Have you owned Tunze AND Vortech? - Page 2

Tang Salad · 07/25/2008, 03:31 PM

Thanks Xill16 and RokleM.

Those numbers are however a little hard to believe. From a basic physics (conservation of energy et al) POV, it's very hard to believe that a machine with more moving parts (the Vortech) would be more efficient than one with fewer.

But I think all GPH #s provided by manufacturers are to be taken with a grain of salt...

RokleM · 07/25/2008, 03:40 PM

You read my mind, I was testing already. You're also smart to be skeptical, however Tunze is almost dead on the mark.

Vortech:
Claimed - Power Consumption: 9-28 watts
Kill-a-watt - 8-42 watts

Tunze 6101:
Claimed - Pump wattage: maximum 36 W
Kill-a-watt - 15-37 watts

Tang Salad · 07/25/2008, 03:48 PM

Wow! Thanks for doing the legwork there. Interesting numbers indeed...

Edit: That's a 50% 'exaggeration' on Vortech's part. I wonder how they'd explain that?

RokleM · 07/25/2008, 03:52 PM

I have both of those in pulse mode by the way from the minimum they support to the maximum they support.

It would be interesting if anyone else has a kill-a-watt and would throw theirs on the pumps.

I've found that PanWorlds for example overstate their numbers on wattage about 10-15%. They are actually more efficient.

Tang Salad · 07/25/2008, 03:53 PM

How many watts does the Vortech pull if it's left on full blast?

RokleM · 07/25/2008, 03:59 PM

40w gen2
42w gen1
43w gen2

Tang Salad · 07/25/2008, 04:03 PM

Thanks a bunch RokleM

I would really like to hear how the people at Vortech explain this very large difference in reported/actual consumption numbers. I wonder if it was just an oversight...

RokleM · 07/25/2008, 04:21 PM

6101 is right at 37w

Tang Salad · 07/26/2008, 10:13 AM

Has anyone else tested their Vortechs with a Kill-a-Watt meter?

luvreefs23 · 07/26/2008, 10:24 AM

I was told the new vortechs (generation 2) is silent. I have one at home but ive yet to hook it up. prolly 2morrow.

unbreakable · 07/26/2008, 10:36 AM

i dont have one to test. ive seen a few of the websites where they kept changing the wattage. it used to be 40w, then they lowered it.

you could just go to the sponsor forum and start a thread or email them to ask them. they get back to you faster by email

i had the 6080s in my tank before, and yes theyre quiet but they were just too large. i did see that the nano wavebox was coming out but got a good deal on the vortechs. that and i could always just the smaller wavebox later. but to be honest, i just didnt want to deal with having a box in the aquarium. i like changing things up for the fish with the reef crest or lagoon mode or sometimes with the LP mode set on a low speed

this is my 75g with two of them in my FOWLR. ill be changing it over to an anemone tank.

unbreakable · 07/26/2008, 10:41 AM

this was my tank in the past with just 1 6080, i had another one but didnt have the magnet. once i added sand i couldnt use the 6080s because i couldnt really position them that well.

RokleM · 07/26/2008, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by luvreefs23
I was told the new vortechs (generation 2) is silent. I have one at home but ive yet to hook it up. prolly 2morrow.

My version 2's are just as noisy as my version 1. Again, "silence" is relative. Tunze's are truly silent. Votech's are "loud" in comparison to the Tunze's. Vortech's on their own are somewhat "quiet".

A good example, I can't hear my Tunze if I'm standing right next to the tank. I can hear my Vortech up to 10-15' away. However, I can barely hear it at that point. It isn't "silent", but it isn't "loud" either.

unbreakable · 07/26/2008, 01:15 PM

does the wavebox have a motor that sticks outside of the tank like that or something??? i dont understand how people are comparing them.. if youre talking about noise then yeah, of course you can hear it when youre next to the tank; the motor is right there on the side

Tang Salad · 07/26/2008, 01:32 PM

The wavebox motor is inside the box inside the tank.

burton14e7 · 07/26/2008, 04:43 PM

Hopefully the new stream 2's mounting bracket isn't as cheap as the nano streams. I've broken the clips on the nano streams so many times. I use them for mixing salt now. I've owned both and I'm buying another vortech for my 2nd pump just because I like the flow. My Vortech is definitely louder than the streams I've owned but I prefer it's flow pattern more.

lovetoreef · 07/26/2008, 05:34 PM

i have owned both - i owned a vortech setup for 2 years ... i would get them aligned and then over time the magnet would separate - i sent it in to ecotech 2-3 times, and still they were a headache. for me, i have a 28" long cube tank that the vortech didn't do great on - no way to direct the flow - i changed to 3 6055's with a safety connector and sla battery and get 60+ hours of battery backup (vortech gets 38 hrs) ... to me, i love the tunze - if i had a bigger tank, i think i would hold out for the new streams being released.

