Ecotech vs. tunze long term

[Phishguy]

I'm ready to pull the trigger on some great powerheads. I realize these are both top shell options. But after doing too much reading I'm a little concerned about the reliability of vortech. It seems like a lot of people end up having to replace the wet side or dry side etc. I guess I'm wondering what the long term cost of ownership is on these systems and what I can expect. I've used koralias for about 8 years and I haven't put a dime into them. Would I be better to have 4 koralias with a controller?
My tank is a 210g peninsula and I plan to have power heads on one end only. I would also appreciate advice on whether 2x mp40 is necessary. Thanks!

 

[coreyg]

I really cant answer your question directly, I only have experience with the vortech. I have a mp10 for a little under a year and my dry side went bad. But I did contact vortech and they made it easy to get a replacement under warranty.

 

[ganjero]

IME they both should last many years if you provide the correct and regular maintenance. If you. I say "correct" because it will depend on you system, i.e. SPS system with Ca supplementation will required to clean the pumps (with vinegar) more often than a FOWLR system.

How many pumps for a 210g peninsula? again it depends on what you are keeping, rock work, and total length of the tank. IMO 2 MP60w or 2 tunzes 6205 will be the minimum that you want if your tank is longer than 48", and specially since you want them on one side only.

 

[sirreal63]

I cannot speak for the long term life of a Vortech, other than what I have have seen with other people. Wetsides may need to be replaced, but I think that may be in most cases because people don't keep them as clean as they should. But they do appear to have a higher failure rate of some components than the Tunze.

I have 3 old Tunzes;
1-6060 that is probably 10 years old, I am at least the 3rd or 4th owner of it, I have replaced the drive unit (impeller and magnet) and it's still going strong.
1-6000 that I am the 2nd owner of, age uncertain but it was discontinued in 2007 IIRC and has required nothing other than cleaning.
1-6100 that I am the 2nd owner of, age uncertain but it was discontinued in 2007 IIRC and has required nothing other than cleaning.

The 6000 and 6100 are probably from around 2004/5 and are rock solid. They are the older style and it is true that when Tunze switched to the newer style, they had some early failures but that was corrected long ago. When my old one do die, I will definitely be replacing them with Tunze. They set the standard in high quality long term pumps long ago, and for me, they are still the best.

The Vortech is a great pump, but it may require more maintenance than the Tunze. My only concern would be the peninsula and having them on one end and pushing the length of the tank. I would agree with the pair of 6205's but it would also work with one of each, the MP60 and the 6205, it would cover the tank well. I would skip the Koralia's if your budget allows it. While they do work, they are not of the same quality as the other two. Once you have a controllable pump, it is hard to use anything else.

 

[Phishguy]

The power heads won't be the only flow in the tank. My return will use either oceans motions or 1" scwd that will move water at the mid and opposite end. Was planning most sps closer to the power heads and Lps and softies in other end.

 

[Chris Lakies]

Ive had my mp10 running over a year and have only had to clean it.

 

[sirreal63]

What are the dimensions of the tank? That will help in determining flow needs.

What flow numbers will be provided by the return?

I would do the OM long before I had another sqwd, they reduce flow too much. I know they have improved them over the years, but I hated mine, it stuck a lot and was too restrictive.

 

[rtparty]

My Vortech is now 2 years old and I am on my original dry side and wet side. I clean my wet side every couple months and I only run my pump on Tidal Swell Mode or Lagoon mode. I think the pulse modes will wear things out a lot quicker.

My Tunze 6015 is like 7 months old and I have cleaned it twice.

Both are good pumps but I like my Vortech more. It also cost about 7x more than the Tunze! LOL

 

[j.p. harrington]

tunze tunze tunze is the way to go im running 2 6095 wideflows and the big wavebox on my 75 mixed reef and its all i can do to keep the water in the tank love these things very quiet and low maintenance

 

[rhdoug]

I have been running 2 mp10's since July of '09. Never had any problems with them. The covers are encrusted with coraline, I do toothbrush them off in old tank water during water changes to keep the vents open, and occasionally soak the wetsides in vinegar (minus the covers -- I like the coraline on them as it helps the blend in with the tank.)

