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View Full Version : whats your low-cost water flow favorite?


psyrob
04/25/2011, 03:05 PM
For those of us still saving up for vortex or Tunze, what is your favorite "value priced" water flow options? And assume a tank under 100 gallons, in keeping with the "value price" budget...

Mine that I have actually tried:
[1] Borneman style surge device (20 bucks total)

[2] Two maxi-jet 1200s and hydor water deflectors (60 bucks)

One that looks great but I never tried,
Melev's SCWD and Mag 7 closed loop

Fig
04/25/2011, 04:39 PM
Maxi-jet sure-flow mods

beatle
04/25/2011, 04:42 PM
Some people have griped about the reliability of Koralias, but I never had an issue with them. They're incredibly quiet, move a lot of water, and aren't too expensive for the flow they produce. The Evolution series is even more efficient.

NyReefNoob
04/25/2011, 06:50 PM
tunze 6025 best pump for the money imo, 600 gph + and with a 2 minute mod easily turn it into 1100gph

Higgy2010
04/25/2011, 07:14 PM
Some people have griped about the reliability of Koralias, but I never had an issue with them. They're incredibly quiet, move a lot of water, and aren't too expensive for the flow they produce. The Evolution series is even more efficient.

Agreed. My Koralias are quiet, and the 4 is really strong for my 90G. I'm planning to put 4 in there for a very small price thanks to RC's buy/sell forum.

Fire_Urchin
04/25/2011, 07:52 PM
For the price Koralia's have worked for me, but I have been the most impressed with Tunze. I have a nano wavebox that ROCKS!

viggen
04/25/2011, 08:07 PM
I went to a LFS that is closing/moving (lost their lease) & purchased a few SEIO M1100's & M2600's for $20 ea. I hooked up one of the M1100's today & it has OK flow for my 210g but the mounting is horrible. The suction cups do not work very well which is what I figured since I see so many online stores selling magnet upgrades for mounting. It is much quieter then the maxijet 1200 I use on my other tank.

I am saving up for a pair of MP60's for my other tank .......

psyrob
04/25/2011, 11:18 PM
viggen: I think you got a great deal, especially if you go for the magnet mounts.... I have a Seio 820 on the magnet mount and it has worked like a champ for 5 years. I broke the impeller cleaning it once, but got a replacement and it still works great. I'm disappointed it can't be controlled, and I have read that the Seio controller for the 1100 and up is pretty primitive (just switches between 50% and 100% for the pumps)...and as far as low cost, I'm thinking of getting the Koralia Evolutions and the new 59 dollar controller that is supposed to come out at the end of April...

ynotb
04/26/2011, 07:21 AM
I have 3 maxi-jets on a red sea wave maker and one Koralia in a 125 and haven't had any problems with them...there's plenty of flow

zigzag1
04/26/2011, 07:44 AM
Before going Tunze, I had used four of the Koralia 4's and found them to be more than adequate. They are inexpensive and easy to clean up too; boxed with mounting magnets is also a big plus.

stevedola
04/26/2011, 08:44 AM
for a cheap high flow pump theres no comparison from my experience...sureflow high flow maximod. it puts out like 2000gph and everyone usually has a maxijet 1200 or 900 laying around. for something like 11.99 you can get crazy flow...add a magnet mount for another 20 and theres a low cost super high flow pump.

psyrob
04/26/2011, 10:37 AM
Stevedola:

You make a great case for most "bang for the buck"!

In the bang for the buck department, I really loved my DIY Surge device, twenty bucks for a tupperware bucket, some PVC, a toilet flapper, a maxijet 900 and some time, it was the coolest flow I have ever achieved...however, the salt spray and creep just plain sucked and I couldn't take the clean up anymore....