Tunze 6000 in 130g tank

[Bojan]

I currently have a 130 gallon tank. Dimensions are 130 cm long, 60cm wide, and 60 cm tall. Right now I have mostly SPS and LPS and few soft corals. I was using 3 Maxi Jet 1000 pumps for circulation in my tank, but after reading all of the posts about the steams they sound a whole lot better, so I decided to replace Maxi Jet 1000 pumps with Tunze electronic or Tunze Stream pumps.
At first i was planning to use 2 X Tunze 6100 with with a multi-controller, but after that I found out that Tunze 6100 and Tunze 6000 are exactly the same pumps. Actually pump and driver are the same, only transformer is different.
Pump Tunze 6000 uses transformer 2X12V 20A (Europe) and pump Tunze 6100 uses 2X 20V 60VA (Europe) transformer. Tunze also supply transformer 2X16 V used for pump 7300/2, but I checked that this transformer also works with Tunze 6000 and actually change Tunze 6000 in more powerfull stream than Tunze 6000 and less powerfull than Tunze 6100.
So I decided to buy pump Tunze 6000 and multi-controller and test this pump with different transformers in my reef aquarium.
I mounted pump Tunze 6000 in rear ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ right corner of my aquarium and directs pump output diagonally in direction front, left . I tested this configuration with 12V,16V and 20V transformer.
16 V transformer produces the most appropriate stream for my aquarium. The 6000 with 16V transformer uses 26 W of power when pump operate on 100 % and 15W when I adjust driver (multi-controller) to 30%.
According to my test, one Tunze 6000 (16V ) is enough for my 130 gallon tank, because this pump generate circular stream in my aquarium.

 

[rvitko]

Sounds good! I actually use the same transformer for testing pumps and I have found it is a great in between size. The reason we didn't make such a model was the 6100 could be run at the speed of your creation by turning it down and at the lowest power it was about the same as a 6000. For the US transformers are actually 11V, 15V and 19V. I am impressed you figured out the polarity.

 

[cspark]

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Regarding this thread,

How about the using Variac for the supplying the AC to the transformer?

I think it will generate continuously varing DC voltage...

 

[rvitko]

That would defeat the circuit breaker which is rated by amp draw for each individual pump. The transformers have both thermal and overdraw protection.

 

[cspark]

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That would defeat the circuit breaker

which circuit braker you mean? the one in the variac?

I have one 6100 with single controller. seems like too big for my tank.
My idea is, instead of downgrading the transformer ( one for the 6000),
use 6100 transformer with variac to reduced the line voltage from 110 volt ac to 80 volt ac (for example)

Amp rating of the variac is 10A, which means over 1KVA.

 

[rvitko]

No, our transformers contain all the safety devices to prevent damage to the pump. 10A would be way past the point the pump would be completely fried. .5amp is the absolute limit. A 6000 is going to be limited to 20W before the transformer breaker trips, a 6100 is 60W and a 6200 is 80w but this model is a bit beefed up to handle more power. If you do this modification please don't ask for warranty service when you damage the pump and driver. The transformer is a dual hot pole AC torroidal transformer, it is not an easy thing to replicate or source.

 

[cspark]

Roger, I think you misunderstand what I say.

I'm not doing any modification, I will use your transformer as is.
My question is ; Instead of supply 110 volt AC, how about the supply a 80 volt AC using variac?

 

[rvitko]

Ahh, sory, now I see what you are doing. You could try it, just don't turn it up. I know my Variac goes from 140-0 and I use it to verify brown out condition start up on new pumps. I could see safely taking it down to maybe 90V but wouldn't try much lower. This may negatively impact the controls though as the controller needs a constant and certain voltage feed to function.

 

[cspark]

OK, then;

Correct me If I'm wrong.

There are two way to reduce the flow, By reducing the supplying voltage (like I described in above)
and by trim down the small pot in the blue box.

But If I use the second option, I can't use wave simulation function in the single controller. right?

 

[rvitko]

Correct. I am just uncertain how this will work- if you stay between 120-90V I am sure it is safe for the pump. Please verify with a volt meter or watt meter since these variacs aren't very accurate in general. I only use mine for testing since the specs are at 115V I need to compensate our voltage of 124 to get accurate watt meter readings. I also use it to be sure the pumps will run in low voltage areas before they are released. I have never tried what you are planning to do but see no reason it won't work, I just don't know about the controller.