Vortech powerheads for a shallow 175g? 96x30x14

grom · 02/02/2011, 03:03 PM

I will soon have a sps dominated 96x30x14.

The overflow box is in the dead center, not attatched to the wall. There are 2 return pipes along this box, each with 3 seperate return holes. Top, middle, and lower. One on each side.

I would like to get some ecotech powerheads and am wondering which I should get and how many.

Since its a shallow tank, if its too strong, I risk water flowing over the top.

I figure I should get 2 MP40s and put them on each end on opposite sides.

Do you guys think I should get more than 2? Or get MP60s?
Or place them somewhere else?

tkeracer619 · 02/02/2011, 03:17 PM

I run 5 mp40w on my 360. 96x36x24.

They work great.

Is this a bare bottom tank? If not, will you have heavy grade sand?

grom · 02/02/2011, 03:25 PM

Do I need heavy grade sand?
I was figuring just 1 inch of fine sand, and just puting a rock where the most pressure on the sandbed would be.

Also 5??? Thats 2500 in powerheads alone...Do you really think i need more than 2?
I figured MP40s, being pointed straight, would be able to reach the other end of the tank 8 ft away. The 6 return nozzles will deal with the flow in the middle of the tank and anywhere the MP40s cant reach.

Eurobeaner · 02/02/2011, 05:07 PM

big tanks arent cheap.

SPS or softie? SPS tank, youll want a ton of flow. i have a single mp40 on my 75 with a hydor koralia 1000GPH on the other side. the mp40 is set on long pulse mode at 100%. which is STILL not enough flow in my opinion... so just think, 4,000 GPH+ my 700gph return pump JUST on a 75. so a tank double the size and then some.... big money on flow.

remember, vortecs are WIDE gentile flow. something like a tunze is a very direct, penetrating flow.

grom · 02/02/2011, 06:45 PM

So should I get more than 2 MP40s, or 2 MP60s?
Anywhere give a good discount on buying multiple ones lol...
As the post says, its all sps tank.

blackx-runner · 02/02/2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grom

So should I get more than 2 MP40s, or 2 MP60s?
Anywhere give a good discount on buying multiple ones lol...
As the post says, its all sps tank.

I would start with 2 mp40s, one and each end and see how it goes. Maybe add more down the road if you feel the need to.

tkeracer619 · 02/02/2011, 11:30 PM

Yea... I know its expensive.

I didn't do it all at once.

I added one at a time until I removed all 8 koralia 4s. Then I spilled water on my frag tanks mp20 and burned up the circuit board. Upgraded it to a mp40wes and took down the frag tank. Once you get a tank full of nice sps they seem less costly. I wouldn't trade them for anything other then some mp60s.

grom · 02/02/2011, 11:49 PM

Im just wondering which I should get and how many =/
Ive never seen vortechs put on a tank like mine so I have no idea which to buy.

cobra9 · 02/03/2011, 12:02 AM

your going to have issues with that short of a tank. I have a 20 inch tall tank and suck air into the power head all the time. Using 2 mp40's.

I would stick with mp10's and I would say you will want to start out with 4 of them....

tkeracer619 · 02/03/2011, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobra9

your going to have issues with that short of a tank. I have a 20 inch tall tank and suck air into the power head all the time. Using 2 mp40's.

I would stick with mp10's and I would say you will want to start out with 4 of them....

Did you turn the wet side so the solid non slotted side is up?

Quote:

Originally Posted by grom

Im just wondering which I should get and how many =/
Ive never seen vortechs put on a tank like mine so I have no idea which to buy.

I have but it was a bare bottom. I am not sure how the sand will react being that close.

You will probably end up with 4 of them. I would go with mp60es pumps but I am not as familiar with them and really have no clue how they would operate on that tank. 8' is a lot of water to move.

You can see what they do to my sand bed. Tank is 24" tall. You can barely see the vortechs. 3/4 up on the sides, black spots.

grom · 02/03/2011, 01:39 AM

One says 4 x MP60
One says 4 x MP10

sigh...lol

Giglamesh · 02/03/2011, 01:50 AM

mp10s may not go on the glass, i would go mp40 and just dial them down if it too much flow

Eurobeaner · 02/03/2011, 10:24 AM

mp10.... NO. unless you feel like buying 11 of them

2 mp40's wont be too much flow. they will however, not be friendly with a sugar fine sand bed. i used some.... "special grade" sand. has alot of different sizes in it. it moved my sand, but its not a dust storm. after it settles in a particular spot, it will stay.

2mp60's or 2 MP40's

Eurobeaner · 02/03/2011, 12:28 PM

heres a pic my friend took. the color isnt correct, but you get the idea.

mow that the sand is moved like that, theres 0 sand movement now. AND, thats actually not from the water blowing AWAY from the vortec, its the water thats rushing back to to it thats causing the sand hill.

Logzor · 02/03/2011, 12:43 PM

This is a tricky situation, with a tank this shallow Tunze are not ideal because there is no room to send the current/flow indirectly to your acropora. Typically with SPS tanks you aim your Tunze pumps so the current passes just above or next to your corals. Perhaps at first they would work, but once you corals begin growing you might have a hard time not blasting them with flow. The high restriction is going to be very challenging.

