So since I have had the most problems out of any Vortech customer I guess I should chime in here.
Advantages of Vortech over CL:
1. Ability to move pump to various locations;
2. Very low watt/gph; (low operating cost)
3. very low to zero heat passed to the water column;
4. ability to run on Backup Battery;
5. Easily cleaned;
6. extremely wide and pulsating flow;
7. no possibility of leaks;
8. Controllable.
Advanteages over Tunze:
1. no wires in tank;
2. smaller pump profile;
3. no heat transfer;
4. wider flow;
5. Battery backup;
6. Future: wireless controller for up to 8 units.
General Advantages:
1. Advanced electronic pump management: These pumps monitor themselves and shut down for over-temp., prop obstructions, and ejection. They are also infinitely adjustable.
Disadvantages:
1. Can't be aimed in a particular direction;
2. In certain installs wires on the outside would be undesireable;
3. Sometimes alignment can be an issue, but with the latest versions that doesn't seem to be a problem anymore.
My issues:
1. Tremendous rattling: Magnets were weak and replaced, bearings changed out, washers installed. I wanted to poke my eyes out.
2. Cord keepers wouldn't stay stuck to the acrylic: I drilled small holes in my euro-bracing and zip tied the cords in place.
3. Inability to run on a controller: I use a Neptune ACIII Pro and was first told no less than 1 minute cycles, then 5 minute cycles, then 10 minutes, then 20 minutes. Due to an issue with the firmware, the drivers were getting toasted by the ON/OFF cycles. I lost a total of five drivers. All were replaced by Eco-Tech. I lost at least one power supply, also replaced. All of my current drivers have been upgraded to the latest configuration and they are all running very well, with no appreciable noise.
4. Extreme over-heating: All of my Vortechs have been running close to and over maximum spec. and will slow themselves down to cool off. I am talking about the case being at 140F and above. This has damaged my acrylic by crazing it where the Vortechs are installed. I currently run them at about 70 - 75% to keep them from over-heating and have been told that the 75 - 80F ambient temp. of my tank room is to blame. I am not sure I buy that, to be honest. That's a killer because there isn't really a solution other than consuming more power, which would negate a key reason why I bought the Vortechs over a CL.
I have 4 Vortechs on my 1000g tank with one spare...I have NEVER seen a pump of any kind put out this kind of flow. It oscilates so that the coral polyps sway back and forth. I have two installed on each end of my 8' long tank and there is flow to spare even in the center of the tank. As the reef grows, I will probably add the 5th pump, as well as two more to the back panel of the tank.
I also have two of the Battery Backup units and they work fine. They are below expectation though in that there is no way to tell how much battery life there is, or any other parameters like in a modern PC backup battery. For me, I could have used PC BB units and put them inline, but then that would not allow the pumps to be remotely controlled. As it is now, the pumps on the Backups cannot be controlled by the ACIII Pro since that simply would turn them on and off, but then the backup would kick in and they would run at 50%. So the only way to actually control Vortech pumps is with their proprietary controller...it's just money right??
If I missed any of my issues (memory is bad) please feel free to ad them onto the list!
