Choosing a Powerhead Ecotech or Tunze or perhaps Gyre (Dayside against a wall)

[mbrady]

I am having a very hard time deciding what powerheads would be best for my new setup. (125 gallon mixed reef (48 X 24 X 24 Aquarium). I was thinking of two MP40WQD one each end and two MP10WQD on the back wall of the tank. My other option was two Tunze Trubelle 6105 Stream on each side and two Trubelle 6055 on the back wall. I might add I am thinking of Apex classic as a controller.
The Problem I am have is the aquarium will be setup in a corner of a room with the back of the aquarium right up against the wall. Image an "œL" shade. The only access I will have to the rear of the aquarium will be either over the top a very long reach or through the cabinet. My concern is the dayside mounts of either the Ecotech or the Tunze . Those who use either can you let me knew if it must be an exact match dayside to wet or is there leeway.
Thanks for all the advice in advance.

 

[Alfrareef]

Have look the new Tunze Stream 3?
I've been reading about it and looks promising...

 

[shifty51008]

tunze all the way, mine are 12+ years old and still run as good as when I first bought them.

 

[ca1ore]

No experience with Gyre, but lots with both Vortech and Tunze. I use Vortech now and used Tunze in the past. I'd judge both to be excellent choices. My experience is that Tunze has been more reliable and enduring, but Vortech more 'innovative' (though I'm unfamiliar with recent Tunze, so that may not be necessarily true anymore). I do like the ability to reduce the in-tank profile of the Vortech, if you don't mind having 'ears'.

 

[ksicard]

I am having a very hard time deciding what powerheads would be best for my new setup. (125 gallon mixed reef (48 X 24 X 24 Aquarium). I was thinking of two MP40WQD one each end and two MP10WQD on the back wall of the tank. My other option was two Tunze Trubelle 6105 Stream on each side and two Trubelle 6055 on the back wall. I might add I am thinking of Apex classic as a controller.
The Problem I am have is the aquarium will be setup in a corner of a room with the back of the aquarium right up against the wall. Image an "œL" shade. The only access I will have to the rear of the aquarium will be either over the top a very long reach or through the cabinet. My concern is the dayside mounts of either the Ecotech or the Tunze . Those who use either can you let me knew if it must be an exact match dayside to wet or is there leeway.
Thanks for all the advice in advance.

I have pretty much the same tank size as you, a standard 120 48x24 and I use 2 mp40wQD. Honestly I do not think you will need the 2 mp10's on the back wall. I run my mp40wQD's at 45-55% for most of the day and it is plenty of flow. If I turn them up any higher it becomes pretty turbulent and some of the corals get to much flow. This is completely dependent on how you do your rock scape but in my system just the 2 pumps provides awesome flow throughout the whole tank at around 50% power. I run a mixed reef which includes SPS, LPS, and softies. If you are going full blown SPS or have a lot of rock work you could always add a 3rd mp40wQD on the back wall and have plenty of flow.

I have Tunze and Vortech pumps and personally I like the Vortechs better just because of the wide flow they produce and the flow programs. The wide flow is particularly useful for mixed reefs since wide flow means that you can turn up the flow without damaging certain corals. In my system I want to produce enough flow for SPS to be happy but not to much to where LPS gets shredded and the vortech wide flow achieves that best in my system. If you are more into reliability then the Tunze are the way to go. I use them in my mixing brute and also my frag tank since its too shallow for vortechs.

IMO vortechs and tunzes are the best pumps for powerheads and I do not think you could go wrong either way. I would choose what appeals to you more, either vortechs for wide laminar flow and control or tunzes for reliability and longevity.

 

[tkeracer619]

I'd just run two mp40qd pumps on the sides. Simple and no wires in the tank. Would be a good look.