Best Powerheads for the Money

bigfish14 · 03/04/2015, 02:42 PM

With all these new powerheads coming out, we are left with a lot of choices. Which ones do you believe are the best for the price? I will be setting up a 120 gallon reef. Are the VorTechs still worth the money?

DaveRaz · 03/04/2015, 04:21 PM

They all move water. Some are controllable and talk to each other to work in synch or make a wave. Some move sheets of water while others are more direct. Etc etc. go to YouTube and look at the different makes and models. I didn't follow that advise and wasted 300.00 only to upgrade a month later. Don't be that guy. Lol

wagohn · 03/04/2015, 04:34 PM

I like the Hydors in my 29G. Been running two for over a year and still going strong. Best feature is no more annoying 'suckers' that lose suction, the Hydors mount using magnets - great pump for the $.

Mishri · 03/04/2015, 05:40 PM

A lot of people have been talking up Jebao. For the price the seem like a good product.

Or you can try the latest fad like I did, the Maxspect gyre. I like it a lot. I probably could have gotten a jebao setup for less. I still have no corals so can't offer any personal experience, though others say they seem to love it, better polyp extension and all that stuff. Draw back for some people is cleaning it is harder than other pumps (more time consuming).

terry4505 · 03/04/2015, 05:54 PM

I've used Koralias, Jebaos (WP-40, WP-25, RW-15s) Vortechs (MP-10) and now the Gyre (XF150) on my 120 gallon.

If I had $300 to spend, it would be the Gyre, hands down. With the new magnet mount they are shipping with, it is absolutely SILENT.

If I had $150 to spend, I'd pick up a pair of Jebao RWs.

bigfish14 · 03/04/2015, 06:45 PM

Thanks for all the input! I'm trying to save money anywhere I can since money saved on equipment = more live stock

As cool as the VorTechs are, I'm glad there are cheaper and just as effective options

firemountain · 03/05/2015, 04:44 AM

I use the Sicce Voyagers. The are blade type vs. propeller. If a propeller starts backwards...it will suck water as opposed to push.

tom obrecht · 03/05/2015, 07:24 AM

You'll get a lot of opinions here with that question. Lol! I have run many thru the years. Vortecs, closed loops, surge tanks, maxi jet modded, gyre, sea swirls, tunze ect. Now everyone has likes/dislikes about everything and what one loves the next person hates! Lol. Personally I use/like Tunzes the best and what I currently use on my 120 sps tank. Four 6095's on a controller. Love the flow but that many in a 120 is a bit distracting from the looks of the tank. But what power head/wave maker is not! I recently tried the new Gyre and although moves a lot of water it personally wasn't what I was looking for. Went right back to my Tunzes and haven't looked back. I look for quality equipment that is proven and has good service if needed. Vortecs for me were too loud and troublesome with the wet side but now with the new Quiet Drive series perhaps that has been improved. Think it depends on a couple of key points. What's your budget and do you care what it looks like in the display. I personally can overlook equipment in the tank if it makes my animals happy. Good luck!

RxReefer · 03/05/2015, 07:32 PM

I believe it really depends on the money you want to spend but the advice I have consistently gotten when beginning my build is dont go too cheap in the beginning because you will end up upgrading in the near future or have frustrating results with your tank. I managed to talk myself into getting a couple of new MP40 QDs for my setup in process after doing alot of reading and watching videos. The vortechs have the best ability to keep detritus off rock and the sandbed without blasting your tank with directional flow that many powerheads do. Tunze seems to make great reliable products and do have a 6095 wide flow that runs arounf 240 when on sale that would have been my second choice paired with a Gyre based on what I have viewed. The jebaos are supposed to preform well but make a tremendous amount of noise. Most other powerheads just produce a narrow stream that is not as useful for corals and probably not preferred by fish. As I said Im still working on my build, almost done....a year after i started. Another great piece of advice I have gotten is only bad things happen quickly in this hobby so I would save up and buy the best equipment you can afford. It might take a while but itll be worth it.

thrlride · 03/05/2015, 08:21 PM

I had four vortech mp40s at one point. Two of the power supply's went bad a few months from each other but of course they were out of warranty. Then a year later a controller went bad.

I had better luck and better support from Tunze.

