Help me flow!

[GoldeneyeRet]

I have a 4 ft 120 I rebuilt last summer. I have upgraded everything except my flow. I currently run an SP4 return which really moves water. I have two additional powerheads that I am ready to replace. They are old, and large. They move a lot of water but I need to modernize....

This is/will be a mixed reef. I have LPS down low and I am ready to add more variety once I get my flow worked out.

I search but just get distracted when I start reading results haha.

What would you recommend for me? Budget is a real factor, but not the only one.

I have been looking at vortech, jebao and the gyre.

Thanks as always RC, you are great!

 

[GilliganReef]

I'd say two jebao wp40.

 

[Hodge1995]

If money is a factor jebao cant be beat. They are pretty reliable and relatively cheap. Yeah they do go bad sometimes but they all do. I have heard some good about the gyre but they cost as do the vortechs.

 

[Pife]

Jebao RW series. I'd get four so you have random flow.

 

[vitodog]

I think Vortechs are the best powerheads out there. However, if budget is a big factor, then I would also recommend the Jebao RW series. Maybe sometime down the road, upgrade to the Vortechs.

 

[kmbyrnes]

+1 on Jebao. I have 2 RW-8 on my 100 and can only run 30% before the flow is too much.

 

[ViktorVaughn]

Vortechs all the way.

 

[CStrickland]

Do you see an apex in your future?
If you are eventually going to upgrade to one, it would probably be easier if you think about how diff power heads and wave makers are going to interact with it now. I heard the next gen gyre is gonna play nice with it, but just a rumor.

 

[fishgate]

I built a custom over the back return for my 120g tank. I drilled holes in a PVC pipe and it runs the width of the tank. It disperses return water very well. You could use this method if you have a decent amount of return pressure and get the most bang for what you already have. Also look into a closed loop.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Thanks for all the feedback.

I have no intentions on getting a controller. I could never figure out how to work one.

If I went with jebao, which model? Four pumps sounds like a good plan, but four rw 8 might be too much? I always hear people say they cant run them more than ?% so it seems more small ones would be a better bet.

I have a lot of flow now, my goal is just to randomize it more.

As for return, the SP 4 gives me a lot of room to do something with the return. I have thought of splitting it into two return lines as I have it dialed down some now.

Im just not sold Vortechs are worth the money. The few I have seen are very loud and they don't seem to do anything the others dont. But they are proven quality. If vortechs, which ones and how many should I consider?

Thanks for the advice, I very much appreciate it.

 

[vitodog]

Two Mp40QD's would work well in your 120.

 

[Camel413]

When I first got into the hobby I never could understand why anyone would spend a ton of money for a vortech. Everyone said they was awesome. I browsed the for sale forums for months until I found an older dirt cheap one to try. After running it I can understand spending the money on one. They are very good pumps with flow that you just cant get out of other power heads. I ran a mp40 in my 120 gallon reef. I now have a 240 tall (6 foot tank) that I am running closed loop on.

 

[whosurcaddie]

I have two RW-15's on my 120 and its the perfect amount of flow.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am still weighing my options.

 

[KabayanReef]

Get a gyre xf150 and two rw-8's or even rw-15's. I plan to do this once I finish upgrading my lights to a maxspect razor 300w (yup bye bye money). Try to imagine the amount of flow + randomness these budgeted set up can give you JMHO

 

[sherief.elsayed]

Get a gyre xf150 and two rw-8's or even rw-15's. I plan to do this once I finish upgrading my lights to a maxspect razor 300w (yup bye bye money). Try to imagine the amount of flow + randomness these budgeted set up can give you JMHO

Been thinking of buying the maxspect razor as well [emoji20]. $900 dollars is a tough price. I have the xf150 and yes it does a great job even on its own

 

[RobNJ]

Two mp40s on my 120. Couldn't imagine using anything else

 

[CHizer]

You could probably get by with 2 Jebao rw-8

 

[ahenson]

I was nervous the Rw werent gonna be nice or well made, money well spent in my opinion. I have one rw4 in a 20 and its on lowest setting. Only downside to the rws is that you cant turn them real low, so dont overdo it

 

[toothybugs]

I have a pretty broken up rock structure in my 40B so I needed 2xRW8s to get the flow right. I was thinking I needed 4s based on reviews but my rockwork is just too broken up to get good flow. The 8s are running at at 40-50% to get good movement on W1 (pulse). Setting them to W2 (sine) is way too much. I have one of my RW4s relegated to the 15 I am setting up and on 30% of W2 it is great plenty.

I vote 4xRW15 for the time being. If/ when you want to upgrade, sell a pair here and get a decent portion of your money back.