Need suggestion
- Thread starter 46bfinGA
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mpdharley
Active member
I'm currently running two on my tank, which is 72 x 48 x 24. I've tried them on the back wall, opposite ends, same side, etc and I'm going to have to get at least one more, possibly two.
Some of my issues are due to placement of the overflow and the fact that the tank is viewable from all sides, which you may or may not have. But I would say that 3 is the minimum you will need.
Some of my issues are due to placement of the overflow and the fact that the tank is viewable from all sides, which you may or may not have. But I would say that 3 is the minimum you will need.
Guys,Whats your experiences with these powerheads? Im having a hard time deiciding between these and the Tunze. Only thing Im concerned about the Vortech's is the lack of controllablity/options like the Tunze Multicontroller. Am I wrong?
Also whats your opinions on the Battery Backups? Is there a better/cheaper alternative out there?
Also whats your opinions on the Battery Backups? Is there a better/cheaper alternative out there?
melev
Well-known member
Looking at the tank, I think I would put two at each end, especially since it will be inwall. You won't hardly see them that way.
The IceCap Battery Backup is better than a UPS, and here's why:
The pump connects to a driver, and the driver connects to a power supply. The Battery Backup connects directly to the driver.
When power is on, power goes from the wall to the power supply. It is then converted to 12v (I'm guessing), and that d/c power goes to the driver. When power goes out, the Battery Backup already has a fully charged battery at the correct voltage that powers the driver and thus the pump.
If you used a UPS, you'd have to connect the power supply to the UPS. When power is on, it goes through the UPS to the power supply, which converts it to 12v and then into the driver / pump. When power is out, the UPS battery feeds the power supply, which converts it to 12v and then goes to the driver / pump. The conversion a/c to d/c in the UPS, and then the UPS' output of a/c going to the d/c power supply to run the pump wastes a lot of energy. You won't get 12 to 24 hours of battery back up with a UPS.
Two IceCap BB would run the four pumps for 12 hours, which should give you enough time to get back to the house and fire up a generator for constant power to all your key equipment.
The IceCap Battery Backup is better than a UPS, and here's why:
The pump connects to a driver, and the driver connects to a power supply. The Battery Backup connects directly to the driver.
When power is on, power goes from the wall to the power supply. It is then converted to 12v (I'm guessing), and that d/c power goes to the driver. When power goes out, the Battery Backup already has a fully charged battery at the correct voltage that powers the driver and thus the pump.
If you used a UPS, you'd have to connect the power supply to the UPS. When power is on, it goes through the UPS to the power supply, which converts it to 12v and then into the driver / pump. When power is out, the UPS battery feeds the power supply, which converts it to 12v and then goes to the driver / pump. The conversion a/c to d/c in the UPS, and then the UPS' output of a/c going to the d/c power supply to run the pump wastes a lot of energy. You won't get 12 to 24 hours of battery back up with a UPS.
Two IceCap BB would run the four pumps for 12 hours, which should give you enough time to get back to the house and fire up a generator for constant power to all your key equipment.
I was thinking of buying just one BB and only hooking up two pumps. 3000 gph should be fine during a power outage would it not? That would give me 15 hours if there specs are correct on the BB.
Will these Vortechs be too much flow for a Softie tank? Im scrapping my closed loop for these going from 3600gph to 12000gph at half the wattage. It seems almost to good to be true.
Can a small wave be done on a 8' tank with the pulse mode?
Will these Vortechs be too much flow for a Softie tank? Im scrapping my closed loop for these going from 3600gph to 12000gph at half the wattage. It seems almost to good to be true.
Can a small wave be done on a 8' tank with the pulse mode?
CW from the OC
New member
Re: Need suggestion
I have a 7x2x2 foot tank, and two pumps handle it surprisingly well. But I did recently buy 2 more, so will have 4 installed this weekend. 4 pumps may be too much, but I can turn them down. With your 4 foot wide tank, I would definately recommend you get 4, with 2 placed on each end.
Re: Battery Backup. Mark is right on the mark. I would also suggest you consider putting it on only 1 pump. That gives you 24-30 hours or more. Place that pump fairly close to the water surface. So when the power does go off and your water level drops as some drains into the sump, that pump will still be below the surface, but close to the surface. It will pull in some air, and injet it into the tank. When the power goes out, and you are not at home, the issue is not giving your tank "good" flow, the issue is having your tank simply survive.
I've considered getting 2 BB's and daisy chaining them so I get over 48+ hours duration on one pump.
I have a 7x2x2 foot tank, and two pumps handle it surprisingly well. But I did recently buy 2 more, so will have 4 installed this weekend. 4 pumps may be too much, but I can turn them down. With your 4 foot wide tank, I would definately recommend you get 4, with 2 placed on each end.
Re: Battery Backup. Mark is right on the mark. I would also suggest you consider putting it on only 1 pump. That gives you 24-30 hours or more. Place that pump fairly close to the water surface. So when the power does go off and your water level drops as some drains into the sump, that pump will still be below the surface, but close to the surface. It will pull in some air, and injet it into the tank. When the power goes out, and you are not at home, the issue is not giving your tank "good" flow, the issue is having your tank simply survive.
I've considered getting 2 BB's and daisy chaining them so I get over 48+ hours duration on one pump.
mpdharley
Active member
My tank is 6x4x2 (320 gallons, give or take) and two was not enough for it. I've added a third and may add a 4th. However, I'm going to wait awhile before I add the next one.
The side that has two pumps has one in Reef Crest mode and the other in Lagoon. Both are placed about 12 inches in from their respective sides.
The third one is on the opposite wall, about 18 inches in from one side, about half way up, and it is running in slave mode, anti-sync to the Reef Crest pump on the other side.
I do definitely prefer these to the closed loop that I have in the tank. In fact, I'm taking out all of the piping for the closed loop and definitely like the "new" look! It will also give me a backup pump for my return (both were using a Dart pump).
The side that has two pumps has one in Reef Crest mode and the other in Lagoon. Both are placed about 12 inches in from their respective sides.
The third one is on the opposite wall, about 18 inches in from one side, about half way up, and it is running in slave mode, anti-sync to the Reef Crest pump on the other side.
I do definitely prefer these to the closed loop that I have in the tank. In fact, I'm taking out all of the piping for the closed loop and definitely like the "new" look! It will also give me a backup pump for my return (both were using a Dart pump).
BreadmanMike
New member
Is your tank inwall or is it setup to be viewable on three sides? Do they obstruct looking at the tank if they are on viewable sides?
EDIT: I just looked at your tank build thread, so I know it's not an inwall tank.
Last edited:
mpdharley
Active member
The tank is viewable from all sides, although the overflow is on one of the "short sides" (not the front or back). Because of how I built the tank, I can "hide" two of the pumps near the inside overflow box. The inside overflow box runs almost the length of the side that it is on. The pumps sit just below this box.
On the other short side though, there is nothing to use to hide the pump or block any of the view. It can be in the way depending on what you are looking at and I don't know how a 4th pump will look. However, I like the pumps a lot more than I like the pipes and fittings that I have in my tank for my closed loop (which I'm taking out). I'll try to get some pictures tonight.
On the other short side though, there is nothing to use to hide the pump or block any of the view. It can be in the way depending on what you are looking at and I don't know how a 4th pump will look. However, I like the pumps a lot more than I like the pipes and fittings that I have in my tank for my closed loop (which I'm taking out). I'll try to get some pictures tonight.
BreadmanMike
New member
Pics would be awesome!
BreadmanMike
New member
Cool pics and thanks.
Do you like the vortech's better then what you used to run Marc?
Do you like the vortech's better then what you used to run Marc?
