Vortech & Tunze users need advise

F

fishnerd1

New member
Looking to upgrade to either Vortech or Tunze and need recommendations from users on exactly which models I should be considering for my DT. Still ealry in the reef game so no clear direction on animals yet.

Tank dimensions: 245g 72"X30"X26", with rock wall across back, pic below. I have a maxi 1200 and evolution 1050 that will be moved to the back wall to drive water through the rock. Current ruturn is running at about 1500-1600 gph.

My thoughts - but are these enough for this size tank and set-up??

Vortech - two MP40W ES - one on each side. Been reading and these may be to weak to reach across the 72" width

Tunze - two 6105's and 7096 controller. Again same concern on being strong enoough to reach across the tank.

Not made of $ so stepping into this level of equipment needs to be right the first time. I know bigger is better but again price needs to be a consideration.

Any help from actual users on how this equipment performs on your tanks would be very helpful. Recommendations of other pieces also appreciated. I've see many of threads debating these makers but little real world input on usage of the equipment.
DSC02372.jpg
 
For that size tank i would consider 2 mp60's for sps. For mixed reef you may get by with mp40's.

Remember the mp40's can handle aquarium thickness up to 3/4".

Or 2 mp40's on ends and a smaller tunze on back wall facing forward.
 
Tunzes have more push and will reach across a 6 foot tank better than the MP40, I have owned both on 72" and 48" tanks. The MP40 is wide gentle, but short in flow. The Tunze 6105 is more narrow and will push further into the tank. The 6105 also comes with a wider outlet as well now that will give very wide flow but not go as far in the tank. I think you would do alright with either though- me personally would go with Tunze- since you have the return and a couple other powerheads in there.
 
tkeracer619 said:
What are your long term plans for coral in the tank?
Click to expand...

Not totally sure long term yet. Right now I'm leaning to a mixed reef with variety but to early to tell. I think both manufactures are a good fit. I like the space savings of the Vortech but $ on repair long term make the Tunze a better value from what I've read. Interesting how you don't see many Tunze for sale used but lots of Vortechs.

The debate aside the real question is for each manufacture which exact models would be the best choice and why is the real question I have.
 
I have owned both and would consider a couple 6105 pumps to push the required water flow to the other end of the tank. I think you should set the tank up to house SPS and then when you finally decide (and you will eventually want them) to get a couple frags you won't have to upgrade again. The mp60's would probably work, but I don't have any first hand knowledge about them. I know the mp40's were loud, but had great flow. I hated the wart on the ends of the tank. Someone posted that it looked like headphones or ear muffs for the reef, and I agree. I think that my 6105's are awesome. They are silent and move a ton of water. They do require a separate controller to make work as they should, but its a great reason to get an apex IMO. Basically looking for 160$ tunze controller and 2 6105's. I think its a great setup and really trumps the vortechs. I realize others will disagree. They are wrong. (J/K vortech are awesome too, just not for everyone)
 
Thanks for creating this thread, I'm at the same stage and was debating both but leaning towards the Tunze, now I've decided this makes the most sense for my situation
 
Im also in the same boat. I've decided on the Tunze's. You can find the older tunze's for great deals. I will end up with two 6100s and two 6000 with a 7095 controller for the same price as two MP40s. Just may take some time looking.
 
Call vortech and tunze see what they recommend. I have only a messly 75g and I posted a similar question but I was looking at mp10s everyone said I needed to mp40s. when i called vortech they set me straight. They didnt try to oversell me. I can see where tunze in that big of tank would be nice because you wouldnt notice pumps in that big a space unline a 75g. I will say I am very happy with my flow.
 
I have two 6105 and two 6055 running off a 7095 and am happy with the results thus far. I may have to upgrade pump size when the coral grow in a bit but will definitely be sticking with Tunze.
 
I have owned and used both. Both are very good products and do a very good job of moving water. I have personally found that Tunze USA offers better overall customer service than EcoTech but that is my personal experience and others may have other experiences.

Two MP40's or MP60's will work (60's better than 40's) if you set them so that they are alternating pushing current back and forth and not on at the same time. That way you will build up a wave motion in the tank and move quite a bit of water. The two downsides in my experience with them is that they are noisy when compared to the Tunze's and they have a higher incidence of breakdown due to accidental water penetration on the dry side.

The Tunze's will also move water very well for your tank though you will need at least the 105's. Set up the same way as the MP's and you will get the same benefits. The downside with the Tunze's is that you will have cables in the tank and there will be some small amount of temperature increase in the tank since the motor driving the pumps is in the water instead of on the side of the tank. The upside is that they are quieter than the MP's and less prone to breakdown.

All things considered I would opt for the Tunze.
 
I just sold my two mp40's and have two tunze 6095 and two tunze 6105 on the way.. i was also running four tunze 6055's with my vortechs,,and i liked the four tunzes better without the vortechs!! my tank s very similiar size to yours as well..you can point the tunzes ina ll different directins creatng very random bursts of flow with the controller..
 
I like both but prefer Tunze, it is as quiet as can be and the Vortech is not. Both do an excellent job of moving water, both are controllable and work as designed to. I don't like the associated noise of the Vortech or I would run them. One thing to consider, with the Tunze you can either have a strong, long reaching flow or a broad flow, with the Vortech you only have the broad flow and with your tank and the goals you have the Tunze fits better.
 
I ran a pair of tunze 6305's on a 6 ft tank and they did well. I have the same tunzes in my 160 now, along with an mp40. I have always had terrific customer service from Tunze, Roger is a great asset for Tunze here in the USA. This is my first vortech and it has functioned flawlessly, so I can't comment on Ecotech's customer service. Having owned and used both--if I had to pick only one product and money was an issue then I would purchase Tunze. I also recommend only purchasing new when buying something like powerheads.
 
I've currently own both vortechs and tunzes.

For your tank and what you want, I think 2 tunze 6105s would work really well. Like a couple of other people have noted, the Tunzes tend to "push" water further in the tank imo.

Either pump will do well for you and you'll have people that like each pump.
 
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