First Impression Vortech MP40wES - thumbs down?

[rhwimmers]

So maybe I have not got it fine tuned enough yet, but so far I think its a bit loud and doesn't seem all that powerful? It sounds like a VCR tape rewinding slowly - granted there is nothing else running in the tank yet besides a Coralia, but its way louder than it and didn't seem that much more powerful then the Coralia either. Definitely a larger stream, but from a "pressure" standpoint it didn't seem very strong. I did buy it slightly used... I still can't get it to run full speed without it making a squeaking noise.
Thoughts?

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

There is a slight hum to these. It is not the loudest thing on my tank(that is the maxi jet for my reactor that I'm currently replacing).

Being used it should be broken in, normally they are a little louder first couple days. Do you have the spacer set properly for the thickness of the glass? Did you adjust the wet side so the solid black part is facing up? These are the usual culprits. Sometimes you just need to play with the alignment.

 

[D-Nak]

There is a slight hum to these. It is not the loudest thing on my tank(that is the maxi jet for my reactor that I'm currently replacing).

Being used it should be broken in, normally they are a little louder first couple days. Do you have the spacer set properly for the thickness of the glass? Did you adjust the wet side so the solid black part is facing up? These are the usual culprits. Sometimes you just need to play with the alignment.

+1. I got mine at separate times and each took about a week to break in. I think it takes a little time for them to find the correct inside/outside location even though we think we have them aligned properly. Once they are settled in, they quiet down a lot. The sound will also depend on the setting you choose. For example, any mode that has a variable speed will seem louder than one with a constant speed The change in speed creates a whirring noise that can be distracting, therefore more noticable.

However, I wouldn't describe either of my MP40s has having a squeaking noise. If it continues to squeak, I think it could be a wet-side issue.

 

[pledosophy]

The vortechs are the loudest thing on my tank. I regret that part, and i do have them placed properly. That said the flow dispersal is amazing as is the modes, which despite the noise, is why I bought a second one.

 

[MrG]

I recently purchased and installed an MP40 (new) on my tank and had a similar reaction to the OP. That is, I was surprised at how loud the motor was. I definitely notice a difference between normal motor noise and an out of alignment noise though. This may be what everyone does, but I found the best way to align the two sides was to turn it to a constant low speed and adjust the wet side until there was no "clacking" sound. Then, I would increase the speed until it made noise again and make finer adjustments until it quieted down until I maxed out the speed. I still get a little bit of noise at the highst setting, but I'm getting used to it.

And noise aside, I am very impressed with the amount of water the pump moves and ability to vary flow by changing modes.

 

[rhwimmers]

thanks guys, letting it run overnight and the clanks and squeaks are out of it. Ill see how it sounds when I have the return (mag12) and skimmer running

 

[levischilz]

ill be honest for the 900 bucks for 2. Im still pretty disappointed.

I will admit i have 2 of them in my 210g but have seen several others do the same. I feel im still very short on flow. I do like the reef crest mode but i dont seem to get enough flow from it. If i run them on constant mode i get more flow but then there pretty loud.

 

[t4zalews]

is there any truth for them being more quiet with the solid black part on top? I've always twisted it as it provides different flow when turned.

If you want a dead quiet pump..the vortech is not for you. You say you feel very short on flow, whats your justification? turnover rate is almost as obsolete as watts per gallon these days. Type of flow/turbulance is trumping the "how hard are my powerheads blowing."

But in the end it's all personal preference. I've dialed mine down from 90% to 50% and I've noticed my SPS couldnt be more happy.

 

[thegrun]

I have to say the noise is the one issue with Vortech I am not happy with. They are by far the nosiest part on my entire system. Are they loud? No, but I've got all top end equipment for efficiency and noise considerations, and it is disappointing that the Vortech make more noise than all the other equipment combined.

 

[RubberFrog]

That's what happens when the motor is outside the tank and not muffled by the water. But it's kind of an overblown issue to me. It's almost like people want to whine about it just for the sake of whining.

The vortech isn't some sort of super pump that will perform a miracle in your tank. Any pump can be hooked to a controller, so it's not about that. There are plenty of strong pumps, so it's not about flow.

So what is it about? It's about aesthetics.

Do you want a big ugly pump ruining your view? Or do you want a compact discreet pump that leaves the view clear? If you want visually discreet, you pay the price in noise polution.

 

[Amoore311]

That's what happens when the motor is outside the tank and not muffled by the water. But it's kind of an overblown issue to me. It's almost like people want to whine about it just for the sake of whining.

...

Do you want a big ugly pump ruining your view? Or do you want a compact discreet pump that leaves the view clear? If you want visually discreet, you pay the price in noise polution.

+1 to this right here.

I wonder how quiet people expect a reef tank to be sometimes lol. I had my 180 in my bedroom, w/ 2 vortechs on it. I slept just fine lol.