Vortech would be ideal but they might just suck up sand. Have you seen the MP60? There is no way this would work in your shallow tank, it would just blow sand around. I really don't understand how people that have never seen an MP60 are recommending them for your tank. I think MP40s might work.

Go onto the Ecotech forums to confirm, they will make recommendations for powerheads for your particular setup.

grom · 02/03/2011, 01:15 PM

Ok, ill try that.

Metal Man 1221 · 02/03/2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eurobeaner

mp10.... NO. unless you feel like buying 11 of them

I dont know about that, My 1 MP10 in my 125 packs a good punch, especially now that iv got my slow pulse dialed in. LPS on the opposite side of the tank sway in the current. Just some food for thought.

blackx-runner · 02/03/2011, 06:48 PM

I would start with a single MP40, place it center on the tank top to bottom and see how it goes. Stay away from the sugar fine sand, after some initial movement you might not have much sand blown around. If its successful add some more. If you don't like the results it should be an easy sale to recoup most of your money.

grom · 02/04/2011, 08:06 PM

If anything id do 2 mp40s. 1 cant be enough.

grom · 02/08/2011, 02:29 AM

Figured Id get better support from this company...
Email...no response.
Post in forum...no response.

JasonD · 02/08/2011, 06:03 AM

Well I have two mp40s on my 120 and I can say more than enough flow. I have medium grade sand no problem. But on such a short tank your Vortechs will blow the fine sand around. Why not go with Starboard looks white then you can have all the flow you want without worrying about sandstorms?

I would go with two Mp40s but lose the fine sand.

Jason

cobra9 · 02/08/2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grom

Figured Id get better support from this company...
Email...no response.
Post in forum...no response.

Check you junk folder. They are good at getting back to people. I just emailed them about a magnet with a split casing that's out of warranty and they are sending me a new magnet and a maintenance kit.

Also if it were me with a short tank I would still go mp10's start with 2 then move up to 4 as money comes available. You will get much better random flow and mp10's pack a good punch. Whats the point of having mp40's if your only running them at 50% cause they suck air if you don't.

Reefer33 · 02/08/2011, 01:54 PM

I have two MP40s on my 240, 96" by 24" tall (opposite ends of the tank and sitting near the top and front). Just to give you an idea I have no sand along the front of the tank except in the very middle b/c they have pushed sand along the front to the back (kinda makes a neat wave pattern). I think 2 will be plenty of flow for your tank! JMO

grom · 02/08/2011, 02:25 PM

Yup, I checked my junkmail. I just simply never got a response. THey finally responded to my post in their forums. He says he 'missed my thread'. There is only 1-2 posts a day, and after 5 days, my post is still 7th on the list with 0 responses. But anyway...

Yah ive decided not to do fine sand bed. I will use a thicker grade sand.

With thicker sand would you go with 2 MP40s? or MP60s?
Or 4 MP40s?

I would really like good flow for my sps. Price really isnt an issue because vortechs have amazing resale value.

grom · 02/09/2011, 10:57 PM

You guys dont think 4 MP40s would be too much, right?
Like overkill to the point where it was pointless getting 4?

02/02/2011, 03:03 PM	#1
grom Moved On Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 485	Vortech powerheads for a shallow 175g? 96x30x14 I will soon have a sps dominated 96x30x14. The overflow box is in the dead center, not attatched to the wall. There are 2 return pipes along this box, each with 3 seperate return holes. Top, middle, and lower. One on each side. I would like to get some ecotech powerheads and am wondering which I should get and how many. Since its a shallow tank, if its too strong, I risk water flowing over the top. I figure I should get 2 MP40s and put them on each end on opposite sides. Do you guys think I should get more than 2? Or get MP60s? Or place them somewhere else? Last edited by grom; 02/02/2011 at 03:08 PM.

02/02/2011, 03:17 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	I run 5 mp40w on my 360. 96x36x24. They work great. Is this a bare bottom tank? If not, will you have heavy grade sand? __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/02/2011, 11:30 PM	#7
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Yea... I know its expensive. I didn't do it all at once. I added one at a time until I removed all 8 koralia 4s. Then I spilled water on my frag tanks mp20 and burned up the circuit board. Upgraded it to a mp40wes and took down the frag tank. Once you get a tank full of nice sps they seem less costly. I wouldn't trade them for anything other then some mp60s. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/03/2011, 01:50 AM	#12
Giglamesh Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 354	mp10s may not go on the glass, i would go mp40 and just dial them down if it too much flow __________________ 3 foot shallow, rimless, led lit reef Current Tank Info: shallow 3 foot

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02/02/2011, 03:25 PM	#3
grom Moved On Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 485	Do I need heavy grade sand? I was figuring just 1 inch of fine sand, and just puting a rock where the most pressure on the sandbed would be. Also 5??? Thats 2500 in powerheads alone...Do you really think i need more than 2? I figured MP40s, being pointed straight, would be able to reach the other end of the tank 8 ft away. The 6 return nozzles will deal with the flow in the middle of the tank and anywhere the MP40s cant reach.

