Tunze 6000 to 6100 upgrade

[reef_doug]

I'm thinking about ordering a 6000 and if it wasn't strong enough the purchase the transformer for the 6100 down the road. At least I would have the 6000 transformer as a spare.

Is it true the only difference between the 6000 and 6100 is the transformer. What is the cost for the 6100 transformer?

Tank is 172g bowfront, and I already have a Wavebox 6212. The wavebox provides a nice left to right sway motion, but I want to add some circulation to the tank.

Thanks
Doug

 

[pjgriffin]

I am planning a 180g with wavebox and two 6000. Roger told me that the upgrade to 6100 would only be $75 for the transformers.

 

[JoeESSA]

$73 to $75 for one transformer. I.e. $146-$150 for two. I have just ordered a pair of 6100 transformers to upgrade my 6000's. The 6000's create adequate flow in my 140g (48"x24"x29") if both are set to 100% continuously, but if you want to use some of the effects using the 7095 controller you may want access to more flow. E.g., I like the interval 2 setting with the one powerhead at 30% whilst the other is pulsing between 40% and 100%. With this setting I find my 6000's are a bit too tame for my liking...Looking at average flow rate with this setting, the 2x6000's give me an average flow of 1850gph total, but 2x6100's would give me 3175gph total for same setting. Likewise the average power consumption is 15W with the 2x6000's using this setting, but 6100's will give an average 45W power consumption for same setting. This is the only downside.

 

[rvitko]

Actually 15W and 45W is max power consumption at full speed. The lowest settings are about 6w and 15W respectively. Average willdepend on the two speeds you run at.

 

[JoeESSA]

I agree Roger, but I was estimating average power consumption using the interval 2 setting I mentioned above assuming that power consumption and speed are directly proportional. I was doing this calculation to make a rough estimate of additional heating by changing to 2x6100's from 2x6000's.

E.g., my preferred setting is interval 2 with 6hr intervals: pump1 at 30% and pump2 half the time at 40% and half the time at 100% (2-seconds pulse roughly)...

Power consumption with 2x6000's = 15x(0.3+(0.4+1)/2)=15W

Power consumption with 2x6100's = 45((0.3+(0.4+1)/2)=45W

So, I'm reckoning on getting worst case 30W additional heat into the tank which I think shouldn't be an issue. It's like having 1 and 1/2 extra maxi-jet 1200's in the tank...

 

[JoeESSA]

Actually it may be a little higher than that if the minimum power consumptions are 6W and 15W respectively. That's a bit over 1/3rd for the 6000 and 1/3rd exactly for the 6100. No idea if the power consumption is directly proportional to speed for the points in between? Not that I think it will make that much difference to estimate though...

BTW, is the entire power consumption figure dissipated as heat in the powerheads themselves or does the 15W/45W include power to everything including the transformers and drivers?

 

[rvitko]

That includes everything, transformer, driver, for example the 6100 motor is only using about 37W.

 

[JoeESSA]

That's good information. Thanks...So basically 37W is the max heat that the 6100 can put into the tank.

 

[rvitko]

Yes.

 

[JoeESSA]

Received my 6100 transformers last night and installed them. These things move a lot of water. Using interval 2 with 6hrs interval and 2s pulse. Had to dial peak back to 70% as Xenia and LT anemone at bottom of tank were getting thrashed around. This still appears to be producing significantly more flow and turbulence compared to my 6000's set up roughly the same way, but with peak=100%, about 40% more water movement.

Definately have some overhead now should I upgrade to a larger aquarium..