Tunze vs. Eco Tech

[pblogic]

I don't have any experience with tunze powerheads but I do with their "silent" recirculation pumps. They are not anywhere near to dilent. Lot's of humming.

 

[SeanT]

This is starting to read a lot like the old BB -v- DSB threads.

Here is my $0.01.
I am still running 5-6 year old Tubze streams.
They are awesome.

I recently purchased an MP60.
It moved a lot of water.
And the controller is really convenient.

If you want to direct your flow go Tunze for sure.

If not...you're where you started.


BTW. I vote closed loop.

 

[Fire_Urchin]

I have heard more and more about how closed loop gives you the best of both worlds.... Its not what you ask for originally, but it really is something to look at if possible..

 

[sjm817]

Closed loops use a lot more electricity compared to a powerhead. You also need holes, bulkheads, plumbing, and add the chances of leaks that go along with that. They are not always quiet either.

 

[Acrotrdco]

Try touching your MP10/40 dry part when it's running on 100% whatever mode.

Now imagine putting that pump into water (i.e. Tunze) and all that heat is transferred into the water.

For folks living in cooler climates, that isn't a problem, but for folks like myself living in S.E. Asia where it's often in the 90's or even 100's, having extra heat that you need to cool with a chiller is undesirable.

So I've gone for 2x MP10's.

 

[dazzer slk]

I brought four MP60 NOISY AS HELL ,moved to Tunze even have Master stream this is quieter than the MP60s ,TRY ONE BEFORE BUYING .Also customer service Tunze way ahead

 

[pblogic]

One of the things people are not mentioning when they talk about TUnze and Koralia is that they do not include different modes or wave makers without additional equipment. If you add the controllers they are just as much as the vortech powerheads if not more depending on how many powerheads you have and want to control. I don't have a vortech myself yet but I do have four koralia's running on a JBJ wavemaker... it is a decent CHEAP setup, but it is by no way ideal. It doesn't create natural flow patterns or an undertoe and it generally just blasts everything in the tank from one direction or another, alternating so it doesn't annoy the corals too much I've found that providing broad gentle flow by using lower GPH pumps makes everything in the tank happier. Doing that would be even easier with the vortech.

 

[James77]

One of the things people are not mentioning when they talk about TUnze and Koralia is that they do not include different modes or wave makers without additional equipment. If you add the controllers they are just as much as the vortech powerheads if not more depending on how many powerheads you have and want to control.

Tunze 6105s are $310 each, the 7096 controllers are $160 each and can control up to 8 pumps.

Vortech MP40ES are $445 each.

2x Tunze 6105 and a 7096= $780
2 x Vortech MP40= $890
Between the above typical setup, the Tunze is cheaper by $110
--------------
4 x Tunze 6105 and a 7096= $1,240
4 x Vortech MP40= $1,780

The tunze setup is cheaper again by $540

Even with just a single pump, you can get a single Tunze controller for $65,so a 6105 and controller would still be almost $75 cheaper than a Vortech MP40ES. If you are using multiple pumps, you are paying for multiple Vortech controllers.

 

[bayoupr]

4 MP 40= not cables in the tank.
4 Tunze= 4 cables in the tank.
4 Tunze= In order to clean have to unplug, remove unit and clean.
4 MP40= Push button which stops pump, remove wet side clean and put back. Or if you have spare wet side like me; remove wet side, replace with clean one and start back up while you are cleaning the dirty wet side. Priceless.

 

[James77]

4 MP 40= not cables in the tank.
4 Tunze= 4 cables in the tank.
4 Tunze= In order to clean have to unplug, remove unit and clean.
4 MP40= Push button which stops pump, remove wet side clean and put back. Or if you have spare wet side like me; remove wet side, replace with clean one and start back up while you are cleaning the dirty wet side. Priceless.

There is about 3 inches of cable, and the pumps are tucked into the corners. With Vortech a wire is running down the side of the tank and you have a big lump on the side right on viewing panes(at least for me). To each his own there. One button stops my Tunzes as well for up to 4 different times on my Apex. Cleaning...which is about twice a year....takes about 1 or 2 hours with a soak in vinegar and a quick brushing. Wow...big deal.

 

[bayoupr]

Actually the way I built my canopy you only see 2" of my wire because I built where I could run my wires hidden between the tank and canopy. Only takes me about 15min to clean one.

 

[JG1]

They're both good pumps.

Some people like Pepsi, some like Coke.

If I were running a rimless open top tank, then I'd say go with the vortechs because of the aesthetics. Tanks with a closed top the tunze's won't look so bad.

I haven't used the tunze's but people rave about them and I'm sure they get the job done. I love my vortechs and the pre-programmed modes that come with them.

Another good thing about the vortechs is zero heat transfer into the tank.

 

[M Woodhill]

i always prefer a lower watt vortech

for my new 100 gallon tank, ill be using three mp10

 

[pblogic]

That's true as well. Lower Watt... also I looked at the tunze wave controller.. the single one. It isn't nearly as sophisticated as the vortech. I don't have anything agains tunze at all, they may be very high quality power heads, however they are very expensive for what they are, which is the same old type of power head that we've been using for years. To each their own for sure, but I'd much prefer supporting newer technology that moves the hobby forward than support older tech even if it's tried and true

 

[James77]

i always prefer a lower watt vortech

That's true as well. Lower Watt...

The watts listed on websites have since changed for the 6105, due to better propellers and more efficient power supplies. They are now around 28 watts, about the same as the MP40. Mine reads 22-24 watts at 100% on a killawatt meter.

a 6105 usually will use 26-28W at full power at 18V and at 12V it will usually use 10-12W.

As for the heat added to the tank, keep in mind that although the Tunze 6105 draws 28w at 100%, that is not the watts going into the tank. There are watts used up by the transformer, so knock several watts off the 28 watts as far as heat transfer to the tank. Much more heat comes from hundreds of watts of lighting and inefficent pumps. For the vast majority of people, Tunzes will not be the breaking point where you would now require a chiller....you most likely would see very little heat increase depending on tank size.

As far as being more advanced.....yes, that is a pro for Vortech. However, there are cons to that as well as far as placement. It also cannot be aimed at all, which would have been useful had I kept any of mine. Being more advanced....which is magnetically coupled through glass, also adds in potential for more problems. IMO, i'll go for anything that reduces the risk of serious problems in my tank, even if that means a couple of inches of pump in the tank.

Battery backup is also another feature that both Tunze and Vortech provide.

 

[Zebodog]

Vortech keeps electrical components out of the water which, imo, makes for a much safer pump and is worth the extra expense.

 

[James77]

Yes, electrical equipment out of the tank is great for safety...... But all controllable Tunzes are low voltage, so they are safe.

 

[Zebodog]

Yes, electrical equipment out of the tank is great for safety...... But all controllable Tunzes are low voltage, so they are safe.

Safe for humans perhaps. What about inverts?

I agree that 12V DC is better than 120V AC, and the risk is minimal with Tunze but there is zero risk with Ecotech.

When mixing electricity and saltwater, I'll take zero risk over minimal risk every time.

 

[Greedo]

If money is no issue then yea the ecotech is pretty win, however if you cant afford 400+ bucks a power head then tunze is the best bang for the buck imo.:beer:

 

[tjw00]

I will never buy another Tunze again. Switched to Vortech and never looked back. Best on the market and keeping the heat and the electricity out of my tank is well worth the extra $, not to mention the ability of the Vortechs to seamlessly run on my Apex with a variety of custom profiles.

And my Vortechs are completely silent. Have to literally put my ear next to the dry side to hear the hum.