Help Me Decide on Flow.....Vote

[C Dog]

I have a 5' L x 3' W x 4' 400 gallon tank currently being set up. I was planning on setting up a closed loop. I would drill the bulk heads and run a Reeflo Hammer Head pump on a Oceans Motions 8-way ( 2 ports are open at any given time). I have been looking at the Jebo WP-40 (tunze/vortech knock off). They look tempting.

Closed loop: Reeflo Hammer Head would use 300 watts and would probably cost $25-35 a month to run. It is rated for 6,000 GPH but probably would only get about 4,000-5,000 GPH once plumbed.

Powerheads: If I got the WP-40 I would have 2-4 of them on the back wall. They would only use 160 watts for 4 which would be about $15-20 a month. They flow 3,400 GPH each.


What does every one think? I know the WP-40 havent been out long. This will be for a reef tank. Not worried about wires and stuff in the tank.

 

[C Dog]

Morning bump

 

[sirreal63]

Either will obviously work but I would skip the closed loop and there is no way to recommend the Jebao's, they have not been out long enough to know the long term quality and considering the absolute junk previous Jebo products were, I have doubts. Time will tell if they have improved or not. One nice thing is the price is cheap so if they fail you aren't out much money. You certainly won't be getting the level of service that you would with Tunze or Echotech in the event something doesn't work right.

If those were the only two choices, I would go with the Jebo's, if I wasn't restricted to those two choices I would go with Tunze and not look back.

 

[C Dog]

No vortechs or tunze for me. I have used vortechs in the past.

I want either a closed loop on a Oceans Motions 8 way or Jebo WP-40. Still trying to figure that out.....

 

[sirreal63]

My personal opinion, if you go closed loop you probably won't be happy with the flow and will end up with the Jebo's anyway to add the additional flow. 4-5000 gph will be on the very low end for a 400 gallon tank.

 

[C Dog]

5,000 GPH would be like 12-14x turn over rate then add the 1,500-2,000 GPH return. That seems like plenty to me....

 

[Michigan Mike]

What kind of system will this be mixed reef, SPS dominate?

 

[C Dog]

Mixed reef. Probably mostly anemones and SPS

 

[sasharotty]

My personal opinion, if you go closed loop you probably won't be happy with the flow and will end up with the Jebo's anyway to add the additional flow. 4-5000 gph will be on the very low end for a 400 gallon tank.

I have a 180 with a CL on a dart. Don't recommend it and I should've capped the bulkheads. I use vortechs 2 smaller tunzes and I'm looking to add a wavebox. The closed loop just doesn't cut it for flow imo and sucks too much juice. I run the closed loop off my apex for 15 min every 2 hours only.

 

[Allmost]

then 14-20 times is no where close to being enough ...

jack has a great point about the new pumps ... they could leak electricity, get rusted, or many other possibilities, if you do get them, check them often.

closed loop ... I am personally not a fan of multiple holes in my glass tank ... and the flow is never that good ... every closed loop system I have seen eventually adds a couple of Power heads.

 

[ganjero]

To add to the posts above powerheads are easy to clean. I good setup closed loop can be cleaned (requires valves and unions in several places, which will add to the final cost) but sand and snails can get in your loop and make things more difficult, the running cost is a lot less efficient than using powerheads. The only plus of a closed loop is that is easier to hide than powerheads.

In between the two I would go with the powerheads, just know the risks of being the part of the adopting/test consumers of a new product from a company with a low reputation.

Also, remember that you will be paying about $80 a powerhead now but if something goes wrong with them you can lose a lot more money in livestock.

Look into other options for powerheads, even non-controllabel tunze in a gyre setting will give you great flow and keep corals healthy.

 

[sirreal63]

Flow is a deceptive thing. My little 110 with a 40x40x17 footprint has 8700 gph on it when the Tunzes are at 100% and I still have a couple low flow spots. The main drawback to the closed loop is holes are forever, you cannot undrill a tank, the best you can do is cap it off but it will always be swiss cheese. I understand the decision, once the tank is set up you won't be able to drill it for the closed loop but once you drill it, it is always going to have those holes in it.

If the closed loop ends up being the way you go, go with a pressure rated pump and use eductors to get the maximum amount of flow but pressure rated pumps come with a high electrical cost but they will be able to drive an eductor correctly and multiply the flow enormously.

I hate to say to don't drill it but at least you have some idea of what the pro's and con's are. Over the years I have seen far too many people unhappy with their closed loop.

 

[C Dog]

I was leaning towards the WP-40. I would start with 2 but figure I would need 4 total. The reason why I still throw the closed loop around is because I have a brand new Oceans Motions 8 way I got for dirt cheap.

 

[sirreal63]

If the 8 way has the drum that does 4 on at a time, you can expect roughly 1000 gph or so from each nozzle, a Koralia K4 does more and uses 12 watts. If the drum spins so two outlets are active at a time the flow goes up but then it is only a little better than the K4 at each outlet, which uses about 12 watts. (Just to give it perspective, I would never consider a K4 for that thank.) See where the closed loop is falling short? The OM is a great device and I don't think they even sell the 8 way anymore so parts may be an issue in the future. It would suck to have 8 holes with only a 4 way available in the future or having to use two of the 4 ways.

By the way, I am jealous of that tank, amazing dimensions with limitless possibilities. I hope you start a build thread, I would enjoy following it.

 

[C Dog]

Its 2 holes open at any given time. I would figured it would flow way more than 1,000 GPH out of each oulet.

I have started a build thread. I should have the link posted in my signature area

Here's my build. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2252483

 

[reefrider]

i would seriously consider running a dolphin ampmaster pump. mine has been running for 12+ years and still kicking!

 

[C Dog]

Looks like most people are voting for the WP-40

 

[biecacka]

TUNZE!!
Check the used forum and search for some deals.
That's my opinion. Tunze is great and roger is awesome
Corey

 

[meegwell]

" I have been looking at the Jebo WP-40 (tunze/vortech knock off)"

"overheads: If I got the WP-40 I would have 2-4 of them on the back wall. They would only use 160 watts for 4 which would be about $15-20 a month. They flow 3,400 GPH each"



If you're building a 400 gallon tank, dont CHEAP OUT on knock-offs of a critical tank function.

If you're building a 400 gallon tank, AND you're worried about your electric bill, build a smaller tank....

Considering your concerns, you may want to build a smaller tank and use good equipment the right way, with enough power and flow to keep a happy healthy tank.

Just a thought.

Meegwell

 

[C Dog]

No Tunze or Vortechs. Period.

I am not really worried about the electric bill..... Never said the electric useage was a concern. Just stated the differences in between the two pumps to see what every would vote on.