Vortech Pumps: What makes them so great

[reefnewbie83177]

HI All,
So I am certain that most of you have had to explain to your significant others about why you need such and such for you tank. Well, I am currently working on flow in my tank. Currently I have two of the cheap ocean stream 1600 power heads. I have pretty decent flow, but it seems like I am always battling with getting them right so that everyone is happy. I have heard great things about the vortech MP40's. I was thinking about getting one for my 90 gallon tank and then using one of the ocean streams on the other end. Can anyone give my some advice as to why these are so great. I really like the look of the flow, and how it really seams to simulate the natural wave like motion of the ocean, but I got to bring something more to the argument than it looks cool. How will it benefit my SPS in the long run. The wife is pretty good at letting my get something for the tank if it will significantly improve the overall health of the system.

Thanks

 

[ganjero]

These pumps have wider flow than most, they are programmable (different modes which are great), the motor is outside the tank (no heat added), use lower wattage than some other style of pumps, smaller footprint than other pumps, one pump could provide better and more flow than 2 pumps from other styles, customer service is great so far.
IMO they have a few cons, but nothing major and most issues (the wet side specially) have been improved, if you give good maintenance every 3 months or so they can last without major issues.

With that said you can achieve success and get the necessary flow with cheaper options. People have been successfully keeping SPS long before these pumps. Other than the cool factors and some improves features over cheaper pumps, there really is nothing that makes these pump a necessity.

 

[nanojg]

For me its the wide flow and the various programs you can run (the nutrient export mode is fantastic) that make them so great. Like ganjero said you dont need them and can get by just fine with other, cheaper pumps.

 

[drparker]

Two things sold my wife. No electricity in the tank to shock me. Battery backup that would run for 36hrs. With a UPS you lose a lot of power converting DC to AC. The Vortech is a DC motor so using the Ecotech battery is DC to DC, no conversion and no added loss of battery power.

 

[allsps40]

Except the price everything is great about the Vortech pumps.

 

[Allmost]

Wide flow
unmatched undertow.
SMALL foot print.
no cords in tank.
REAL flow rating.

 

[tkeracer619]

Look at one in person. The flow is amazing.

No power in the water and the battery backup. Those two features are good for you and your tank without even considering the strong wide flow.

We had some strong winds the other day. About 11,000 people were out of power for 24h. Had nothing to do with snow or inclement weather. The wind blew a little too hard and it caused a ton of transformers to pop.

 

[RubberFrog]

Whether they are "great" or not is a personal opinion, but I chose them for aesthetic reasons.

 

[MHG]

The noise. That steady whir from across the room is soothing...boarderline dizzying...

 

[karsseboom]

Other then the noise, they are the best pump in the world.

 

[hypnoj]

my tank acts as a divider in a room, so it doesn't make any sense to have an mp40 sticking out on one side (would look stupid), so I have a fully internal powerhead on the hallways walking side and an MP40 on the wall side (where the dry side can't be seen). I do like the wave action, but I don't know how necessary it is. I don't have any greater growth with it then when I had 2 totally internal pumps. I don't feel it makes a ton of noise, but I've never had any powerheads that made any noise prior to the MP40. So.. I don't think there's anything terribly special about them, outside of having so many devoted fans. I don't have an issue with heat either, which means that my heater has to work harder with an MP40 then without.

 

[120reefermadnes]

Im stuck on the same fence, im looking to upgrade my koralia evo 1400s because they want to run in reverse every time I got to turn them back on after feeding. Not sure if im gona go with mp40s or tunze

 

[atreis]

Upsides: Wide and strong flow, low in-tank footprint, no wires in tank.

Downside: Noise. My wife won't let me run mine above 40% because of the whine.

 

[Dadekster]

You can also sync them which is nice.

 

[jamey1015]

I had a purple tort look like shaggy carpet after I put just one in my tank the next week I got another, the great polyp extension alone sold me.

 

[AFRobert568]

I thing grajero hit right on the head. I personally got an MP10 after everybody has raved about them. I do like that it takes less room in my nano, but I will likely sell it and use the money to purchase two other circulation pumps and other stuff for my new tank. I’d be interested in getting a wavebox before I get another.

 

[chilwil84]

when i first turned mine on and i saw the detrous come off the sandbed and the rocks at the bottom of the tank just from the underflow i was sold for life. as far as noise it is still quieter than most of the fans on my retro canopies.

 

[Banshee1]

the wife flow and undertow sold me.always had sand bed alge issues with 3 "lesser" pumps.1 week with an mp40 and the tank just looked healthier all around.the clean looking no wires in the tank is awesome too.really don't have anything bad to say about them!

 

[Stupidhatmatt]

I like them because they are the only pump that the Church of Scientology endorses.

 

[Banshee1]

^^^^???