how to program vortech to slow down at night?

[blakebark]

I am new to this and was wondering if any one could help figure out how to slow down both of my vortechs at night, thanks!

 

[aquamanic]

In general, create a profile with the mode and percentage you want. For example, create a profile called "night" that uses constant mode at 30%. Save that.

Then on your VorTech outlet (the virtual one created when you setup your pumps) just use the time statement, like this:

If Time 19:00 to 08:00 Then night.

That's it.

 

[ToLearn]

Why would you want it to slow down at night?

 

[blakebark]

Thanks, it works great!

I slow them down at night so my room is not as noisy.

I was also wondering if there was going to be an update with the aquanotes for the iphone, so it would be possible to control the vortechs mode and intensity?

 

[IAReefer]

BlakeBark, I highly recomend you check out aquamedics unofficial guide. Its very helpful when it comes to this. His guide has been intrumental in everything ive done with my Apex, including running two MP40's

 

[ToLearn]

I slow them down at night so my room is not as noisy.

Hope your fish still get enough oxygen.

 

[blakebark]

I should have plenty of water flow, by still reducing the intensity of each vortech, if that is what you are wondering.

and thanks IAreefer checked it out and there is a lot of beneficial information there that is going to help me out a ton!

 

[RussM]

Hope your fish still get enough oxygen.

Lighten up dude! A MP40 at slower speeds still moves more water than some of the old school powerheads people used for years before all the specialized high-volume models like Tunze and Vortechs came out.

 

[Reefphile]

blakebark, vortech's have a build in night mode program that reduces the output at night. Once set, it will run at reduced speed for 10 hours (I think) every day at the same time. If you have a newer version just press the 2 left buttons at the same time until the light (on the knob) blinks difference colors and then re-press the same 2 buttons until a white light pulses. You may want to refer to the vortech manual.

 

[blakebark]

I tried that but I am using the WXM module with the apex, and this module doesn't support the night mode function. But with the apex you can make your own program and run it at night, but i couldn't figure out how, but i think i have it figured out now... lol i hope. But thanks for the help Andy!

And these vortechs definitely create enough flow.. i run mine at a max of 60% each!

 

[IAReefer]

Most wave makers have a night feature, coral and fish aren't at full blast at night.

Hope your fish still get enough oxygen.

 

[blakebark]

Most wave makers have a night feature, coral and fish aren't at full blast at night.

About what percent do you run your vortechs at night... i was thinking of setting mine to 30% possibly lower depending on how much flow there is.

 

[ToLearn]

Sorry Russ just making sure. Used to work at an LFS and ran into people that had their MaxiJets on their 75g plugged into a light timer to be off at night time to make things calm at night. You never know and doesn't hurt to ask, at least that's my opinion.

Vortex doesn't necessarily = enough flow. In a 400g tank a single MP40 brought down to 30% is not really enough. Had no idea how many of which models, at what speed, or what size tank. Just making sure.

 

[aquamanic]

i was thinking of setting mine to 30% possibly lower depending on how much flow there is.

Here's something everyone has to remember about VorTech pumps. They can only go as low as their posted speed, regardless of what percentage you select via your Apex. For example, if a pump is rated for 1,000gph - 3,000gph, then you can set your percentage to 10%, 20%, it won't matter. 1,000gph or roughly 30% is the minimum and anything less than that is ignored.

Look at the specs for your pump, do the math and that's the minimum percentage your pump will understand.

At some point, Neptune is going to release support for the "night" mode which will enable a pump like the MP40 to drop to 500gph but until then, the above guidelines would apply.

 

[pdnyc69]

i set my night mode at 40% constant in the night profile

 

[ReefMan1111]

will this work for the old style mp 10 with the blue box?

 

[ToLearn]

Is it an MP10w? Wireless?

If it isn't wireless the certainly not.

 

[ReefMan1111]

no, its the blue box

 

[ToLearn]

No wireless then no way for the wireless module that plugs into the Apex to communicate with it and have it do anything.

If you shoot Vortex an e-mail or give them a call there may be some upgrades you can buy to make it work. A lot of their old stuff is upgradeable, but I am not as familiar with their older products, so not sure if you can. Their support team is great though, just touch base with them.

 

[itchyf1ng3rs]

1 year later I would like to follow up on this...

Is there a way to make the WXM module tell the Vortechs to enter Night profile when the lights go out (Sun command)?


My lights are using the season table so they turn off at a different time each night, 2 hrs after the season table says to.

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sun 240/120 Then ON
If Temp > 83.0 Then OFF
Min Time 030:00 Then OFF