Recommend pumps for 75g reef

[Fishbulb2]

Hi Tunze,

My vortechs are driving me nuts with the noise and I think I want to finally get rid of them. I'm wondering what you would recommend for a 75g mixed reef with a sand bed.

I'm looking at either the 6055 or the 6095. I would like to control these with my Neptune Apex, which I assume is pretty simple with the Apex to Neptune cord, correct? Is that all I would need?

Thanks!
FB

 

[Kawasaki213]

I don't know about the new style 6055 but the old ones that don't come with their own controllers can be controlled by VDM module or the 2 0-10V ports of the apex base. "Slief" user has a good write up for how to control these 6055 or 6095 pumps

 

[Fishbulb2]

Thanks, sounds good. It seems like Apex control with either pump is pretty straight forward. I really like controlling the vortechs through Fusion. But they are just too loud. I have an old pair or 6025 and 6045 that aren't controllable but were dead silent and maintenance free. That's what led me back here. I need my tanks to be fairly silent and the vortechs just aren't cutting it.

 

[rvitko]

I would use 2 6055 for a primarily soft coral or LPS tank and 2 6095 for a tank with SPS. In general, the 6095s will be more versatile, you can turn them down if they are too much.

 

[Fishbulb2]

Thanks Roger. I just ordered the 6095's. I think your right that there is more versatility and with the sand bed, I might be able to achieve a higher but wider flow to prevent creating a sand storm.

I'm looking forward to installing these. I have very fond memories of my old 6025 and 6045. Those were revolutionary.


Cheers,
FB

 

[Kawasaki213]

The old Tunze 6055 or 6095 as I remember are recommended not to run less than 30%....Let's us know how these work in your 75 gallons

 

[Kawasaki213]

I had 2 6095 in my 85 gallon tank and I had to do one on and 1 off at 45%. Both of them at 45% will cause some serious spins to the soft corals

 

[Fishbulb2]

Uh oh. I just came back to ask that question. So is that still the same deal? Are they still not recommended to be run at less than 30%? I certainly don't want to damage them. I also did not one to turn one completely off as I fear the dragonet getting in to them. I was hoping to ramp one down just to keep spinning and to have the other around 50-60%. But this seems like it might get difficult if you have trouble with your 85.

I can always try to aim them higher in the water column.

Thanks,
Quentin

 

[rvitko]

The newer versions with the built in 7090 controller can go to 20%, the circuitry and motor were revised with the addition of the 7090 and can handle even lower speeds. 0% or off is fine in both versions.

 

[jassimps]

6055 & 6095 pumps in 75 gallon

6055 & 6095 pumps in 75 gallon

I run both the 6055 and the 6095 in my 75 gallon mixed reef tank. I have the 6208 wavebox whichs utilizes the 6055 pumps. The pumps are scalable so if you upgrade your tank, there should be no need to purchase bigger pumps as both 6055 and the 6095 pumps are very powerful.

I'm testing a Tunze's nanostream 6040 on the tank as supplemental flow in the center of the tank. So far Im very impressed with performance of the 6040 although the propellers collect gunk faster due to the orientation of the the propellers on 6040. None the less all pumps are contorable and solid choices with scalability.

Here's video of the 6208 waveboxes in action powered by the 6055 pumps.
https://youtu.be/_EhkbpNmLUc

Roger, its good to know the min is now 20% instead of 30% on the newer midel pumps.

Any updates on the new Tunze Controller 7000?

 

[rvitko]

Thanks, for the last few months the 6208 Wavebox uses the 6095, that was another upgrade.

The 7000 is in production now, we expect them very soon, the only delay at this point is waiting for the manuals to arrive from the printer. I think in 2 weeks we will have them.

 

[Fishbulb2]

Well I just got the two pumps installed this evening.

The good news is even though it looks like a Jacuzzi in there, the pumps are pretty dead silent. That's what I just love about these pumps and remember from my old 6045's and 6025's. I'm glad to get the vortechs our of there to reduce the noise.

The only bad news is it's like a Jacuzzi in there and the pumps are set at their minimum settings. They are strong! I'm not really worried about it as I'm sure they'll slow a little over time as they get some gunk on them and the corals grow out to obstruct the flow some.

Overall these are truly beautiful pumps.

Roger, can these be controlled all the way down to 20% via Apex?

Cheers,
FB

 

[rvitko]

I am not sure, the complication is it seems that 3rd party controllers still use the 0-8V signal range, the new 7090 equipped pumps have a 0-6.5V signal range, the range is much tighter so the voltage signal it assumes is 50% is now 62%, I am sure it can be done but some tweaking may be needed and the percentage displayed is not accurate. I would expect a pair of 6095's alternated so only one is on at a time with a speed between 20-60% to be about right for a 75.

 

[Fishbulb2]

Thanks Roger. After a day in the tank with the two pumps set to pulse at different rates, I'm pretty happy with the chaotic flow. I might just not even use the Apex for now.

Cheers,
FB

 

[Fishbulb2]

Sorry Roger,

I had a couple more very quick questions. Could you help me understand the pulse mode a little more. Does this change the interval between a fixed pulse duration (duty cycle) or does it always keep a 50% duty cycle and just lengthen the time between switching from high to low. So if I set it to 10s, will it give a short pulse every 10 seconds, or will it go 10s high then 10s low. And does night mode via the optic cell just set the pumps automatically to the lowest possible setting at night?

Thanks,
FB

 

[rvitko]

If you set pulse to 10 seconds, the pump will be at main speed for 10 seconds and pulse speed for 10 seconds, it is how long between switching speeds. Night mode is whatever the pulse speed is set to.

 

[Fishbulb2]

Great, thanks Roger. But you do mean that the Night mode will set it to the lower main speed, not the pulse speed, correct?

Cheers,
FB

 

[rvitko]

It stops pulsing and whatever you set the bottom knob on the 7090 to (pulse speed) that is where it stays in night mode.