Vortech placement side or back?

[Tigé21v]

Getting ready to put a Vortech 40 in my 90 gallon tank. Opinions as to whether the side or the back is better? Plan on running it in Random Crest mode. Seems most place on the side, but a few place it on the back. Not really worried about aesthetics, no way it could look worse than the powerheads.

 

[troynel]

I would also like to know. I have 3x3x2 tank and as of right now have them on the back.

 

[tewkes]

I have one on the side of my 36"x36x27" cube. I don't have enough room behind my tank for it. It works real good there but it's kinda in the way.

 

[BigAirHarper]

I am thinking of getting an MP40 for my 120 so I would be interested to hear responses as well, I have good places for either mounting position but didn't know which would be better.

 

[mray]

I think placing it in the back should give you the most flow. The flow is more random and it is more equally distributed.

 

[GaryR1984]

On those bigger tanks you should have more then one, if your only using one place it side.

 

[bimmerzs]

If you have sand, placing it on the back will displace a lot more sand than if it were on the end.

Cheers,

 

[BigAirHarper]

Yea, I was curious about the sand displacement issue but also thought the back placement would provide better flow distribution. Haha Gary I know 2 would be better but only 1 fits in the current budget. My K4s will have to suffice as supplement.

 

[jelwyoming]

I have two in my 120. I put them on opposite sides, one high, and one low, running in opposing short pulse mode. It makes for good surge action

 

[jelwyoming]

One quick note on these Vortec's, make sure that you have them plugged into adequate surge protection. 400.00 a pop can go up in smoke real fast if their controller isn't protected.

 

[roxsburyrage]

I have two on my 90 mixed reef and they work great.I put one a little bit lower in the tank than the other.I also moved one about 5 inches closer to back of the tank and moved the other a little further towards the front.I get total movement this way.Everything is doing great for over a year now.SPs and Softies.

 

[Tigé21v]

Was thinking placing it on the back would have the opposite effect on the sand, that there would be less displacement. Interesting.

 

[H.Veras]

my question is can we put on the back of the tank or not?????? or the best place is really on the sides... wife is complaining that looks ugly on the side's... hahahah

 

[roxsburyrage]

You can put them on the back .As far as the Best Function the sides we be the best choice.You would get more of the whole tank moving.It would also depend on how you tank is set up as far as rocks,corals etc.But to answer your Question is Yes you can do what you want to.

 

[exoticaquatix]

in my 4x2x2 120 I have my mp40 and a maxi-jet mod on one end of my tank pointing at the "reef slope" and a tunze pointing towards them on the opposite end. i also have a sea swirl return on that end which helps make the flow more chaotic. aesthetically, my positioning is less than idea but i like that the majority of my flow is directed at my stony corals while the "undertow" sweeps along my LPS, zoanthids and softies on the other end.
With my current aquascape i feel this is close to ideal given my available pumps.

-nick

 

[jelwyoming]

You can put them on the back, but then you can not really set them up for opposing flow to get the surge action. They have to be aimmed towards each other. If you want to put them on the back, set them for pulse action. It may be somewhat the same.