First Impression Vortech MP40wES - thumbs down?

[James77]

I think your figure stating that the vast majority of comments being from current/past owners is grossly overstated though.

I really disagree on that one..... But oh well . I just like to see open discussion on any products pros and cons, no matter who is a fan.

 

[James77]

I would mention another brand of variable pump that I have checked out multiple times, that actually is very quiet if not silent.... but the last time I mentioned another brand in the same paragraph as the almighty vortech, I had to run to get a flame suit from the hardcore vortech patrol. So I am going to be purchasing brand X instead while keeping large sums of cash in my pockets and be happy without causing WW3 lol

No fair......post what it is. Or PM it to me and I'll post

 

[bigworm175]

Well, this Vortech thread has been around about as long as the site allows them to be. Does Vortech pay to have them disappear? I have an MP10 and I like it but it is a little noisy.

"Fanboys" are funny. There is definitely some truth to the psychology of people valuing and defending things they pay (or sacrifice) a lot for regardless of evidence that they overvalue it. That is just science and we should all appreciate that.

 

[rhwimmers]

As the almighty one who started this poo throwing fight....I demand to know what silent pump you do like! If my vortech is "ok" according to the manufacturer I will sell it and look for a quieter pump, as the sound level is of high importance on MY tank (more so then the awesome features of the vortech).
If there are vortechs out there that you cant hear from 3' away, there is either a HUGE difference in production of these things, or HUGE difference in our ears!
As an update. Full tank is now running with a used mag12 as a return. I finally have some "running water" noises - but yeah turning the vortech off still gives the "ahhh" feeling.
Will update when I hear more from vortech!

 

[jamesbaur13]

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?

This is the original post... why is this thread 4 pages?

I could see 1 or 2 reply's, but ummm 4 pages?

 

[James77]

As the almighty one who started this poo throwing fight....I demand to know what silent pump you do like! If my vortech is "ok" according to the manufacturer I will sell it and look for a quieter pump, as the sound level is of high importance on MY tank (more so then the awesome features of the vortech).
If there are vortechs out there that you cant hear from 3' away, there is either a HUGE difference in production of these things, or HUGE difference in our ears!
As an update. Full tank is now running with a used mag12 as a return. I finally have some "running water" noises - but yeah turning the vortech off still gives the "ahhh" feeling.
Will update when I hear more from vortech!

Tunzes are the second closest thing to silent I have used, the first being the now gone velocity pumps. Those cannot be heard at all.

 

[Garage1217]

I totally understand and actually sympathize with many fans of products as I am a fan of many different products. If someone saves their hard earned pennys and purchases an item they have researched... and said product is exactly as they wanted it to be and all they dreamed of, that makes them a fan and they sing to the top of the hills how awesome their new found toy is and will recommend it to everyone. If they spent their pennys and said item turns out to be lesser than they imagined... then they will sing to the hills about the issues.

It is pretty easy to get caught up in the mess on forums. People get big egos or simply lack the understanding of the other persons issues as the fanboy may not be experiencing a problem, so it is hard to fathom someone else or many others are having a problem.

Anyways, to each his own As long as one is happy with whatever he purchased, then that person has found product nirvana and can revel in his or her purchased until death do them part. But if someone has annoyances with products, then even though it may annoy others, I am glad they post it up we all learn from it. For example, if I purchased a vortech and had never read about any of them making noise, I would be royally ticked off. But since it is almost common knowledge now, I would purchase knowing what I was getting into.

I have friends with vortechs and they LOVE them and always tell me about how much they like their vortechs. And I have friends that sold them off shortly after purchase for various reasons, including noise and say they did not like them at all. They do seem to be a solid company for sure, standing behind their stated warranty and that goes a long ways even though I think the warranty is rather short for the purchase price. But whatever, Hope the OP gets things resolved. Per his description, his seems to be even louder than the ones I have checked out, even including units that were several years old and were covered in coralline.

 

[DrBegalke]

I tried Vortech, also found the MP40 to be noisy.

 

[rhwimmers]

This is the original post... why is this thread 4 pages?

I could see 1 or 2 reply's, but ummm 4 pages?

Posts like that!

And now...This one!

 

[karsseboom]

Most of the people who complain about vortech pump don't own them and can't afford them so they make up excuses about how there to loud to justify why they don't have one. All the top notch tanks I see here on RC have vortechs.

 

[James77]

How could they claim they are noisy if they could never afford them?

I can afford them, and have owned three. They are not silent pumps, they are annoying. But tell yourself whatever you wish aince you cannot accept that others may have a different opinion of your favorite toy.

 

[r-balljunkie]

My Vortechs are a couple of years old and their not louder then the fan on my Gorman Rup pump.

thats funny. how many hp is the gorman rupp?

 

[jamesbaur13]

Posts like that!

And now...This one!

You're from Indiana, you have no reason to smile.

 

[GBreefer]

if you think your vortech is to loud you can send it to me!!!
i would love to have a mp40 loud or not .

 

[rhwimmers]

Most of the people who complain about vortech pump don't own them and can't afford them so they make up excuses about how there to loud to justify why they don't have one. All the top notch tanks I see here on RC have vortechs.

- worst.post.ever -:deadhorse:

I AM from Indiana, but raised in Wisconsin thus a Packer fan, thus AM happily undefeated!:beer:

 

[mcrist]

I am a big fan of the VorTechs and the Tunze Stream 2 pumps. I consider both of them top of the line powerheads and would be happy with either of them.

I do not have a problem with people posting their opinions about any product as long as they are respectfully to the company and to their existing customers. I am not implying that the original poster was not but I felt a need to clarify so I don’t flamed.

I would like to reiterate something that has been said before that the VorTech is usually louder than any other completely submersible pump of equal quality and running at approximately the same RPM. You just can’t avoid the fact that if the pumps motor is on the outside of the tank that it could be louder than other pumps that are fully submerged in water. This can be a sore subject for people that are sensitive to noise. Another point that doesn’t help the noise is that the VorTech is placed out in the open on the display. There is nothing around it to help muffle the noise except open air. It doesn’t even have the luxury of having a stand around it to muffle the sound.

Is the VorTech for everyone, no it is not, but then again I am not aware of any product that could possible satisfy everyone.

 

[Captainfester]

shoot im about to buy one of these and im a silent tank freak. if this thread still exists when i get mine... around xmas i will post my thoughts.

 

[rhwimmers]

Captainfester...."Silent tank freak" - I honestly would not bother, I think even running optimally, it will be considered "loud", ESPECIALLY if you are really wanting a silent tank - its just not a good pump for those of us that want quiet (let alone silent) tanks.
How do you have your overflow setup to not hear the "running water" noise?

 

[Captainfester]

thats the one thing im working on now. using an overflow box i put the outlet in the sump beneath the water level. then i used a piece of airline tubing to break the suction in the top of the drain tube. its almost silent. its about all im willing to live with, not looking to add to the volume!

 

[davocean]

While some of us may bring up the noise issue of these, and again, they vary from one to another in sound level, I have to say, I'm sitting here right now, I have all 4 vorts spinning, and the only sound I'm hearing is my skimmer which is much louder.
If I go in the living room where my tank is, and walk up to that one troublemaker, I'll hear it, but it does pale in comparison to the sound of my skimmer.