power head choices

[carnut]

Right now I am running with four Hydor Koralia Pumps. I can't justify the price for vortecs. Thinking of an assortment of tunze non-controllable pumps.

Tanks is 96x30x24 any suggestions? thinking a couple of 6065 and maybe a couple 6045s

[Bonta]

Is your tank a Reef or FOWLR ?

[Kporn]

I know the vortechs have a huge up front cost, but you will save money over time running only 1 or 2 vortechs than 4 or more small ones.

[lilchris]

You can pick up the older model Tunzes on the for sale forum here on RC for a reasonable price. I think it is worth taking a look at. The older models still work.
You can also pickup some maxijets w/the sureflow mods for pretty cheap.

[cindre2000]

I have used Koralia, Maxijet Mod, and Tunze. Tunze really only gives you smaller size and a sleeker look (if your not going controllable) for a lot more money. If you want flow, go with the High Flow Maxijet mod, from Algaefree. The magnet mount is also really worth the extra money.

2 maxijet mods > 4 Koralia 4

[Playa-1]

If you're going non controllable then just stick with Koralia.

[lordofthereef]

I know the vortechs have a huge up front cost, but you will save money over time running only 1 or 2 vortechs than 4 or more small ones.

How many years of time are we talking here? :lolspin:

[carnut]

It is a reef and i have already had 2 koralia 4s crap out. I take them out every 2 weeks and clean them, but they don't seem to last. Was looking at a pair of used 6100 with controller.

[Froggy]

I am a fan of the Maxi-jet /Sureflow kits. A Maxi 1200 with the large propeller that now also comes with the kit will give you 2200 GPH of wide dispersed flow. The small propeller will give about 1600 GPH. Add on a magnet holder and you can get 2200 GPH for around $60.00

Maxijets run like a champ also. If one happens to fail, your back in action for $20.00 with a new pump.

[Names Brucey]

I lost my Tang to the Maxijet with the large propeller because it got sucked up against it and couldn't get off. I had to downsize to the smaller propeller to stop so much suction on the Maxijet. Just a word of caution if you go that route. I also use the sureflo mod on my K4 and absolutely love the result.

[Froggy]

I lost my Tang to the Maxijet with the large propeller because it got sucked up against it and couldn't get off. I had to downsize to the smaller propeller to stop so much suction on the Maxijet. Just a word of caution if you go that route. I also use the sureflo mod on my K4 and absolutely love the result.

Really? Was this a completely healthy Tang? I find it hard to believe a healthy Tang could get stuck to the draw of the Mod's. The slots are so open that the draw is not really that focused or strong.

That scares me a bit. :eek1:

[Playa-1]

It is a reef and i have already had 2 koralia 4s crap out. I take them out every 2 weeks and clean them, but they don't seem to last. Was looking at a pair of used 6100 with controller.

I clean mine about once a year. Maybe you're messing with them too much. Every two weeks is excessive.

[jason2459]

I clean mine about once a year. Maybe you're messing with them too much. Every two weeks is excessive.

That's what I was thinking to. Seems pretty excessive. I plan on cleaning mine once a month. Lucky for the pumps I'm lazy and get to it about every 6 months. :bigeyes:

[Kporn]

How many years of time are we talking here? :lolspin:

Sorry, I meant if you include your time in maintenance and the energy. My time is way more valuable than $7.15 an hour.

[lordofthereef]

Sorry, I meant if you include your time in maintenance and the energy. My time is way more valuable than $7.15 an hour.

Right. Energy-wise they don't seem to be that big of a savings. As far as maintenance, you are probably still going to want to give them a vinegar bath every 6 months or so, as you would any other powerhead. Just my opinion, but the best thing about the vortech is that the motor is not in the water which eliminates heat dissipation into the water and virtually eliminates the chance of stray voltage that some powerheads have a tendancy to do over time. That and they are controllable too, but that is another ballgame. Your actual money saved on electricity and cleaning is going to be minimal, unless you are comparing to a 5 dollar chinese ebay knockoff, but then again that wouldn't be a very fair comparison anyway. My statement really had nothing to do with how much your time (or anyone else's) is worth...

[Kporn]

I was just clarifying, I try to put my hand in the tank as little as possible. No offense taken or meant by it.

[aoc230]

It is a reef and i have already had 2 koralia 4s crap out. I take them out every 2 weeks and clean them, but they don't seem to last. Was looking at a pair of used 6100 with controller.

you get what you pay for this day and age!!!

[Sig45]

The amount of flow should be dictated by the tank inhabitants. You have a big tank. If you're going to keep SPS the TUNZE controlled system would be a good choice.
There are alot of inexpensive options on Ebay. There is a vendor selling 800 & 1300 GPH powerheads cheaply ~ $15 each I believe.

[lordofthereef]

I was just clarifying, I try to put my hand in the tank as little as possible. No offense taken or meant by it.

No offense taken at all. I was just trying to point out that a vortech being cheaper in the long run based on power and maintenance numbers isn't necessarily an accurate statement.

[carnut]

your right you get what you pay for, That said we live far enough out in the country hydro can be unreliable all year long. lots of short outages and pulses, thinking controllers will not be able to handle the electric pauses. Have already lost 2 computer hard drives even with back up and a house grounder. thinking the tunze should be a better quality powerhead, but is the flow any broader than than korilai?


As far as the tank goes sps are doing quite nicely and flow is good. Not the concern, the concern is what to change the power heads to, as far as reliabilty goes.

[mandingCa]

why change the Koralias? Maybe they need a good mod...

[arredondojason]

look into trying a group buy if you want the vortechs that is what we did where I live and we sold so many we ended up paying like $630 for two of them and that is with taxes. I love my 2 they are really an amazing pump with awsome customer service.