why so little love for tunze turbelle pumps?

[rgauvin]

Seems like ecotech gets alot of love around here, and sure, they appear top be great powerheads. It looks like the tunze turbelle "electronic"/adjustable powerheads are pretty sweet as well. I was curious why there seems to be so much love for the ecotech, and so little for the tunze.

The only real downsides where the ecotech is a winner from my understandings is the cost and footprint in the tank. I believe the turbelle can do everything the ecotechs can while being able to adjust their aim better and being quieter. Am I missing something?

[cubsFAN]

There is tons of love here for the tunze turbelle pumps. There are several threads on here comparing ecotech and tunze pros and cons. I use both.

[karsseboom]

The flow is a lot wider with the vortechs. There more settings and they can be wireless. The tunze are great pumps too they just aren't as pleasing to the eye as the vortechs.

[Mmiller40gt]

According to Sanjay's study the Tunze only puts out about half the rated flow. The ecotech was a little above the rated flow.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/7/aafeature

[rgauvin]

Originally Posted by Mmiller40gt

According to Sanjay's study the Tunze only puts out about half the rated flow. The ecotech was a little above the rated flow.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/7/aafeature

interesting read, thank you.

[Mmiller40gt]

Tunze are quiet though. My vortech is not at all, not loud but you can hear it on pulse mode in the other room.

[sirreal63]

Originally Posted by Mmiller40gt

According to Sanjay's study the Tunze only puts out about half the rated flow. The ecotech was a little above the rated flow.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/7/aafeature

That test wasn't actually performed by Sanjay, he just oversaw it. The test was done by an internist at Ecotech.

Both work very well, Tunze has been the most used and respected pump for decades but to say one is superior to the other one would not be accurate, they both move water and work great, but fit a different niche.

[Mmiller40gt]

Originally Posted by sirreal63

That test wasn't actually performed by Sanjay, he just oversaw it. The test was done by an internist at Ecotech.

Both work very well, Tunze has been the most used and respected pump for decades but to say one is superior to the other one would not be accurate, they both move water and work great, but fit a different niche.

Tunze replicated the test and agreed. They are looking to "remedy the situation". Maybe they will upgrade or change their product.

[sirreal63]

They did already, they changed the shroud and upped the voltage. There is no question that the Tunze has been a part of the most successful tanks in the world,if the flow was a little off of projections, I don't think the corals or the tanks complained. I like the Vortech but I could not stand the sound or the lack of directional flow, it's a shame because they offer some features I could enjoy but I am one of those who just could not live with the noise and I refuse to have a power head that I cannot run to its potential because of the noise.

[overklok]

The best part about vortechs, less electrical lines in the water.

[moondoggy4]

This thread is like the old which skimmer is the best, Tunze and Vortech both have their fans and good points, I for one have a lot of Tunze products and no Vortech products but would love to have a Vortech pump.

[96p993]

I have had both and personally like the Tunze pumps better...It all depends on your specific application but for my placement and what I was looking for the Tunzes were simply a better fit

[chadfarmer]

ear muffs

[krzyphsygy]

I'v had both and they both have pro's and con's just like anything else. But give me a choice and it would be a vortec. They just have more options with flow patterns and flow control. The pointability factor is really not an problem for me because the flow is so wide and so randon that its really just hitting everything any way all the time.
Plus lets not forget about the battery back up. That in it self is almost priceless.

[sirreal63]

Tunze had a battery backup solution long ago, but let's forget that. Lol

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by sirreal63

They did already, they changed the shroud and upped the voltage.

Tunze did not do anything with the 6205 or the 6305. My guess is because they would run into reliability problems with the motor block by upping the voltage. If it was that easy to fix the problem as they originally stated surely they wouldn't leave this thread lingering with no response in their support forums and their many customers who spent hard earned money on the pumps with no fix a year later. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2158123

Actually what they did with the 6305 was relabel it the 6155, advertise the flow rating from that pump test, and sell it for $300 less then they did before... Any other company would be receiving pure hell over a move like that without refunds to all the 6305 owners.

To the OP:
The statement they made that they didn't have knowledge of the pumps not producing as advertised is bogus. I already showed they knew about it well in advance of the pump study but chose to ignore it until they were caught red handed. There is plenty about it in the several other lengthy threads on this subject. The error might have started as an honest mistake but by the end was pretty much blatant false advertisement and now a year later there has been little done to correct the issue.

On top of this they posted a video shortly after the study that was clearly doctored in favor of tunze and against vortech.

