Sea swirls vs vortechs

[jacksonpt]

I know this is an old thread, but I thought I'd update it...

Throughout the summer I've changed how my vortechs were setup every 6 weeks or so (I figured that gave me sufficient time to evaluate how well they were working). I've tried most of the built-in modes, I've tried them on opposite ends and both on the back wall.

The best I've come up with is this...
1 vortech on each side, both set as masters, both set to the green constant mode, both plugged into a day/night mechanical timer. 1 pump runs for 15 minutes, then shuts off and the other one kicks on. It runs for 15 minutes, rinse and repeat. I'd love to get shorter run-times (say 5 minutes vs 15), but it's not possible with the mechanical timers. I feel like this is the way the suggested long pulse mode in anti-sync should have worked, but for whatever reason, this seems to be more effective. It just never seemed like the pumps were working together when they were setup as master/slave.

This seems to create a good gyre with minimal detrius buildup, all while provide good flow throughout the tank without beating up any corals.

I'm still disappointed with the noise of these pumps given the price I paid, but I'm pretty happy with them otherwise when setup this way.

 

[madal471011]

Give the WP40 or WP25 a try as replacements for the Vortechs, you won't be disappointed

 

[Frostslasher]

As someone who has both a WP40, WP10, and MP40, I've been incredibly disappointed with the MP40, especially for the money that I paid for it. The WP10 is very compact, its completely silent, and does just as good of a job as the MP40. My MP40 is setup correctly, and it still grinds, whines, and the motor is just generally loud on it. I wanted to return it the day I got it, but unfortunately could not. I'd highly recommend getting a WP40 as well.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I'm tempted to comment in detail but I will restrain myself.
Suffice to say that that ALL pumps will whine and wheeze if calcium and/or alkalinity levels are kept unnaturally high.
The flow pattern produced by a Vortech is unlike the flow pattern produced by WPs, SeaSwirl and Tunze.
I've nothing bad to say about any of these pumps here but it should be noted that depending on the application (to some people) the flow patterns they can create might make a difference.
I'm not aware how well the WP (manufacturer) stands behind their product but SeaSwirl, Tunze and EcoTech have excellent customer support after the sale.
Thanks for posting the results of your comparisons, Jackson.
These Are the types of threads we need more of!

 

[jacksonpt]

Suffice to say that that ALL pumps will whine and wheeze if calcium and/or alkalinity levels are kept unnaturally high.

Just for clarity...

I've long struggled to keep my alk and ca levels steady and correct, so that may well be a contributing factor. But...

If that were the problem, wouldn't it affect both pumps more or less equally? And wouldn't the issue be with the wet side? The noise I'm disappointed with in mine is a mechanical whirr on the dry side (I can pull the dry side away from the tank and away from the wet side and the whirr continues unchanged even after the the wet side stops spinning).


As for the WPs... I was unfamiliar with them until someone mentioned it in this thread a few posts ago. A quick google search makes them out to be terrific wave makers. I'm not looking for a wave maker per se. I'm looking for the best gyre I can get, which (I think) means good flow away from the pump coupled with a good undertow back to the pump yielding a good circular flow pattern throughout the tank.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Pun intended

Pun intended

I don't want to veer away from the original topic so I won't make waves but GYRE should be the goal.

 

[jacksonpt]

I like the pun.

 

[Capt_Cully]

I have read and understand the theory of Gyres. I have also incorporated them in my current tank. I will say, they make a world of difference and minimize, if not eliminate, dead spots/detritus build up.

Have you considered putting them on the back wall to get a front to back barrel roll gyre going? Give it a shot for 6 weeks :thumbsup:

 

[jacksonpt]

Another follow-up...

I've been running my MP10s in constant speed mode on opposite sides of the tank controlled by basic mechanical outlet timers. One runs for 15 minutes, then the other runs for 15 minutes. Unlike the vortech controller, when one pump isn't running it's completely off and the impeller/blades don't spin at all.

The only real problem I've seen with this is that this makes a perfect resting place for fish, in my experience lawnmower blennies. At least it's a perfect spot until the pump kicks back on. I've lost 2 LMBs in the last 2 months this way.

I wish my tank was a bit deeper to make running the pumps on the back wall a better option.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

just put the foam inserts on the wetsides.

 

[jacksonpt]

just put the foam inserts on the wetsides.

That won't do anything... the impellers completely stop when the pump is switched off, and the fish sit inside the wet side, so when the pump kicks back on they get pinched/killed by the blades.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

My solution was to alternate between between high speed and low speed. At the slowest speed Vortech is basically just spinning to keep fishes away.

 

[jacksonpt]

My solution was to alternate between between high speed and low speed. At the slowest speed Vortech is basically just spinning to keep fishes away.

Yep, that's what I'm going to work on this weekend.

 

[Breadman03]

Yep, that's what I'm going to work on this weekend.

Long pulse, Anti-sync mode?

 

[jacksonpt]

Long pulse, Anti-sync mode?

I've tried it, but it doesn't work as well as completely off/completely on, at least not on my tank. It's probably what I'll end up going back to.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

That won't do anything... the impellers completely stop when the pump is switched off, and the fish sit inside the wet side, so when the pump kicks back on they get pinched/killed by the blades.

If the fish sits inside the wet side, it is living dangerously. I would do some sort of NTM mode where the pumps never shut off.

 

[opd28]

I have a mp40 on one end and a sea swirl on the return end of my 120. Corals love it. Great random flow.

 

[pascal32]

Another follow-up...

I've been running my MP10s in constant speed mode on opposite sides of the tank controlled by basic mechanical outlet timers. One runs for 15 minutes, then the other runs for 15 minutes. Unlike the vortech controller, when one pump isn't running it's completely off and the impeller/blades don't spin at all.

The only real problem I've seen with this is that this makes a perfect resting place for fish, in my experience lawnmower blennies. At least it's a perfect spot until the pump kicks back on. I've lost 2 LMBs in the last 2 months this way.

I wish my tank was a bit deeper to make running the pumps on the back wall a better option.

do you have an APEX controller? with the WXM module the apex can control the pumps doing what you are doing. instead of "off" you could put one into feed mode which is pretty slow (check the manual, I forget the %).

you can do some real variation as shown on page 12 of the WXM manual:

http://www.neptunesystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/WXM_manual.pdf

 

[jacksonpt]

No, I don't. It's one of those things that I've been going back and forth on for a long time about whether or not it's worth the cost.