RBTA Keeping Vortech Owners

[P-Daddy]

I'm not sure if a thread like this already exists, but I thought maybe those of us who keep RBTA's with a Vortech propeller pump system could exchange some notes.

I keep 3 RBTAs in a 24g Current USA Cardiff System, all are healthy and have been with me for several months. I've been running a Vortech MP10 on 100% at reefcrest random mode, just today I played with the auto-tune feature to create a short-pulse wave gyre. So far the results are dramatic.

One specimen has greatly extended it's tentacles and looks great sweeping in the current. The other two haven't changed much, but I'm giving it some time.

As an added bonus the change in water movement also kicked up a bunch of gunk that was possibly sitting in dead-spots I didn't know I had that can now be removed by the filtration system.

Let's hear some others!!!

 

[jlanger]

Thanks for starting this thread. I hope to hear some good alternatives to the vortech modes others use.

In our 45gal cube, we 'had' a RBTA that was doing well with a bunch of koralia powerheads in the tank. When I upgraded to the two vortech pumps the RBTA split within two weeks. I'm not sure it was just to the improved circulation in the tank as I feed the nem a couple times a week. The RBTA's have not moved apart from each other so the flow must be to their liking in that spot. But they also host a pair of true perc clowns that might influence that also.

Back to the vortech modes.
Two MP10W ES pumps on a 45gal cube. One on each end of the tank set slightly apart (front/back) at the same height.
I've been running the two pumps on Tidal Swell Mode at 75% as master and slave. Only changing to Nutrient Transport Mode a couple hours before water changes. The flow is really great in the tank, but sometimes I miss the effect of the ebb and flow of a wave on a nem's tentacles. It seems like it might be hard to do in the cube versus a longer tank while keeping the same amount of flow.

So I am also curious as to what others have their pumps set up in the systems. Nice thread.

 

[P-Daddy]

Yes, it is really tough to get that nice gyre effect in a cupe depending on the placement of the pump. I've only been able to do it with careful tuning of both the frequency of the pulse and placement of the pump at the same time. It seems like you need to put it in one corner of the tank so that it pushes water clockwise or counter-clockwise around the tank. At least that's what's worked in my experience. In my Solana, I keep the pump in a dry-dock in the center chamber and I can't achieve any kind of wave to my liking.

I've never messed much with Tidal Swell mode, I would love to on my other systems, but they don't have the ES box.

I really like your idea on nutrient-transfer mode before water changes, I may have to give it a try! Maybe the night before I do AM changes.

 

[mr9iron]

What is the Gyre effect? I have my mp10 on 90% short pulse mode and have quite the nice wave going.

 

[im4292]

How many and what type of vortech do you have ?

 

[P-Daddy]

What is the Gyre effect? I have my mp10 on 90% short pulse mode and have quite the nice wave going.

A "gyre" is that nice wave-like bouncing you get at the water's surface. It is usually achieved by bouncing water off of of the tank's walls until it either pulses back and forth in long tanks, or almost rotates around the four corners in square tanks. It is a sign that you are using water flow efficiently, and moving the entire water column.

It sounds like you've got it down. On one of my systems it actually causes my light fixture which is suspended from a lamp tree to rock back and forth.

 

[mr9iron]

A "gyre" is that nice wave-like bouncing you get at the water's surface. It is usually achieved by bouncing water off of of the tank's walls until it either pulses back and forth in long tanks, or almost rotates around the four corners in square tanks. It is a sign that you are using water flow efficiently, and moving the entire water column.

It sounds like you've got it down. On one of my systems it actually causes my light fixture which is suspended from a lamp tree to rock back and forth.

Thanks you, I got the Gyre effect and I didn't even know it.:spin2:

 

[MarineFlake]

MP40w v2 in a 125g, 5 or 6 BTA's, I forget, they dig it. It runs in reef crest random.

 

[Mavrk]

Wow, pretty much the post I was about to make.

I ordered an MP40w ES that should get here next week. I was wondering what mode to use that won't upset my RBTA. Since I will only have the one Vortech in my 90 gallon tank, my options are limited. I was thinking lagoonal would make the most sense since that is where anemones live. Isn't reef crest too harsh for them? Does the nutrient transport mode work okay with only one pump?

I guess I will have more to add when it arrives.

 

[Mavrk]

Just a quick update now that I have my MP40 up and running. I have been using mostly Lagoon Random mode. And using NTM for when I want to see more wave action. I have 2 RBTA (one is a very small clone) and a LPS (Lobo Brain). Since both of these are lagoonal creatures, I figured that lagoon mode would make the most sense. I also read that lagoon mode moves more water (in GPH) than reef crest. I bet if I had one on each this might be different. I think the long pulse with 2 Vortechs would look cool with the anemone.

As a side note, my LPS seems to really like the new flow. My anemone is hard to judge because the clowns are always ramming into it and keeping it from fully extending. The small clone has decided to move and I don't know where it will end up. I didn't like the location anyway

Edit: Just wanted to add that I plan on getting more BTAs soon. It will be cool to see them all swaying around.