I now how the 2 MP40's on my 100 Gallon Cube in my living room. My dosing pump (BRS 50mL/ Minute) is loader than my Vortechs are (Reef Crest 100%).

 

[davocean]

It's a weird issue that they seem to vary in sound levels.
I have 4 vorts total, 2 mp 40's and 2 mp 20's, and 3 of them make almost no sound at all, yet one does that VCR wind(good way to describe it).
Another thing that bothered me was one was running pretty hot at one time, and when I wrote and called them, they said it was normal, and I asked how could 3 vorts be room temp, and one I can't keep my hand on?
They did replace that one after a few emails.
These guys could totally corner the market if they just got a little more on quality control.
I have a link for a mod, changing the bearing out for one that is supposed to be silent, haven't tried it yet myself.
Makes me wonder why that bearing isn't what they use in the first place for what they cost.
Overall though, they are a wonderful design, and I'm sticking w/ them despite these issues.

 

[D-Nak]

The reality is that we ALL know that these pumps make noise. If we didn't, then we didn't do enough research. I visited fish stores and even another reefer's house to get a sense of how loud they are. To complain about it after acquisition in the general sense is a moot point. Getting a loud one to quiet down -- as the OP was concerned about -- is a different story and an issue we're here to help correct.

Next thing you know, people will start to complain about not being able to angle these things!

Finally, my understanding is that if you want a quiet MP40, you buy an MP60 and dial it down. Just extra money. ;-)

 

[bdroptjj]

I recently purchased and installed an MP40 (new) on my tank and had a similar reaction to the OP. That is, I was surprised at how loud the motor was. I definitely notice a difference between normal motor noise and an out of alignment noise though. This may be what everyone does, but I found the best way to align the two sides was to turn it to a constant low speed and adjust the wet side until there was no "clacking" sound. Then, I would increase the speed until it made noise again and make finer adjustments until it quieted down until I maxed out the speed. I still get a little bit of noise at the highst setting, but I'm getting used to it.

And noise aside, I am very impressed with the amount of water the pump moves and ability to vary flow by changing modes.

+1 This is how I adjust mine - put it in a constant mode and turn it all the way up. Then I just tweak the placement of the wet side until it's quiet. Afterwards, it runs very quiet in reef crest mode.

 

[solitude127]

I have a link for a mod, changing the bearing out for one that is supposed to be silent, haven't tried it yet myself.

Is the bearing for the wetside or dryside? I'm interested, if you could PM me the link I'd appreciate it.

 

[davocean]

Dryside mod from Dahenley

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1901337

 

[danil]

So maybe I have not got it fine tuned enough yet, but so far I think its a bit loud and doesn't seem all that powerful? It sounds like a VCR tape rewinding slowly - granted there is nothing else running in the tank yet besides a Coralia, but its way louder than it and didn't seem that much more powerful then the Coralia either. Definitely a larger stream, but from a "pressure" standpoint it didn't seem very strong. I did buy it slightly used... I still can't get it to run full speed without it making a squeaking noise.
Thoughts?

+1 to all posts. Agree it is somehow noisy at higher speed. Back to your question about flow - MP40 has great flow. But I think one isn't so much better then few Coralias... to get full advantage (in flow) you must have two working together on program.

 

[davocean]

+1 to all posts. Agree it is somehow noisy at higher speed. Back to your question about flow - MP40 has great flow. But I think one isn't so much better then few Coralias... to get full advantage (in flow) you must have two working together on program.

Not really, you can gain the benefits of random flow from just one vort.
Also you have the advantage of no heat added to your tank, and 0 chance of an electrical issue frying your tank or even just stray voltage.
Also less visible than multiple Koralias.

 

[sanchoy]

Having spent over 1k on these pumps. The flow is nice. But the $ damage is not. Their customer support is top notch. You have to remember, these a premium pumps. Can you do the same thing with koralias/mj pumps, possibly... But do they look as nice no.

Can they be cheaper, of course..

 

[Faye]

That's what happens when the motor is outside the tank and not muffled by the water. But it's kind of an overblown issue to me. It's almost like people want to whine about it just for the sake of whining.

The vortech isn't some sort of super pump that will perform a miracle in your tank. Any pump can be hooked to a controller, so it's not about that. There are plenty of strong pumps, so it's not about flow.

So what is it about? It's about aesthetics.

Do you want a big ugly pump ruining your view? Or do you want a compact discreet pump that leaves the view clear? If you want visually discreet, you pay the price in noise polution.

For $450 I would not want to hear the motor of my pump in the next room. I can hear my vortechs when I am directly under the room my tank is in. Tunze puts out amazing flow and is significantly quieter. The only reason I went for vortech is so I wouldn't see a wire coming out of a rimless tank.