RxReefer · 03/05/2015, 08:32 PM

I hope I have a better experience for the money I put out Where they early models.....most of the problems I saw were with mp10s and older model.

dustinkimpel · 03/05/2015, 08:33 PM

Jebao -- this you will never go wrong with the jebao wavemakers. They are not expensive at all and performance is right up there with the best of them. Had the older model version on my 29 gallon for a year, then moved it to my 55 along with a new Jebao model that I purchased. Check youtube for their reviews.

fishresponse · 03/05/2015, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry4505

I've used Koralias, Jebaos (WP-40, WP-25, RW-15s) Vortechs (MP-10) and now the Gyre (XF150) on my 120 gallon.

If I had $300 to spend, it would be the Gyre, hands down. With the new magnet mount they are shipping with, it is absolutely SILENT.

If I had $150 to spend, I'd pick up a pair of Jebao RWs.

I've tried all these too with the exception of the gyre. I love my Jebao RWs.

Guygettnby · 03/06/2015, 06:45 AM

I have a pair of jebao rw-8's in my 72g bow front and I can't even turn them up past 50%... For the money they push a lot of water, have magnet mounts, are silent as could be, wireless sync controllers and of course are fairly inexpensive.

I have been happy with them for the most part. Every once in awhile they will go out of sync with each other over time and you need to mess with them for a minute to get them back into sync. I think this is only in alternating mode though.

fishgate · 03/06/2015, 08:14 AM

The only thing the Vortechs have is the no cord in the tank. Nothing else. What a waste of money! Hydors I think are the best bang for the buck. The Jabeos are becoming a major player too.

alton · 03/06/2015, 08:29 AM

I had a mp10, I have an older than dirt Tunze that works great. Both pumps ramp up and down depending on the setting. When I saw the WP at one of my LFS it just turns on for a couple of seconds and then turns off for a couple of seconds. There is no ramping up and down. Did my LFS have there's set up wrong?

PaintGuru · 03/06/2015, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alton

I had a mp10, I have an older than dirt Tunze that works great. Both pumps ramp up and down depending on the setting. When I saw the WP at one of my LFS it just turns on for a couple of seconds and then turns off for a couple of seconds. There is no ramping up and down. Did my LFS have there's set up wrong?

There are 3 wave settings on the WPs. One is on/off as you saw, others are slower ramps.

FraggledRock · 03/06/2015, 10:28 AM

I love my MP10

but i got my eye on the GYRE...

im all about low profile.

i hate seeing powerheads

and to get any water movement you're sacrificing so much space with the jebaos in many ways. distance from corals. distance from rocks, angles and heights. too many dead spots.

i like natural flow and having a 1" bean of water flow is kind of unnatural, which si why i go my eye on the gyre. wide water movement, and it offers puled wave action that rides the water surface, like a.. WAVE!

ChimolaFish · 03/06/2015, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terry4505

I've used Koralias, Jebaos (WP-40, WP-25, RW-15s) Vortechs (MP-10) and now the Gyre (XF150) on my 120 gallon.

If I had $300 to spend, it would be the Gyre, hands down. With the new magnet mount they are shipping with, it is absolutely SILENT.

If I had $150 to spend, I'd pick up a pair of Jebao RWs.

This. Vortechs have always been nice, but are disgustingly expensive, so no, not worth the money. Are they great quality, sure, but no powerhead is worth as much as they cost.

FraggledRock · 03/06/2015, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChimolaFish

This. Vortechs have always been nice, but are disgustingly expensive, so no, not worth the money. Are they great quality, sure, but no powerhead is worth as much as they cost.

marine depot has a sale on the mp10 es

185$

since the quiet drives are out.

FraggledRock · 03/06/2015, 10:38 AM

http://www.marinedepot.com/EcoTech_M...FIPHAD-vi.html

jda · 03/06/2015, 11:06 AM

I am buying the used Tunze pumps that people are selling when they are moving to this other/newer stuff. I will likely still be using the Tunze without issue when the previous owners are replacing their replacements.

Some of the answer is based on your expectation and how long you want them to last.

If you like the knock-off stuff, but see too many Jeabo issue posts, then AquaMedic EcoDrift has the same cheap Chineese controller, but the pump is made in Europe and you get US Support and warranty. ...and they are not all that expensive.

scooter31707 · 03/06/2015, 12:03 PM

I recently had 2 Vortech WP40s and replace them with the Maxspect Riptide Gyre Generator XF 150. All I can say is WOW!!! What a difference, to me it is worth the $300 so far. Only had it in the tank for a week and it is moving water like crazy in my 120.

