? on vortech and tunze

[reefer31]

I was recently looking at the mp40w vortech and the new stuff they just came out for it. I was wondering if the tunze series of controllable pumps has a similar feature as the reef crest mode of the vortech, or is it just a pulse mode with variable speed/time? Also anyone that has the new vortech series, what are your thoughts on the new magnets etc? Thanks

 

[reefer31]

anyone know?

 

[8BALL_99]

Variable speed/time is all either of them do.. Reef Crest mode just slowly rams the power up and down.. Pulse mode just does it quickly. I use both Tunze and a Vortech. But with my Tunze I use a AquaSurf connected to my AC3 so I'm not sure exactly what the Tunze brand controller does since I've always used the Aqua surf. The only one I"m not sure of would be Random. The Aqua Surf probably has or can do something like it.. But I've never tried since I leave mine on pulse to make waves..

 

[reefer31]

i guess that makes sense. My impression was that reef crest mode does random pulses for random times, basically making a very variable changing flow? I guess if you put max and min for your tunze and set for pulse it does the same thing then. Cool thanks for the reply

 

[8BALL_99]

NP, Well the Vortech does have a Random mode like your talking about besides the pulse and reefcrest. In random mode you set the min/max % and it just does what ever it wants when ever.

Exactly, On my tunze you set the min/max% then you set the time between them.. So you can have it pulse very quickly down to the Milisecond or you can have it take an hour to go from 30%-100%. Probably the biggest advantage to me with the Tunze is I control it over my PC. So one I can back up different settings and just copy and paste them. Two Its very easy to fine tune and easily view your settings. 3 I can have different profiles.. So from say 12 am to 3pm it can do one fuction.. Then from 3pm-to7pm another.. Then 7pm to,,, lol well you get the idea. From what I understand Tunze's new controller will be cheaper and have a USB port so it should function very much like my Aquasurf. But with the Tunze controller you will have to connect a cable. I access mine over wifi.. So I sit on the couch and adjust my settings while I'm looking at the tank I guess if you had a long usb cable you could do the same.. Just not from another room.

 

[reefer31]

hey 8ball does that aquasurf work by itself or do you need the rest of the controller, acjr or whatever? If it works by itself thats a cheaper option than the tunze controllers .

 

[kuyatwo]

you need at leat an ac jr to run an aquasurf...it is an expansion module for the aquacontroller

 

[8BALL_99]

kuyatwo is right, But though Like I said Tunze has a new controller coming out that connects to the computer and is the same price as the Aqua Surf. It should function a lot like the Aqua Surf. For more info on them check out Tunze's forum on here. I haven't really checked them out to much since I already have a controller. So I'm not 100% sure about the functions and programing

 

[jman77]

I have a MP20 still in the box that I purchased for a Solona Tank I'm setting up. It will be another 2 weeks or so before I can make a comparison to the Tunze Multicontroller/Stream 6000's that I use in my main tank.

On a side note , I was pretty close to picking up a Nano Wavebox for the Solona instead, that is , until i came across the MP20 videos on youtube......

 

[mflamb]

Are you using the Vortech with the Aquacontroller?

 

[kdblove_99]

I owned a Mp40W i was not impressed. It was just too noisy for my taste. i have a dead silent system and want to keep it that way so i bought a pair of 6100's and multicontroller

I would get a nano wavebox any day over the MP20

 

[Padrino]

I think the Tunze is the way to go with the aquasurf. I just ordered 2 turbelle steams 2 6105s and and AC3 with an aquasurf and DC8 2 PH probes and 1 temp

 

[8BALL_99]

The Vortechs are much louder then the Tunze, But My vortech is mounted on the back of the tank. Since the tank is sunk into the wall with a equipment room behind it the sound doesn't bother me.. If I had it mounted in the viewing room it would probably drive me nuts. In Vortechs defense though if Tunze were mounted out of the water I'm sure they would be louder..

 

[jman77]

"I would get a nano wavebox any day over the MP20"

With a wavebox I can only make waves ... with a MP20 I can make waves and much more

 

[jc9394]

I'm in the process of replacing 3 6025 with a MP20 but only to found out the brand new MP20 I received won't turn on. Luckily I still have one 6025 I kept for emergency.

On the other hand, my friend's MP40 working flawless for over 6 months except is a little nosier than the Tunze he got.

 

[TulsaReefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13641685#post13641685 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 8BALL_99
NP, Well the Vortech does have a Random mode like your talking about besides the pulse and reefcrest. In random mode you set the min/max % and it just does what ever it wants when ever.

The Vortech has the following modes:

Reef Crest - Random relatively fast ramps up and down and you can set the maximum intensity.

Lagoon Mode - Random relatively slow ramps up and down and you can set the maximum intensity.

Short Pulse - Short pulses where you set the maximum intensity and the pulse length with a maximum pulse that is pretty short (maybe less than a couple seconds) down to a minimum of less than a second

Long Pulse - Longer pulses just like Short pulse mode, but the pulses are longer and don't ramp quite as fast on transition

Regular - one intensity all the time that you set

So there are two random modes, two pulse modes, and one "regular" mode. And then there is night mode where it drops to 50% of the 'daytime' intensity, and feed mode where it drops to pretty low for 10 minutes. This is with Gen 2 firmware.

And slave pumps can be in either sync or anti-sync modes. Sync mode makes them follow the master pump, so when it ramps up the slaves do too. In anti-sync they do the opposite, when the master ramps up, they slow down, and vice versa.

The manuals for the Vortech can be downloaded from the Ecotech marine web site, and they outline each mode.

And yes, I would say the Vortech is going to be louder than a submerged pump, but then they also don't put any heat in the tank. I'm having problems keeping my 220G warm enough with running Vortechs and my T5 lighting. Heaters are running all day to keep it at 77.5 ... Not sure if internal pumps would make that much difference, especially in cooler weather, but they do in hotter weather.

 

[reefer31]

Im pretty skeptical about the vortechs even though they are pretty cool looking. I still think they need some more time to fine tune some stuff. However im leaning more towards the new tunzes coming out pretty soon, plus I know they are reliable and with excellent customer service. Just the price is going to kill me and if not the wife will once I tell her im going to buy almost 1k in pumps for my reef tank lol