02/02/2011, 05:07 PM	#4
Eurobeaner Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 329	big tanks arent cheap. SPS or softie? SPS tank, youll want a ton of flow. i have a single mp40 on my 75 with a hydor koralia 1000GPH on the other side. the mp40 is set on long pulse mode at 100%. which is STILL not enough flow in my opinion... so just think, 4,000 GPH+ my 700gph return pump JUST on a 75. so a tank double the size and then some.... big money on flow. remember, vortecs are WIDE gentile flow. something like a tunze is a very direct, penetrating flow.

02/02/2011, 06:45 PM	#5
grom Moved On Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 485	So should I get more than 2 MP40s, or 2 MP60s? Anywhere give a good discount on buying multiple ones lol... As the post says, its all sps tank.

02/02/2011, 11:49 PM	#8
grom Moved On Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 485	Im just wondering which I should get and how many =/ Ive never seen vortechs put on a tank like mine so I have no idea which to buy.

02/03/2011, 12:02 AM	#9
cobra9 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 700	your going to have issues with that short of a tank. I have a 20 inch tall tank and suck air into the power head all the time. Using 2 mp40's. I would stick with mp10's and I would say you will want to start out with 4 of them....

02/03/2011, 01:39 AM	#11
grom Moved On Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 485	One says 4 x MP60 One says 4 x MP10 sigh...lol

02/03/2011, 10:24 AM	#13
Eurobeaner Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 329	mp10.... NO. unless you feel like buying 11 of them 2 mp40's wont be too much flow. they will however, not be friendly with a sugar fine sand bed. i used some.... "special grade" sand. has alot of different sizes in it. it moved my sand, but its not a dust storm. after it settles in a particular spot, it will stay. 2mp60's or 2 MP40's

02/03/2011, 12:28 PM	#14
Eurobeaner Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 329	heres a pic my friend took. the color isnt correct, but you get the idea. mow that the sand is moved like that, theres 0 sand movement now. AND, thats actually not from the water blowing AWAY from the vortec, its the water thats rushing back to to it thats causing the sand hill.

02/03/2011, 12:43 PM	#15
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	This is a tricky situation, with a tank this shallow Tunze are not ideal because there is no room to send the current/flow indirectly to your acropora. Typically with SPS tanks you aim your Tunze pumps so the current passes just above or next to your corals. Perhaps at first they would work, but once you corals begin growing you might have a hard time not blasting them with flow. The high restriction is going to be very challenging. Vortech would be ideal but they might just suck up sand. Have you seen the MP60? There is no way this would work in your shallow tank, it would just blow sand around. I really don't understand how people that have never seen an MP60 are recommending them for your tank. I think MP40s might work. Go onto the Ecotech forums to confirm, they will make recommendations for powerheads for your particular setup.

02/03/2011, 01:15 PM	#16
grom Moved On Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 485	Ok, ill try that.

02/03/2011, 06:48 PM	#18
blackx-runner Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 118	I would start with a single MP40, place it center on the tank top to bottom and see how it goes. Stay away from the sugar fine sand, after some initial movement you might not have much sand blown around. If its successful add some more. If you don't like the results it should be an easy sale to recoup most of your money.

02/04/2011, 08:06 PM	#19
grom Moved On Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 485	If anything id do 2 mp40s. 1 cant be enough.

02/08/2011, 02:29 AM	#20
grom Moved On Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 485	Figured Id get better support from this company... Email...no response. Post in forum...no response.

02/08/2011, 06:03 AM	#21
JasonD Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,079	Well I have two mp40s on my 120 and I can say more than enough flow. I have medium grade sand no problem. But on such a short tank your Vortechs will blow the fine sand around. Why not go with Starboard looks white then you can have all the flow you want without worrying about sandstorms? I would go with two Mp40s but lose the fine sand. Jason

02/08/2011, 01:54 PM	#23
Reefer33 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 137	I have two MP40s on my 240, 96" by 24" tall (opposite ends of the tank and sitting near the top and front). Just to give you an idea I have no sand along the front of the tank except in the very middle b/c they have pushed sand along the front to the back (kinda makes a neat wave pattern). I think 2 will be plenty of flow for your tank! JMO

02/08/2011, 02:25 PM	#24
grom Moved On Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 485	Yup, I checked my junkmail. I just simply never got a response. THey finally responded to my post in their forums. He says he 'missed my thread'. There is only 1-2 posts a day, and after 5 days, my post is still 7th on the list with 0 responses. But anyway... Yah ive decided not to do fine sand bed. I will use a thicker grade sand. With thicker sand would you go with 2 MP40s? or MP60s? Or 4 MP40s? I would really like good flow for my sps. Price really isnt an issue because vortechs have amazing resale value.

02/09/2011, 10:57 PM	#25
grom Moved On Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 485	You guys dont think 4 MP40s would be too much, right? Like overkill to the point where it was pointless getting 4?