Vortechs causing sandstorm

rob020880 · 05/12/2008, 05:01 PM

Hello everyone,

I have a corner 130 gal. quarter cylinder tank. I also have two Ecotech vortechs and have a problem. I cannot seem to find the right spot for them, as they always wind up moving my sand around.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I would like to run them on reefcrest mode as I have read this is best for sps. What speed do you run yours at? If I run them at half speed I have no issues with sand. But is this enough flow for sps? Does anyone run there vortechs at half speed? Can they be run on reefcrest mode but at a lower speed reefcrest mode?

Any suggestions would be great.

JR's Reef · 05/12/2008, 05:04 PM

take the sand out and do bare bottom

McCrary · 05/12/2008, 05:36 PM

Join the club, lol. I have two Tunze 6100's and have to push my sand back constantly, its just what happens. Lots of flow means that sand is going to get moved theres not much to do about it. You may try a larger grain of sand as that can help, but for the most part it just happens.

rob020880 · 05/12/2008, 05:45 PM

But since I can run them at half speed and not have any problems should I just do that? Or is that not enough flow for an 130 gal. sps tank?

McCrary · 05/12/2008, 05:54 PM

Run them at half speed and see how the coral do. I adjust my flow based on the way that my coral are reacting to it. Its impossible to tell someone how much flow they need simply because of how many factors are involved. Run them at half speed and watch the SPS growth, color, polyp extension and such. In no time you will have a feel for how much flow they want and where they want it. You can also move the coral to a spot where the flow might be better for it if you have a couple SPS that don't like the flow they are in, but everything else looks happy.

Poseidon · 05/12/2008, 06:59 PM

Yes, you can run them at half speed. I have one on a 90 gallon and have it turned to just over 1/2 in reef crest mode...

rob020880 · 05/12/2008, 07:05 PM

So it does not need to be at max power for reef crest mode?

Malifluous · 05/12/2008, 09:31 PM

is new sand? new sand will blow around. After a while the bacteria coating will weigh it down

Poseidon · 05/13/2008, 01:17 PM

No, whatever you have the dial set to will be the MAX, and then it follow the reef crest curve from there.

Have you tried pulse mode yet? With short pulses I can get a 1" wave in my 90 gallon really easy.

rob020880 · 05/13/2008, 02:49 PM

Pulse mode may be the solution.

AcroporAddict · 05/13/2008, 04:11 PM

I had the same problem with two Tunze 6101s. I went bare bottom and love it. Another option would be to replace the same with a chunkier substrate, like sea shells or crushed coral.

mr_anderson · 05/13/2008, 05:27 PM

in my opinion, if you forked out all that money for some vortech pumps, you should run these guys at least 3/4 gain. I have a 120 (4X2X2) and have it set to recrest max with 2 #4 koralias. why would you buy a fararri and drive it at 25mph when you could have just bought a honda.

JCR's Reef · 05/13/2008, 05:37 PM

Well put.....

rob020880 · 05/13/2008, 06:53 PM

Well I set them to pulse mode full speed anti sync and it looks like the flow cancels itself out and no more sandstorms...

05/12/2008, 05:01 PM	#1
rob020880 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,019	Vortechs causing sandstorm Hello everyone, I have a corner 130 gal. quarter cylinder tank. I also have two Ecotech vortechs and have a problem. I cannot seem to find the right spot for them, as they always wind up moving my sand around. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would like to run them on reefcrest mode as I have read this is best for sps. What speed do you run yours at? If I run them at half speed I have no issues with sand. But is this enough flow for sps? Does anyone run there vortechs at half speed? Can they be run on reefcrest mode but at a lower speed reefcrest mode? Any suggestions would be great.

05/12/2008, 05:36 PM	#3
McCrary Can't Stop Time Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,079	Join the club, lol. I have two Tunze 6100's and have to push my sand back constantly, its just what happens. Lots of flow means that sand is going to get moved theres not much to do about it. You may try a larger grain of sand as that can help, but for the most part it just happens. __________________ Matt Patience is the best remedy for every trouble. Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC), Rudens

05/12/2008, 05:54 PM	#5
McCrary Can't Stop Time Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,079	Run them at half speed and see how the coral do. I adjust my flow based on the way that my coral are reacting to it. Its impossible to tell someone how much flow they need simply because of how many factors are involved. Run them at half speed and watch the SPS growth, color, polyp extension and such. In no time you will have a feel for how much flow they want and where they want it. You can also move the coral to a spot where the flow might be better for it if you have a couple SPS that don't like the flow they are in, but everything else looks happy. __________________ Matt Patience is the best remedy for every trouble. Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC), Rudens

05/12/2008, 06:59 PM	#6
Poseidon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Swartz Creek Posts: 728	Yes, you can run them at half speed. I have one on a 90 gallon and have it turned to just over 1/2 in reef crest mode... __________________ Just say no to CRABS! Current Tank Info: 85 Gallon mixed Reef. Halide/LED combo lighting.

05/13/2008, 01:17 PM	#9
Poseidon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Swartz Creek Posts: 728	No, whatever you have the dial set to will be the MAX, and then it follow the reef crest curve from there. Have you tried pulse mode yet? With short pulses I can get a 1" wave in my 90 gallon really easy. __________________ Just say no to CRABS! Current Tank Info: 85 Gallon mixed Reef. Halide/LED combo lighting.

05/12/2008, 05:04 PM	#2
JR's Reef Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: AL Posts: 864	take the sand out and do bare bottom

05/12/2008, 05:45 PM	#4
rob020880 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,019	But since I can run them at half speed and not have any problems should I just do that? Or is that not enough flow for an 130 gal. sps tank?

05/12/2008, 07:05 PM	#7
rob020880 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,019	So it does not need to be at max power for reef crest mode?

05/12/2008, 09:31 PM	#8
Malifluous Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 417	is new sand? new sand will blow around. After a while the bacteria coating will weigh it down

05/13/2008, 02:49 PM	#10
rob020880 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,019	Pulse mode may be the solution.

05/13/2008, 04:11 PM	#11
AcroporAddict There is no substitute. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southeast Posts: 2,269	I had the same problem with two Tunze 6101s. I went bare bottom and love it. Another option would be to replace the same with a chunkier substrate, like sea shells or crushed coral.

05/13/2008, 05:27 PM	#12
mr_anderson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 99	in my opinion, if you forked out all that money for some vortech pumps, you should run these guys at least 3/4 gain. I have a 120 (4X2X2) and have it set to recrest max with 2 #4 koralias. why would you buy a fararri and drive it at 25mph when you could have just bought a honda.

05/13/2008, 05:37 PM	#13
JCR's Reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 1,303	Well put..... __________________ >Josh< Current Tank Info: Starphire Rimless Tank, ATB Elegance 200. Click on my name and visit my build thread. Lots of pics

05/13/2008, 06:53 PM	#14
rob020880 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,019	Well I set them to pulse mode full speed anti sync and it looks like the flow cancels itself out and no more sandstorms...