Flow Questions

[mike_dani]

Ok off to the big boy thread....

I have a 300DD with a coast to coast overflow. I run a fuge off of a reeflo dart, I have 2 K4's, 1 K2 and a Sicce 4 in this thing for flow. I am thinking of going the route using two Vortech MP60's, what do you all think?

Here are some pictures below so you can see everything is in the middle of the tank there are also two caves left and right of center.....

Full tank shot

Right half of thank

Left half of tank

 

[Elliott]

that's 11,000 gph (for the two mp 60's) or around 37 x turnover for your tank, you won't have to worry about flow in the future and can dial them back if needed, control pulsing remotely, they only draw 60 watts each, so I'd say they are a good fit for you.

 

[scubasteve06]

Do they make a mp60 even? I don't think so but I could be tasting nike if they do. I'd get two vortech mp40's, and then use 2 of the big Tunze powerheads that do around 1700gph and the Tunze come with a controller to control them like a vortech and its linkable to apex's and the like. Best theing about having these two different powerheads is that the Vortechs will push a very wide broad current across the tank that is good for keeping particles suspended in the water column. While the Tunze are more of a very strong direct point and shoot flow, but you can still control them just like a vortech except with the Tunze controller of course. These could be pointed at certain dead spots behind rocks or at the base of some rocks or if you needed extra flow in a certain area with dense SPS in your tank etc. etc. etc. The Vortechs them selves are great don't get me wrong, but I think the combo of the two would be your best bet. If two of each isn't in your budget at least get the two Vortech's to start off with and if you have any dead spots or develop some spots that need direct additional flow like an anemone or a big table top monti up underneath its cap or a thick branches on a big acro.

But I can also speak from experience and so can you that the Korallia's are alright IMO it goes Vortech/Tunze tied for 1st since I think with a cpl well placed tunze's and their controller you can get more flow and just the same amount of adj.

But the Magnum lineup of Korallia's really interests me I have two 1400's (1400gph) and wish I had bought one magnum 7 since it equals the flow of both of them and only have one powerhead in my tank showing. Granted its a big powerhead but its reliable can be hooked up to a wavemaker (the magnums have no problems like the evo's do) and are much cheaper. If you wanted a budget setup you could get 2 Magnum 7's. But if I had the money to buy a DD I'd be going with the Tunze/Vortech combo. One more thing you could do would be to get two MP40's and a Tunze wavebox that will give you a lot of really natural movement.

Edit: I retract my statement and inserted said into mouth after just googling mp60 and seeing that they were unveiled at MACNA and they flow 5500. Yea dude without a doubt get those beasts or the tunze/mp40 combo. Or a MP60 and two tunze. I think its pimp that finally the MP's will work with 1" thick glass I know a lot of ppl on here went with closed loops and big tanks because they were over 3/4" thick.

 

[mike_dani]

So I am thinking two MP60's one on the left towards the front and one on the right towards the back with the sicce down low on the back glass blowing through the caves. We will see when they come out 2 on pre order.

 

[Elliott]

I spoke to a trusted source at a high end LFS today who is very experienced with Vortecs and uses them almost exclusively in his store. He said he really doesn't see a big market for the mp 60's because they are much too powerful. A 5,500 gph pump is necessary only for very large tanks that have greater than 1-1.25" wall thickness, so he does not think he will sell many. So I think they may possibly be too powerful for your application.

 

[tbone28]

You'll be fine. I run 6 tunzes in my 180g

(3) 6205 (1) 6201 for main flow
(1) each 6025 and 6045 behind the rock work to keep water moving.