07/25/2008, 03:31 PM	#26
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Thanks Xill16 and RokleM. Those numbers are however a little hard to believe. From a basic physics (conservation of energy et al) POV, it's very hard to believe that a machine with more moving parts (the Vortech) would be more efficient than one with fewer. But I think all GPH #s provided by manufacturers are to be taken with a grain of salt... __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

07/25/2008, 03:40 PM	#27
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	You read my mind, I was testing already. You're also smart to be skeptical, however Tunze is almost dead on the mark. Vortech: Claimed - Power Consumption: 9-28 watts Kill-a-watt - 8-42 watts Tunze 6101: Claimed - Pump wattage: maximum 36 W Kill-a-watt - 15-37 watts __________________ -Eric-

07/25/2008, 03:48 PM	#28
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Wow! Thanks for doing the legwork there. Interesting numbers indeed... Edit: That's a 50% 'exaggeration' on Vortech's part. I wonder how they'd explain that? __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

07/25/2008, 03:52 PM	#29
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	I have both of those in pulse mode by the way from the minimum they support to the maximum they support. It would be interesting if anyone else has a kill-a-watt and would throw theirs on the pumps. I've found that PanWorlds for example overstate their numbers on wattage about 10-15%. They are actually more efficient. __________________ -Eric-

07/25/2008, 03:53 PM	#30
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	How many watts does the Vortech pull if it's left on full blast? __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

07/25/2008, 03:59 PM	#31
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	40w gen2 42w gen1 43w gen2 __________________ -Eric-

07/25/2008, 04:03 PM	#32
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Thanks a bunch RokleM I would really like to hear how the people at Vortech explain this very large difference in reported/actual consumption numbers. I wonder if it was just an oversight... __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

07/25/2008, 04:21 PM	#33
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	6101 is right at 37w __________________ -Eric-

07/26/2008, 10:13 AM	#34
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Has anyone else tested their Vortechs with a Kill-a-Watt meter? __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

07/26/2008, 10:24 AM	#35
luvreefs23 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 758	I was told the new vortechs (generation 2) is silent. I have one at home but ive yet to hook it up. prolly 2morrow.

07/26/2008, 10:36 AM	#36
unbreakable D: Join Date: May 2007 Location: ? Posts: 2,868	i dont have one to test. ive seen a few of the websites where they kept changing the wattage. it used to be 40w, then they lowered it. you could just go to the sponsor forum and start a thread or email them to ask them. they get back to you faster by email i had the 6080s in my tank before, and yes theyre quiet but they were just too large. i did see that the nano wavebox was coming out but got a good deal on the vortechs. that and i could always just the smaller wavebox later. but to be honest, i just didnt want to deal with having a box in the aquarium. i like changing things up for the fish with the reef crest or lagoon mode or sometimes with the LP mode set on a low speed this is my 75g with two of them in my FOWLR. ill be changing it over to an anemone tank. __________________ INTERNET= Serious Business!

07/26/2008, 10:41 AM	#37
unbreakable D: Join Date: May 2007 Location: ? Posts: 2,868	this was my tank in the past with just 1 6080, i had another one but didnt have the magnet. once i added sand i couldnt use the 6080s because i couldnt really position them that well. __________________ INTERNET= Serious Business!

07/26/2008, 01:15 PM	#39
unbreakable D: Join Date: May 2007 Location: ? Posts: 2,868	does the wavebox have a motor that sticks outside of the tank like that or something??? i dont understand how people are comparing them.. if youre talking about noise then yeah, of course you can hear it when youre next to the tank; the motor is right there on the side __________________ INTERNET= Serious Business!

07/26/2008, 01:32 PM	#40
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	The wavebox motor is inside the box inside the tank. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

07/26/2008, 04:43 PM	#41
burton14e7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Keller, Tx Posts: 2,009	Hopefully the new stream 2's mounting bracket isn't as cheap as the nano streams. I've broken the clips on the nano streams so many times. I use them for mixing salt now. I've owned both and I'm buying another vortech for my 2nd pump just because I like the flow. My Vortech is definitely louder than the streams I've owned but I prefer it's flow pattern more. __________________ Go Lakers! Current Tank Info: Currently awaiting relapse.

07/26/2008, 05:34 PM	#42
lovetoreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Canton, TX Posts: 763	i have owned both - i owned a vortech setup for 2 years ... i would get them aligned and then over time the magnet would separate - i sent it in to ecotech 2-3 times, and still they were a headache. for me, i have a 28" long cube tank that the vortech didn't do great on - no way to direct the flow - i changed to 3 6055's with a safety connector and sla battery and get 60+ hours of battery backup (vortech gets 38 hrs) ... to me, i love the tunze - if i had a bigger tank, i think i would hold out for the new streams being released. __________________ Planning SPS AIO tank Canton, TX Reefing on and off since 2001 Current Tank Info: planning nano AIO