03/04/2015, 02:42 PM	#1
bigfish14 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 406	Best Powerheads for the Money With all these new powerheads coming out, we are left with a lot of choices. Which ones do you believe are the best for the price? I will be setting up a 120 gallon reef. Are the VorTechs still worth the money? __________________ Happy Reefing Joe Current Tank Info: 40B reef tank being transferred into a 20 gallon because of apartment rules

03/04/2015, 05:40 PM	#4
Mishri Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Great Falls, MT Posts: 1,404	A lot of people have been talking up Jebao. For the price the seem like a good product. Or you can try the latest fad like I did, the Maxspect gyre. I like it a lot. I probably could have gotten a jebao setup for less. I still have no corals so can't offer any personal experience, though others say they seem to love it, better polyp extension and all that stuff. Draw back for some people is cleaning it is harder than other pumps (more time consuming). __________________ 300 gallon 8ft long, 2x xf250 gyre, reef octopus 250-int - work in progress Aquarist since 1986

03/04/2015, 06:45 PM	#6
bigfish14 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 406	Thanks for all the input! I'm trying to save money anywhere I can since money saved on equipment = more live stock As cool as the VorTechs are, I'm glad there are cheaper and just as effective options __________________ Happy Reefing Joe Current Tank Info: 40B reef tank being transferred into a 20 gallon because of apartment rules

03/05/2015, 04:44 AM	#7
firemountain Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 1,033	I use the Sicce Voyagers. The are blade type vs. propeller. If a propeller starts backwards...it will suck water as opposed to push. __________________ Eshopps RS100 sump, Eheim 1262 return,Kessil 360WE w/controller, Avast ATO w Litermeter 3, RO Regal 170sss Skimmer, Sicce XStream-e pumps /dc controlled, Spectrapure Dual Reactor Current Tank Info: 65g mixed reef

03/05/2015, 07:24 AM	#8
tom obrecht Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WI Posts: 3,014	You'll get a lot of opinions here with that question. Lol! I have run many thru the years. Vortecs, closed loops, surge tanks, maxi jet modded, gyre, sea swirls, tunze ect. Now everyone has likes/dislikes about everything and what one loves the next person hates! Lol. Personally I use/like Tunzes the best and what I currently use on my 120 sps tank. Four 6095's on a controller. Love the flow but that many in a 120 is a bit distracting from the looks of the tank. But what power head/wave maker is not! I recently tried the new Gyre and although moves a lot of water it personally wasn't what I was looking for. Went right back to my Tunzes and haven't looked back. I look for quality equipment that is proven and has good service if needed. Vortecs for me were too loud and troublesome with the wet side but now with the new Quiet Drive series perhaps that has been improved. Think it depends on a couple of key points. What's your budget and do you care what it looks like in the display. I personally can overlook equipment in the tank if it makes my animals happy. Good luck! __________________ Reef keeping is where Murphy's Law and your bank account collide!! TOTM May 2006

03/04/2015, 04:21 PM	#2
DaveRaz Reef Rookie Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Memphis Posts: 625	They all move water. Some are controllable and talk to each other to work in synch or make a wave. Some move sheets of water while others are more direct. Etc etc. go to YouTube and look at the different makes and models. I didn't follow that advise and wasted 300.00 only to upgrade a month later. Don't be that guy. Lol

03/04/2015, 04:34 PM	#3
wagohn Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 108	I like the Hydors in my 29G. Been running two for over a year and still going strong. Best feature is no more annoying 'suckers' that lose suction, the Hydors mount using magnets - great pump for the $.

03/04/2015, 05:54 PM	#5
terry4505 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Rochester, Ny Posts: 663	I've used Koralias, Jebaos (WP-40, WP-25, RW-15s) Vortechs (MP-10) and now the Gyre (XF150) on my 120 gallon. If I had $300 to spend, it would be the Gyre, hands down. With the new magnet mount they are shipping with, it is absolutely SILENT. If I had $150 to spend, I'd pick up a pair of Jebao RWs.