 

[Rploaded]

I have been running 2 mp10's since July of '09. Never had any problems with them. The covers are encrusted with coraline, I do toothbrush them off in old tank water during water changes to keep the vents open, and occasionally soak the wetsides in vinegar (minus the covers -- I like the coraline on them as it helps the blend in with the tank.)

I do the same thing, in fact I am going to be putting my new MP 60 covers in my old tank to get the process started. I also think it helps it spread by broadcasting the spores.

 

[Allmost]

Vortech dry side would last 5 years in average according to Ecotech.

 

[shifty51008]

Both are good pumps but I like my Vortech more. It also cost about 7x more than the Tunze! LOL

of course the tunze you have isn't controllable which is a big cost diffrence lol

I have 2 -tunze 6000's running 7+ years and only cleaned them and a 6100 7+ years that just needed a drive unit but are also still running stong, if these ever do die I am gonna replace them with the 6095's maybe sooner though.

the only thing I could never understand about vortechs is when everyone talkes about the noise and say you will want 2 mp40's so you don't have to have them turned all the way up and they will be quieter. whats the point of having a powerhead in a tank that you can't even use it's full potential without going nuts over the noise?

not bashing vortechs as I have never used them but just my observations

 

[todd141]

whats the point of having a powerhead in a tank that you can't even use it's full potential without going nuts over the noise?

I have often wondered this myself. Seems everyone gets the bigger vortech so they don't have to run them at the potential.

I'm looking at either Tunze or Vortech for my 75 gallon currently.

 

[Allmost]

of course the tunze you have isn't controllable which is a big cost diffrence lol

I have 2 -tunze 6000's running 7+ years and only cleaned them and a 6100 7+ years that just needed a drive unit but are also still running stong, if these ever do die I am gonna replace them with the 6095's maybe sooner though.

the only thing I could never understand about vortechs is when everyone talkes about the noise and say you will want 2 mp40's so you don't have to have them turned all the way up and they will be quieter. whats the point of having a powerhead in a tank that you can't even use it's full potential without going nuts over the noise?

not bashing vortechs as I have never used them but just my observations

+1 on cost of tunze none controllable ones.

about noise of vortech, it depends on each person. I live in a SMALL condo, one bedroom, and have 2 MP40s in living room, 1 MP60. and a MP10 in my room, all on NTM 100% [which makes the worse noise] yet I sleep beside it just fine ....
some of my friends notice it as they come in, they say it sounds like an elephant crying.

the point of vortech over tunze is the room saved in tank. so in a small or a full tank, u want to leave room for corals ... so if you dont have enough room, and are sensitive to noise alot, then MP40x2 might make sense.

vortech on reef crest mode makes MUCH less noise. just a humm.

 

[todd141]

Not sure I would want to constantly hear elephants crying just to save a few inches in the tank.

 

[Allmost]

Not sure I would want to constantly hear elephants crying just to save a few inches in the tank.

also a much better flow ... and unmatched undertow.

but that's the draw back for some, the noise ... gotta see how noise tolarant u are

the noise comes from NTM mode [wave], where the motor turns on full power, then off, then on again ... but if you put it in reef crest mode which many use, it would blend with the background noise [overflow, lighting fans and so on]

 

[James77]

Tunze would have alot less maintenance as far as replacement would go, the most likely would be a drive unit(impeller) after a few years. I believe I have seen Roger of Tunzestate the pumps have a design life of 5 years, although many have them last longer. One in the Tunze forum now finall had impeller problems after 10 years. I have had my 6105s for almost 2 years I think, and never a problem save fro cleaning every 3-4 months or so. Of all the Tunzes I have owned, I have never had an oprational problem. One had a burr in the motor block which was found and replaced. The Vortechs are going to be less reliable just by the nature of what they are, they are more complex, have 2 moving sides and bearings etc. Tunzes are more simple just being a motor and impeller.

 

[James77]

Crying elephants? First time hearing that one. I have heard it compared to a VHS tape rewinding, and agree. I found the noise intolerable and find the flow of the Tunzes much better and moves the tank more. Dead silent is what wins me though, nothing can be heard on my tank and every hobbysit that has seen it comments on it immediatley and asks how to do it.

 

[Wrench]

IME the Tunzes are more reliable and are quieter. I used o have three vortechs and found them to be unreliable and loud. I waswilling to live with them because the do take ip less room in the tank but I had two consecutive instances of horrible customer service and that made me switch to Tunze.