MP10s or MP40s for Long Shallow Tank?

[Darth_Tater]

You may have read that I just lost my Gyre XF130 that I was planning on using as the main water movement device in my new setup. You may have also read lots of questions about my crazy new display tank with the following weird dimensions:

67" long
18" wide
12" deep
Volume of about 60 gallons

This will be an SPS focused tank, so I need the crazy turbulent flow that Acros will want. I'm thinking the best way to achieve this is with two VorTechs hooked together, one on each end of the tank.

So, would MP10s create the crazy turbulent flow Acros like? Or would I need to go with MP40s because of the length?

 

[Darth_Tater]

Interesting, I just found a flow calculator on EcoTech's VorTech page. It's showing that two MP10s would be perfect, but I'm pretty sure it's based solely on the volume, not the actual tank dimensions.

 

[jacksonpt]

I run a pair of MP10s on my 38g (36" long) and I think they are perfect. I can't imagine they would be well suited for a 67" long tank. Could you make them work? Probably. But I think you'd end up with super strong flow at the ends of the tank near the vortechs and mild/moderate flow in the middle. If you ran them in sync mode that might help (vs anti sync), but I think you'd really be stretching it with the 10s.

IMO, I'd be thinking 4 MP10s along the back wall vs 2 40s on the sides.

 

[blasterman789]

An MP10 didn't work for crap on my 12 gal / 36" Mr. Aqua, so I don't see how it will work on yours. A pair of MP40s will keep things agitated, but only on the ends.

Here's the problem: The MP series are very wide angle pumps. So, a large portion of the water flow gets directed off axis and hits the side walls first. This quickly cancels out the flow of water. The MP10 on my 12 gal at full blast mounted on the end only moved water for the first 3rd of the tank. The middle of the tank and beyond was literally stagnant while corals on the end got blasted. I'm going to assume the only difference with your tank is scale. Otherwise, the MP's are good for more squarish tanks because of their wide dispersion, but don't have much 'reach'.

IMO, the Aquamedic Eco Drifts are better suited for long and narrow tanks because their flow is more narrow. I use a #8 on my 12gal and and lowest setting (200gph less than the MP10 at full blast) can easily blow corals over at the far side of my tank. That's all due to the shape of the water flow leaving the head.

 

[Darth_Tater]

Interesting, thank you both for the thoughts!

I just read that there's now a Gyre XF230 that will allow them to be connected together in a similar manner to the VorTechs. Maybe these would have a better shot keeping things moving in the middle of the tank...

I'll take a look at the Eco Drifts blasterman mentioned too. Maybe I'll just have to go for a few (instead of a couple) like jacksonpt mentioned, but they'd have to be much cheaper and therefore probably not controllable.

 

[Potatohead]

I love Vortechs but with those dimensions I would probably go with a gyre or two placed vertically in the corners... Assuming they'd still be submerged of course.

 

[juniorrocketdad]

The new gyre is basically equally as powerful as the mp10 so I would rule that out since the flow is spread out and it prolly won't reach nearly as far as the vortechs, I would do two mp10s aim the back wall or the sides and than two cheaper hydors to supplement to keep costs down

 

[Demonic]

I run two MP40's on my 30x30 cube and I think works. You can always dial them back. You can't make the mp10's more powerful. Plus it's better for those pumps not to be run at the higher percentages