 

[nanchil]

So do you guys think lagoon is the best mode if you have BTAs in the tank? I have RBTAs and getting my MP40. So I would like to know more about this and if some one could share there experience, it will be great...

 

[Mavrk]

So do you guys think lagoon is the best mode if you have BTAs in the tank? I have RBTAs and getting my MP40. So I would like to know more about this and if some one could share there experience, it will be great...

Caution, long answer to follow :hmm5:

Are you getting one or two MP40? I think with 2 the effects will look better. Most people seem to like one mode more than another more for aesthetics than anything else. All the modes seem to do the job. So from reading, most will choose one mode to use most of the time and change it occasionally to mix things up. Here are my thoughts/observations:

With a single unit, the "Random" modes (reef crest and lagoon) make the anemone push to one side most of the time. The short wave makes it bounce back and forth a little too quickly for me. I haven't played enough with the long wave enough to get it to look right. Constant mode with one unit is boring but works well

With two units, I think the random modes would look better because the second one would be in anti-sync and the anemone would be pushed in different directions and there would be collisions of flow creating cool effects. The short wave would probably look the same as with a single unit but more dramatic. The long wave I think would be really cool as it would make the anemone wave more hypnotically from side to side. Constant mode would probably be totally different with two units because

In terms of the modes themselves, Reef Crest seems more geared toward SPS with the dramatic shift from very slow to very fast. Lagoon mode emulates the zone in which you find anemones and LPS. Short waves get your detritus moving around. NTM is short waves followed by a constant push to get the detritus into the overflow. Long wave probably is like short wave in terms of detritus movement, but probably isn't as efficient. However the long wave has a nice look to it. I haven't really tried out tidal sell mode for long enough to understand it well.

As to what this all means to the animals, I don't know if it makes a huge difference what mode you use. The sheer amount of flow from the vortech and the fact that the flow is varied should help. This opinion does not mean that one mode isn't better for the animals than another. Just that they are all good. It is very possible that the different modes can stimulate the anemones and corals to make them 'happier'. I would think that SPS would really like reef crest. LPS would probably like lagoon. When it comes to anemones, since they can move to where they like things best, they would probably be happy with any of them.

However, like I said before, most anemones are found in lagoon zones so this is the setting I will use most. As a side note, the fish seem to like all this as well.

 

[nanchil]

Wow thanks Mavrk for your detailed answer. I really appreciate that. Mine is a LPS system with nems. And I am getting one MP40 for now. I may get one more may in couple of months. Thanks again for your input.

 

[Mavrk]

Wow thanks Mavrk for your detailed answer. I really appreciate that. Mine is a LPS system with nems. And I am getting one MP40 for now. I may get one more may in couple of months. Thanks again for your input.

No problem. I guess I could have just said an MP40 is great for your tank and use the mode that you like. It would have been quicker haha.

I think I might order another MP40 already. One is definitely enough for flow, but two just seems like it would be cool now that I have a taste of what it can do.

I am considering putting in an MP10 instead of a second MP40 to save some money. If I got an MP10, the plan would be to put it on the side for now, but move it to the back when I get a second MP40. If I get another MP40, then I will have a harder time justifying an MP10 for the back But I know the combination of the three would be awesome!!! Of course I don't have SPS, so it really isn't needed. I'll probably just do the second MP40.

 

[nanchil]

Thanks. I think for now I will have one MP40 and one K4 on the other end blowing along the back.

No problem. I guess I could have just said an MP40 is great for your tank and use the mode that you like. It would have been quicker haha.

I think I might order another MP40 already. One is definitely enough for flow, but two just seems like it would be cool now that I have a taste of what it can do.

I am considering putting in an MP10 instead of a second MP40 to save some money. If I got an MP10, the plan would be to put it on the side for now, but move it to the back when I get a second MP40. If I get another MP40, then I will have a harder time justifying an MP10 for the back But I know the combination of the three would be awesome!!! Of course I don't have SPS, so it really isn't needed. I'll probably just do the second MP40.

 

[Mavrk]

Thanks. I think for now I will have one MP40 and one K4 on the other end blowing along the back.

Yeah, I started with two K4s. I was thinking of putting one back in with my MP40, but like I said... it really isn't a lack of flow issue. But the disruption of the flow would probably be good.

 

[nanchil]

Yeah, I started with two K4s. I was thinking of putting one back in with my MP40, but like I said... it really isn't a lack of flow issue. But the disruption of the flow would probably be good.

Actually I will be replacing 2 K4s and one k2 with one MP40 and as I said I will use one K4. Thanks again.

 

[clownfish14]

so does the NTM mode work with only one pump?

 

[timjoemak]

Hey guys, just to freshen up this thread again, what mode do you think would be good for of course RBTAs as well as movement on the surface of the water? I'm starting to see a film of water which of course disappears when I do water changes but other than that, I'm currently on lagoon mode for 14 hours and then normal for another 10 hours at night. What other modes do you guys suggest? MAN the clownfish are lovin' it.