Cheaper Powerhead Solution

[moonlightdriver]

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a cheaper powerhead?
I would love to have a couple of vortech MP40 or Tunze but I just can't afford them right now...

so for now I was thinking of running a couple Koralia Evolutions or Magnums...

Any thoughts on that? or other budget powerheads

 

[TripleT]

What size tank?

What flow do you currently have?

What livestock?

 

[sedorusc]

You could always mod a maxijet but the koralias aren't that expensive.

 

[moonlightdriver]

I have a 75 gal tank

I am not sure how to measure my current flow...
I just have a (3) marineland powerheads

my current live stock includes:
6-line wrasse
ocellaris clown fish
percullia clown fish
lawn mower blenny
pajama cardinal
watchman goby
Scopas Tang
and a couple Shrimp (Peppermint & cleaner)

 

[Jacwil]

Also include, if any, corals that you have. This will help determine how much flow is needed.

Do you have a sump, ie a return pump?

 

[EllieSuz]

I use two Maxi-Jet 1200's, both modded. They produce 1600 gph each. They each are attached with the Sure Grip magnet holders rather than the suction cups, which don't work for long. I'm not a big fan of the Koralia pumps because I don't think they have the range of motion of the Maxi Jet. The MJ's are real workhorses with a reputation of long life. You'd probably pay under $100 each for the pump, mod kit and magnet holder.

 

[moonlightdriver]

Corals:

Acans,
Acros
Bubble Coral
Candy Cane
GSP
Clams
Polyps
Duncan
Frogspawn
Hammered Coral
Pulsing Xenia
Todd's Torch
Turbinaria...
and a couple more that I can't think of off the top of my head

Yes I have a 40 gal sump and a Mag 9.5 return pump

can the Maxi-Jet be hooked up to a wavemaker ?

 

[EllieSuz]

I'm not sure about the wavemaker, but I would guess they'd work fine. I know that I use my controller to put both pumps on "standby" once or twice a day when I feed and it hasn't affected their performance in any way. I have many of the same corals as you in my 60 gallon and run the same return pump with a ball valve on it.

 

[moonlightdriver]

I have an older reefkeeper (2006 model) which has the wavemaker options built into it and I wanted to make sure that they powerheads would be able to handle the on/off abuse...

 

[Brent Thomann]

I have an older reefkeeper (2006 model) which has the wavemaker options built into it and I wanted to make sure that they powerheads would be able to handle the on/off abuse...

I run two maxijet 900's with Sure Flow 1600's Upgrade Kits in my 75 gallon tank. I also have them on timers where only one will run for 15 minutes and then vis-versa. I have one mounted on each end of the tank pointing at each other. Been running them like this for years.

I wouldn't recommend cycling them on and off any less then 10 mins at a time if you want them to last.

 

[moonlightdriver]

so I am taking it that the way to go is with a couple of maxi jet 1200 with the upgraded propeller and magnet holder?

but they might not last if the wavemaker is set for under 10 mins...
are koralia evolutions the same way?

 

[SkiFletch]

MJ mods are definitely cheap. If you want a gently used Koralia 3, PM me and I might be willing to part with mine for cheap

As far as wavemaking goes, Brent's 15min timer solution isn't a bad idea. It will shorten the life of the propellers for sure, but it'll drop from something like 20 years to maybe 5 or something like that. Brent is right, cycling less than 10 mins will really hurt em. You CAN also try to find an old Seio controller and use that too. I realize it's designed for "seio" pumps, but you can just match the wattage and use it. It's a variable AC controller, what does it care whose motor you plug into it? Unfortunately they're still a little pricey too.

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

Octopus makes knock-off (the same???) Koralia pumps that sell for a reasonable price. I'm considering giving one a try until I have the funds for better.

 

[moonlightdriver]

Will two be enough? One on each end of the tank pointed at each other....

 

[EllieSuz]

Yup, that's the way mine are set up, except one of mine is pointed a tiny bit downward and the other almost straight across. You'll be able to play with it once they're set up. It creates a nice turbulence without using the wavemaker. There are many other good pumps out there, but the ability to position these pumps in various ways is a strong point in the favor of the Maxi-Jets, IMO.

 

[pascal32]

I'm not a fan of the MJ mods - that's not to say I'm not a fan of the MJs. Good pumps, just look awe-full after modding and used to cost more than just buying a powerhead.

I like the Koralia Evolutions. They have been good to me and are pretty affordable.

You have quite the mix of corals when it comes to liking flow, so placement is going to e important. high means a lot of turbulent flow, not a direct blast 6" from the powerhead.

If I was you I would go with two 1050 or 1400GPH Koralia Evolutions about 5" down fromt eh top all the way in the corners on the back wall tipped towards the middle as much as possible.

just my 2cents worth.

low flow:
Acans,
Bubble Coral
Duncan (can be medium, look better in low)
Frogspawn (can be medium, look better in low)
Hammered Coral (can be medium, look better in low)
Pulsing Xenia (can be medium, look better in low)


high flow:
Acros
Todd's Torch (highly turbulent extends arms)

Medium:
Clams
Duncan (can be medium, look better in low)
Frogspawn (can be medium, look better in low)
Hammered Coral (can be medium, look better in low)
Pulsing Xenia (can be medium, look better in low)

varied:
Polyps

in my experience don't care:
Candy Cane
GSP

not sure:
Turbinaria...

 

[cardiffgiant]

I use two tunze 6025's that are modded (simply hollowing out the casing). 7 watts a piece, low profile, and reasonably priced.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

MJ's get my vote

MJ's get my vote

I ran MJ1200's before stepping up to Tunze and (eventually) Vortech.

IMO many people jump into more expensive powerheads before they know what they're doing or what they need/want to accomplish with water flow.

MJ's can be run on a wavemaker and quick cycled @ 1- 2 minutes on/off (I ran them this way on a Blueline 'Tsunami' wavemaker for 9 or 10 years) but IME a longer on/off cycle is better because it takes some time to get a gyre going in an aquarium.

 

[cjrudy]

For us lay people a gyre is:

A gyre in oceanography is any large system of rotating ocean currents, particularly those involved with large wind movements. Gyres are caused by the Coriolis Effect; planetary vorticity along with horizontal and vertical friction, which determine the circulation patterns from the wind curl (torque).[1] The term gyre can be used to refer to any type of vortex in the air or the sea, even one that is man-made, but it is most commonly used in oceanography, to refer to the major ocean systems.

 

[gmneil]

i run 3 modded maxi jet 1200s on my 125 i am about to get another one as well, i dont use the magnet mounts tho, i found a drop of super glue rite on the suction cups holds them in place no problem, and you can still peel them off when u need to with a razor blade. save a couple extra bucks