120 AGA....how many vortechs?

[jdjeff58]

The tank in the photo 120 (4x2x2) is more mature now and the center Hydor 4 has been replaced by a Hydor 1. It was just too much flow with the third Hydor 4.

Anyway, I'm thinking about getting into vortech's. My question is about how many and the placement. Is one enough, or will I need two? Will they function well on the back corners? Or do they have to be on the sides? If I used only 1 in the back center, how might that work? Too many questions I know. But I'm very interested.

 

[raynist]

I have 4 in my 120

 

[jdjeff58]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10570298#post10570298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raynist
I have 4 in my 120

I guess it's not an issue for you, but if you had two, where would you mount them? If you put two in the back corners, would the flow get around the whole tank. Or are these exclusively side mounts?

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I'd put them evenly spaced on back wall about 4-5" from surface.
Two would be more than double the flow you have now, but a third would be ideal.
I run two in my 90g. w/DSB

Raynist...4 in a 120g? That must be awesome flow. Sand bed?

 

[jdjeff58]

I'd put them evenly spaced on back wall about 4-5" from surface.

Do you mean one in each corner like the 2 Hydors on each side?

 

[GSMguy]

2 will be fine for now you dont have any corals yet
if you want more flow when you corals grow in your still able t0 add another

 

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10570579#post10570579 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by E-A-G-L-E-S
I'd put them evenly spaced on back wall about 4-5" from surface.
Two would be more than double the flow you have now, but a third would be ideal.
I run two in my 90g. w/DSB

Raynist...4 in a 120g? That must be awesome flow. Sand bed?

No sand bed and beleive it or not there are a few dead spots!!!

When I had 2 I had one mounted about 10from the top on the right side pane towards the front and one mounted on the left side pane towards the back about 4 inches down.

 

[Aquaduck]

Personally I would do one on each side facing each other and one in the middle a bit lower than the ones on the sides.

 

[CW from the OC]

I have 2 in my 4x2x2 120. Put them on each end, facing each other.

I alternate them set at full power. Works rather well IMO.

 

[jdjeff58]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10631697#post10631697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CW from the OC
I have 2 in my 4x2x2 120. Put them on each end, facing each other.

I alternate them set at full power. Works rather well IMO.

I pulled the trigger and got two. I just set them up the other night. First I put them as you said, then I decided to stagger them (same height, just one closer to the front). The streams still collide but not as violently at full power. I will be getting the wireless controller and my thoughts on alternating them at full power are the same. I was amazed how much loose crap these pumps kicked up. No buyers remorse here.

 

[Emster]

jdjeff58- How far down from the top of the water did you mount them? I'm thinking about doing the same as you but can't put them too deep in my tank(lots of corals) and don't want them sucking air at full blast. Thanks for any info.

 

[jdjeff58]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10637500#post10637500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Emster
jdjeff58- How far down from the top of the water did you mount them? I'm thinking about doing the same as you but can't put them too deep in my tank(lots of corals) and don't want them sucking air at full blast. Thanks for any info.

Here's what I've discovered with these powerheads...which was pretty much the same with my other powerheads. There is no predetermined way to set these up. I guess there is a good starting point, but after that it will take some experimentation. I just rearranged mine again because of massive erosion on my sand bed. I actually moved them up higher than they were and faced directly toward each other and closer to the center.

I really believe that it is the rock formation that will dictate the best location for these pumps. In my tank, the flow is just 'grazing' the top of the rocks, colliding in the top center of the tank and everything it does after that is dependent on what my rocks will allow it to do. That has seemed to create the best all round movement without pushing the sandbed all over the place with the fewest amount of trade offs. But then they could behave much differently in your tank. I am running them full blast.

I'm trying to give you as much info as I can without seemingly blowing you off......but it will take some experimentation.

Hope that helps.

 

[ReeferMonkey]

Try forming a gyre. Place the pumps on opposite tank ends, one near the front and one near the back. They will complement each other, creating a continuous circulation loop that will move water either CW or CCW around your tank.

 

[Emster]

I would say that I can't mount them any deeper then 3.5 inches from the center of the vortech to the top of the water. Would they suck air from the top at full blast and create bubbles in my tank at 3.5 inches down?

 

[ReeferMonkey]

Mine is about 4-5" (3-4" from water) from the top of glass to the center of the pump and I get air bubbles at around 60% power.

 

[jdjeff58]

[by Emster [/i]
I would say that I can't mount them any deeper then 3.5 inches from the center of the vortech to the top of the water. Would they suck air from the top at full blast and create bubbles in my tank at 3.5 inches down?

I had mine down about 7" from the water surface when I had them staggered. And at full power, each one would pull down a vortex on occasion. When I raised them to 5"and still at full power...no more vortex. Seems like it should be the other way around. I also noticed they are less likely to pull air when I keep the solid portion of the 'grill' pointed up.

But I still say that it's the overall formation of the rock that will determine the ideal pump position. My tank has and 'island' formation with a peak on each side. I had all kinds of trash laying in the open space in the back of the tank. The setup I have right now with the streams colliding in the top center, has cleaned up that mess. But if I had my rock pushed all the way to the back of the tank, the whole placement of these pumps would be different. But as it is now, I have good random flow at full speed just about everywhere in the tank.

 

[Emster]

Okay that helps thanks for the good info guys. I think I might get one of these and if I like it I will get another.