Sea swirls vs vortechs

jacksonpt

jacksonpt

New member
I've been disappointed with my MP10s almost since day 1, and I'm considering replacing them with sea swirls. Has anyone had/used seaswirls? Or at least seen tem in action first hand? Any comments on them?
 
perhaps

perhaps

you aren't using the MP properly?

In other words... equipment is simply a means to an ends.
Gyre is what you should be seeking to accomplish in a reef aquarium.
Vortech creates an excellent gyre...
 
What disappoints you about the MP10 pump? Gary has a good point in saying that Gyre flow benefits the coral and is desired by many.

Post a pic of your tank and maybe we can help with placement/mode advice.
 
Yeah, I'm unsure why you'r enot satisifed with the VorTech. Were it not a painful proposition, I'd consider sleeping with mine... About the only other powerheads that work as well are the Tunze's IMO. Sea swirls work, no doubt, but they also require big energy-hungry pumps that are almost as expensive, require more maintenance, and cost way more to run in electricity than the VorTech
 
IMO Sea swirls are not an acceptable alternative to power heads especially the Vortechs. I think of Sea swirls as supplemental flow and to provide randomization to the tank.
 
I have 2 sea swirls running my 150 mixed reef....one is on a closed loop and the other is my return...

Love it, love it, love it.
If I ever set up a new system...all sea swirl it would be.

I was debating a mp 40 and a sea swirl....I chose sea swirl....random flow is really...

I have one on each end of tank..opposite corners.

I must say I had an mp 10 laying around so I put that in as well....it gives it a little extra...very small for a 150. Just a little extra push.

716-397-8016.....if you have any questions
 
Another means to an end.
None of the means are "right" or "wrong" and Reef aquariums with no gyre are fairly common. Sea Swirl is definitely the most difficult option listed so far in order to create gyre.

Plus... The unit is fairly large for a small aquarium...
 
Johnny C said:
What disappoints you about the MP10 pump? Gary has a good point in saying that Gyre flow benefits the coral and is desired by many.

Post a pic of your tank and maybe we can help with placement/mode advice.
Click to expand...

They are loud (far and away the loudest part of my system), unreliable, not nearly the "undertoe" as what I've seen from MP40s... huge deadspots in the corners under the MP10s.

I'll see if I can get a pic up...
 
Sorry, the MP10 on the left wall got cut off in the pic.

FTS1.jpg
 
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Gary Majchrzak said:
exactly. Must set it up properly. Placement is but one aspect.

How do you have it set up? Why is it unreliable?
Click to expand...

One on each side wall, one as a master, one as a slave (anti-sync mode).

Generally use reef crest at about 65% as corals seem to respond best to this mode, but will use nutrient transport mode at 100% for 10-15 minutes a couple of times a week to stir things up and get more junk back into the water column.

They squeak and whine, occasionally when starting up the rotor vibrates/shudders...
 
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Have you considered messing around with one as opposed to two?

As for the noise issue, I only notice mine on startup. It's way quieter than my sump and return pump... You're taking care to really match up the inner and outer halves yes?
 
jacksonpt said:
One on each side wall, one as a master, one as a slave (anti-sync mode).

Generally use reef crest at about 65% as corals seem to respond best to this mode, but will use nutrient transport mode at 100% for 10-15 minutes a couple of times a week to stir things up and get more junk back into the water column.

They squeak and whine, occasionally when starting up the rotor vibrates/shudders...
Click to expand...
I would recommend placing them exactly opposite of one another and running them on Long Pulse in Anti-Sync. This will help to produce the Gyre effect that Gary and myself mentioned earlier.

If you feel they are louder than normal, I'd be happy to offer a postage-paid return label for you to send them back for testing/service. If so, feel free to contact me by e-mailing jon@ecotechmarine.com.
 
EcoTech Service said:
I would recommend placing them exactly opposite of one another and running them on Long Pulse in Anti-Sync. This will help to produce the Gyre effect that Gary and myself mentioned earlier.

If you feel they are louder than normal, I'd be happy to offer a postage-paid return label for you to send them back for testing/service. If so, feel free to contact me by e-mailing jon@ecotechmarine.com.
Click to expand...

Wow, excellent. I'll try long-pulse mode and see how things do. If the squealing keeps up I'll definitely take you up on the service offer.

- Jackson
 
You might want to consider trying Lagoon mode as well Jackson thats what i have my 3 mp40's on now and have been nothing but pleased with it.
 
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