03/05/2015, 07:32 PM	#9
RxReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 51	I believe it really depends on the money you want to spend but the advice I have consistently gotten when beginning my build is dont go too cheap in the beginning because you will end up upgrading in the near future or have frustrating results with your tank. I managed to talk myself into getting a couple of new MP40 QDs for my setup in process after doing alot of reading and watching videos. The vortechs have the best ability to keep detritus off rock and the sandbed without blasting your tank with directional flow that many powerheads do. Tunze seems to make great reliable products and do have a 6095 wide flow that runs arounf 240 when on sale that would have been my second choice paired with a Gyre based on what I have viewed. The jebaos are supposed to preform well but make a tremendous amount of noise. Most other powerheads just produce a narrow stream that is not as useful for corals and probably not preferred by fish. As I said Im still working on my build, almost done....a year after i started. Another great piece of advice I have gotten is only bad things happen quickly in this hobby so I would save up and buy the best equipment you can afford. It might take a while but itll be worth it.

03/05/2015, 08:21 PM	#10
thrlride Aka lemmywinks Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harrisburg, NC Posts: 8,017	I had four vortech mp40s at one point. Two of the power supply's went bad a few months from each other but of course they were out of warranty. Then a year later a controller went bad. I had better luck and better support from Tunze. __________________ Beer Snob Current Tank Info: 210 gallon FOWLR (H&S 200a-1260 , panworld 50px-x, 2x Vortech w/ WWD)

03/05/2015, 08:32 PM	#11
RxReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 51	I hope I have a better experience for the money I put out Where they early models.....most of the problems I saw were with mp10s and older model.

03/05/2015, 08:33 PM	#12
dustinkimpel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 342	Jebao -- this you will never go wrong with the jebao wavemakers. They are not expensive at all and performance is right up there with the best of them. Had the older model version on my 29 gallon for a year, then moved it to my 55 along with a new Jebao model that I purchased. Check youtube for their reviews. __________________ 55 Gallon Reef ,Full Apex, Eshopps 75 Sump, Eshopps 75 Skimmer, 2 Jebao RW-8, JBJ Auto Top-Off, 2 Aquastar 165W LEDs Yes, my CHEAPO lights support:Carpet Anemone, Torch Coral, Frogspawn, Chalice, Zoa

03/06/2015, 06:45 AM	#14
Guygettnby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: FL Posts: 3,050	I have a pair of jebao rw-8's in my 72g bow front and I can't even turn them up past 50%... For the money they push a lot of water, have magnet mounts, are silent as could be, wireless sync controllers and of course are fairly inexpensive. I have been happy with them for the most part. Every once in awhile they will go out of sync with each other over time and you need to mess with them for a minute to get them back into sync. I think this is only in alternating mode though.

03/06/2015, 08:14 AM	#15
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	The only thing the Vortechs have is the no cord in the tank. Nothing else. What a waste of money! Hydors I think are the best bang for the buck. The Jabeos are becoming a major player too. __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

03/06/2015, 08:29 AM	#16
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	I had a mp10, I have an older than dirt Tunze that works great. Both pumps ramp up and down depending on the setting. When I saw the WP at one of my LFS it just turns on for a couple of seconds and then turns off for a couple of seconds. There is no ramping up and down. Did my LFS have there's set up wrong?

03/06/2015, 10:28 AM	#18
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	I love my MP10 but i got my eye on the GYRE... im all about low profile. i hate seeing powerheads and to get any water movement you're sacrificing so much space with the jebaos in many ways. distance from corals. distance from rocks, angles and heights. too many dead spots. i like natural flow and having a 1" bean of water flow is kind of unnatural, which si why i go my eye on the gyre. wide water movement, and it offers puled wave action that rides the water surface, like a.. WAVE! __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

03/06/2015, 10:38 AM	#21
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	http://www.marinedepot.com/EcoTech_M...FIPHAD-vi.html __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

03/06/2015, 11:06 AM	#22
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	I am buying the used Tunze pumps that people are selling when they are moving to this other/newer stuff. I will likely still be using the Tunze without issue when the previous owners are replacing their replacements. Some of the answer is based on your expectation and how long you want them to last. If you like the knock-off stuff, but see too many Jeabo issue posts, then AquaMedic EcoDrift has the same cheap Chineese controller, but the pump is made in Europe and you get US Support and warranty. ...and they are not all that expensive.

03/06/2015, 12:03 PM	#23
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I recently had 2 Vortech WP40s and replace them with the Maxspect Riptide Gyre Generator XF 150. All I can say is WOW!!! What a difference, to me it is worth the $300 so far. Only had it in the tank for a week and it is moving water like crazy in my 120.