Should I upgrade to MP40ES's?

[docs911]

I have a 220 gallon display/3x400watt radium MH's with mostly SPS and a few LPS. The main pump is a japanese Iwaki MD55RLT. I have 4 maxijet 1200 with the sureflow mods (2 with 1600 impellers and 2 2100 impellers). I have these pumps 2 on, 2 off using a Reekkeeper elite controller. Would the corals have better color and growth using 2 MP40 ES's? Christmas is coming and I may have a small prayer of getting the Mrs to let me get some upgrades.

 

[blakers82]

For reference, i have (2) MP40Ws, a Tunze 6060 (1600gph), and a K3 in my 150gal display and a Mag 18 under it. I can say one of the Vortechs has become a bit loud, but it is a few years old so it's had a good amount of constant use. I can't say it's a must have, but there's a very good chance you would like the Vortechs and a better chance the SPS would like the flow. Tough to say whether you'd get better color, but I'd venture that better growth coild be had with the wide flow. I'd recommend seeing them in action before you buy if you could. If you do buy the Vortechs, you could possibly hide some of the MaxiJets in or behind the rock work for more random flow, cleaning up the look of the tank while maintaining the flow. Do you ever have heat issues? That would be another reason to snag the Vortechs. Once again, I'd check them out in action if you can. I've gotten good work from mine.

 

[Pallobi]

4 maxijets in a 220 is not nearly enough flow for much of anything imo... you wouldnt be dissapointed with some vortechs imo...

 

[docs911]

I run a chiller but it rarely turns on (at least when I am at home). The temp stays about 79 degrees. I am a little concerned about the noise. There seems to be quite a few posts complaining of it.

I am trying to get rid of a few dead spots of flow. I never considered running 2 MP40's and maxijets. That would be quite a lot of flow!

 

[MIKE NY]

4 maxijets in a 220 is not nearly enough flow for much of anything imo... you wouldnt be dissapointed with some vortechs imo...

x2...I use 4 modded mj1200 w/2100s and thats not enough in my 170

 

[blakers82]

As Pallobi indicated, SPS need serious flow. My count is about 8900gph max flow in my tank without the return pump. My tank is 6inches slimmer than yours and I still feel I could use better flow.