I have used and owned both pumps personally and at my previous job. Currently I own 7 Vortechs and 0 Tunzes. I will not be purchasing another Tunze product. The study had nothing to do with that, their response did.

[Allmost]

+1 on above.

they never corrected mine, nor any other tunze owneers I know around here. they also admited to knowing this before hand, and hoping ppl wouldnt find out . it has been said here too often for it to be repeated.

why do they still sell ? casuse they give a MUCH higher percentage to resellers selling tunze, then for example Eco tech does, why ? cause Ecotech is good, tunze the LFS owner needs to "convince" you to buy.

I too would not be giving my business to tunze. and I hate saying this, cause I did really like some of their products.


lastly, their power heads are simply large, have a wire, and does not do what it should do.

[geaux xman]

on the tunze 6305, if its only putting out max ~3500 vs the advertise 8000gph, that would be fairly obvious if you have it in your tank.

all i know is if anyone of my fish swims close to the mp60, its going to get blown half-way across the tank.

[James77]

Originally Posted by rgauvin

The only real downsides where the ecotech is a winner from my understandings is the cost and footprint in the tank. I believe the turbelle can do everything the ecotechs can while being able to adjust their aim better and being quieter. Am I missing something?

You are missing nothing. The Tunze are silent, whereas all 3 of my Vortechs could easily be heard 15 feet away from the tank in my otherwise silent tank. They are reliable, high quality pumps with 2 years of warranty. EcoTechs are relaible, high qulaity pumps with 1 year warranty. Tunze will be a larger footprint with about 4 inches of wires visible...but tucked away anywhere you want them since they are pointable. Vortechs will be less footprints and no wires in the tank...at the cost of having "earmuffs" with wires visible on the outside. The more heat added by the Tunzes is negligible, probably about 15-20 ish watts in the water, the rest of the total 25 watts it draws being sucked up in the transformer. Both have battery backup.

I am not about to march down that dead horse road with that single flow test, with people seeming to have all the know about everything. I will say someone on here, hydrologist IIRC, had hands on experience with the equipment used to test and questioned it himself. Search his screen name and Tunze if its worth your time. IME, even with the Tunzes alleged lower flow, it still by far outpeformed the Vortech in terms of actually moving the tank. I honestly could really give a S what the exact numbers were or are, I judge it based on its performance. But to each their own.....people seem to really love getting ultra passionate about stupid pumps.

Both are great pumps, both you would be happy with. Choose one that suits your needs best. I go with Tunze because they are dead silent.

[James77]

Originally Posted by geaux xman

on the tunze 6305, if its only putting out max ~3500 vs the advertise 8000gph, that would be fairly obvious if you have it in your tank.

No experience with that Tunze model. I did have the Vortech and 6105 ( with both the narrower and wider shroud on) and I could not tell any noticeable difference in terms of flow felt or observed, witht eh wider shroud on the 6105. With the narrower shroud, it was far more powerful, but obviously narrower. Side by each stuck on the side wall, the Tunze footprint is pretty obscene complared to the Vortech. However, mine are on the backwall next to my overflow, and barely stick out anymore than it.

[geaux xman]

@ james
what tunze pumps are you running in your tank? any controller?

[James77]

Originally Posted by geaux xman

@ james
what tunze pumps are you running in your tank? any controller?

Running 2 Tunze 6105s, using the 7096 controller. Roger send me the higher jumpers I needed to boost the flow some, but i already had the wider shrouds since they give the widest flow. I believe the new pumps comewith both a wide and narrow shroud, with the apprpriate voltage jumper.

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

My guess is because they would run into reliability problems with the motor block by upping the voltage.

Only reason I say this is that I have seen several 6305 motor block failures. Simply a guess based on electronics experience. So please... don't go repeating that making it fact

[sirreal63]

TKE, I was referring to the 6105, there is no doubt they did not do things as we would have wanted, but it should not take away from the quality or ability of the pumps. Given the fact that so many are in use worldwide with minimal failures the flow number discrepancies are a small issue, though it sucks that their projections fell way short, the pumps still perform.

I personally prefer the previous versions of their pumps to the newer models. If my old 6100's and 6000's and the 6060 ever die, I will miss them. I have scrounged enough parts to keep my old one's alive for a long time but have had no need to use any of the parts I have collected. In their original form they have not failed or stumbled. The 6000 and 6100 are circa 2005 and are still using the original parts, I bought the 6060 without a drive so I did replace that.

At the end of the day, all other things discounted, it is just a powerhead. It has benefits and features that others do not and some have features and benefits the Tunze doesn't.