn't it?

11/14/2007, 12:35 PM	#1
triggerfish1976 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Land of Smiles Posts: 2,980	Vortech and acrylic tanks I am looking for feedback from anyone is using vortechs on acrylic tanks. I am mainly trying to find out the following: Heat problems: Has there been any problems with the tank associated with the excess heat given off by the driver? Any temp. increases or negative effects on the acrylic itself? Scratching: Does your vortech scratch up the acrylic?

11/14/2007, 02:23 PM	#4
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	man they run at 150 degrees.. ouch.... __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

11/30/2007, 08:34 PM	#6
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Your message box is full. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

11/30/2007, 08:41 PM	#8
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Don't spoil it! __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

12/01/2007, 02:54 PM	#11
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	I wonder if that heat actually translates into adding heat to the water column on glass tanks? __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

11/14/2007, 02:14 PM	#2
saltysupply Moved On Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orlando Florida Posts: 274	they do get pretty warm, although I dont think it should affect the acrylic

11/14/2007, 02:15 PM	#3
saltysupply Moved On Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orlando Florida Posts: 274	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...ech+on+acrylic

11/14/2007, 03:01 PM	#5
triggerfish1976 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Land of Smiles Posts: 2,980	I read that thread already and it appears that there isn't any real long term data on what the extreme heat will do to acrylic over time since they are a fairly new product. My main worry is if the heat will be comprable to what metal halides can do to acrylic over time as far as expansion and contraction. I am not really worried about it causing the tank to fail but there are other negative effects that can be caused by this.

12/01/2007, 12:07 PM	#9
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	MY LFS store uses one on his 300 gallon glass display and you cannot touch it for longer than few seconds, It gets super hot

12/01/2007, 12:52 PM	#10
sherm71tank Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,670	I think they all run at about 140 degrees at 100%, and yeah, thats pretty damn hot!

12/01/2007, 03:29 PM	#12
sherm71tank Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,670	I'm sure it has to add some but most of it is dissipated into the room air (which also has an effect on tank temp). Overall I think it's minimal and for sure is better than having the motor in the tank water.

12/01/2007, 03:56 PM	#13
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	I'll have to do some tests and see what the temp. is on the inside of the glass. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

12/01/2007, 04:08 PM	#14
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	Jnarowe you have WWD's yet? __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

12/01/2007, 04:16 PM	#15
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	got 3. 2 are working and one works but sometimes needs to be reset. Waiting on 3 more. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

12/01/2007, 05:29 PM	#17
jaws_too Moved On Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: sunshine state Posts: 62	ok so i have a 3/4 inch acrylic tank, brand new not set up yet , should i be worried when i move all my livestock and the 2 vortechs i have running?

12/05/2007, 08:14 PM	#18
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Check my thread: __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

12/05/2007, 08:30 PM	#19
sherm71tank Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,670	I can only add that I've seen Jonathan's tank in person and to call that "crazing" is the understatement of the year! I use the Vortech pumps on my tank but it's glass. NO WAY would I recommend them for acrylic tanks. He has multiple other spots where they have caused only cosmetic crazing as well, which would have been enough for me to crap a brick. Last edited by sherm71tank; 12/05/2007 at 08:40 PM.

12/05/2007, 08:33 PM	#20
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	Thanks for posting this. That is just crazy

12/05/2007, 08:42 PM	#22
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	what the.. man i have to see your thread.. it did that to your tank? OMG __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

12/05/2007, 08:50 PM	#23
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	And with the earthquakes you have Gabriel, that's a SUPER NO-NO!! We had a small one the other night, and as Sherman so aptly puts, I nearly crapped a brick. I tried to be "the Man" and ignore it, but at about 1 am I couldn't take it any more and got up to check on the tank. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

12/05/2007, 08:54 PM	#24
triggerfish1976 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Land of Smiles Posts: 2,980	That crazing is unreal. I am surprised that you are still using these and looking to add more.

12/05/2007, 09:07 PM	#25
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	I would add more if Eco-Tech stepped up and fixed the heat issue. It would be a fairly simple add-on that cold be upcharged as well. I really like the flow from these pumps. But obviously there are some issues with them. To be honest, I was sorely disappointed with the WWD as well. It is a sub-set of what one would expect in controlling high-end powerheads. Seriously no night mode? You can't even walk in between them without them losing communication, and what we saw in the old MACNAA video of a central controller...well that went "poof" now didn't it? __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted