couple question for you vortech freaks

[naterealbig]

Getting ready to set up 180 SPS tank. Dimensions of tank: 42Lx42Hx24D. I have been comparing costs (initial and ongoing) for almost every possible circulation pump/powerhead on the market. I believe that vortechs are going to be the way I go.

1. Because the tank is so tall the glass is 3/4" thick on the sides. Will the vortech still move the claimed ~ 3100 gph at this glass thickness?

2. I have read articles on gyre flow in a reef aquarium and am going to try to achieve this in my future tank. Is this possible assuming an ideal LR scaping with 4 vortechs? (I'm thinking 2 running at the same time - one on the top and one near the bottom pointed towards the inside of the tank - and of course the other 2 pumping in opposite of the first two, with the sets alternating on a 5 min cycle) ....not sure if this makes sense.....

Thanks and I appreciate everyones insight,

Nate

 

[ASH]

1. No problem with 3/4" glass for the VorTech Pump.

2. "gyre flow", new word for me, should be achievable when the Driver Upgrade is released. Turning Pumps on and off every 5 minutes will over-time increase the likelihood of a Driver problem. Running pumps from minimum to maximum speed over a set time pattern and the reverse pattern on the opposing pumps will not tax the Driver and achieve the same results.

I never heard of a 180G (which I have also, 6 ft long) with those dimensions. Please share a pic when it's up and running. I'd suggest a low amount of LR and channels to facilitate the currents you're looking to achieve.

Andy

 

[naterealbig]

I agree, an odd tank; it was custom built:

For your reading pleasure:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/1/aafeature

 

[EcoTech Marine]

wow that is a really interesting tank. Do you have room to put the pumps on the bottom of the tank? Will it be bare bottom? If so, two pumps on the bottom pointing up could be your best bet for flow.

-Tim

 

[PvtJoKeRs]

Odd? Nothing 'Odd' about it! =)

Odd? Nothing 'Odd' about it! =)

Hey Nate! If you're considering the vortech I would reconsider. I can speak from experience since I purchase one and ran it for several months on the same exact tank. =) The 3,000 gph flow is surely there but the reliability of the vortech and stability are questionable on a 3/4" glass aquarium. I cleaned glass thoroughly before installing the vortech, however, the vortech continuouly spun outta control and ended up on the sand bottom. Being a 42" deep tank doesn't make retreaving anything from the bottom easy (construction lesson learned). Also, once the propellor detached from the motor unit......the solid steel unit fell to the ground (lookout sump,chiller, skimmer and toes! While the drywall fellas were here for 2 days I gave the vortech to an installer free of charge. Yes, FREE! I know that's a difficult concept for the area we live. After all was said and done I knew the oceans motions 4-way was the solution to all my flow issues. I have an Iwaki 70 plumbed directly from the sump to the OM 4-way and will be adding the redundant Iwaki 70 as a semi-closed loop which will add more flow through the 4 outlets above the tank. Hope this helps and if you ever want to stop and check it out, gimme a call. We're leaving the middle of next month. BTW, I can't believe you were going to sell the tank? Come check my setup out and go from there. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the current setup and what's possible with our tanks. Surely an odd size but I'm not one to conform to the industry norm. and it takes more skill to stack the rock 42" high rather than spread out over the length of a 6' tank, IMO! Cya, Gimme a call.

 

[ASH]

PvtJoKeRs - Had you contacted IC or ETM re your problem? What you point out as being the problem sounds like a post made a year ago or more, when problems like that popped up occasionally.

I believe you that it wasn't working out, but I think you cut bait (IMO) a little too quickly.

Andy

 

[yaktop]

using two on 3/4 glass with no issues at all. Did you remove the spacer?