[blu23girl]

I have a 120 gal tank 24"X48"x24" (see layout below). My question is, if i get one, will it be enough flow with the trapezoid shape of my overflow? will that block the flow from it too much from one side to the other? or should i get two, one for each side, they are expensive, so is it nessisary? anyone else have this layout that uses one?

Ideas?
Thanks!!

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by blu23girl

I have a 120 gal tank 24"X48"x24" (see layout below). My question is, if i get one, will it be enough flow with the trapezoid shape of my overflow? will that block the flow from it too much from one side to the other? or should i get two, one for each side, they are expensive, so is it nessisary? anyone else have this layout that uses one?

Ideas?
Thanks!!

I would get two and a controller when you can afford one. Unless you always want your current blowing in just one direction and no alternating effect. What will you do with your current Koralia's?

[aquasalt]

I think you two would be best even if you didn't have the overflow to deal with. Keep in mind that there are also other obstacles, such as your live rock. However, these thins are seriously expensive!

[wesley6610]

I personally can't see dropping $300+ on each PH, but if you are serious about your movement, as we all should be, why not get the best? But does $$$ mean its the best?? I have 4 Koralia PH and love them, and all four didn't cost me $300. I just saw on MarineDepot that they also have a controller for the Koralia's now too!

[aquasalt]

I think you have to buy the newest Koralia powerheads if you want to use the controller. Vortechs are great if you want to remove yourself form the bulky powerhead look and cut down on some heat. They are expensive though. I wonder how many years they would last.

[wesley6610]

I knew there had to be a catch to it all, well if one of my PH go out I will buy the new ones and the controller. Do you know if it will slow the propeller or just soft start it on/off?

[blu23girl]

yeah, i just broke one of my new Koralias, it was only 2 months in the tank, so i am a bit disappointed in craftsmanship and was thinking on upgrading to something else...

Hydor is really great though, they are sending me replacement parts, no questions asked, so that is nice...

I looked at the new Koralinas and the controller, but by the time you buy the powerheads at 50 bucks, the controller is 320 bucks, so, it about evens out to the same as the ecotechs....

Anyhow, who knows, might get just one, and still run the hydors too. i just really like the back-up battery feature!

[aquasalt]

Yeah but with the battery back up you and controller you are looking well over $1K.

Wesley, I am not sure what the deal is with the new ones. I think the old ones are ill-suited because they do a poor job at turning on/off intermittently.

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by blu23girl

yeah, i just broke one of my new Koralias, it was only 2 months in the tank, so i am a bit disappointed in craftsmanship and was thinking on upgrading to something else...

Hydor is really great though, they are sending me replacement parts, no questions asked, so that is nice...

I looked at the new Koralinas and the controller, but by the time you buy the powerheads at 50 bucks, the controller is 320 bucks, so, it about evens out to the same as the ecotechs....

Anyhow, who knows, might get just one, and still run the hydors too. i just really like the back-up battery feature!

True, but I guess I put more stock in other equipment and PH are crucial, but not at $300 each. I still have to buy gas this month, lol.

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by aquasalt

Yeah but with the battery back up you and controller you are looking well over $1K.

Wesley, I am not sure what the deal is with the new ones. I think the old ones are ill-suited because they do a poor job at turning on/off intermittently.

Your right about the on/off. I plugged one of mines up last night after redoing some rocks and noticed it wasn't on today a whole 18 hours later until i tapped the propeller, lol.

[lazy reef guy]

I have a 220 with one vortech and am waiting to buy the second only because it is six feet long but i tried the single one out on my old 90 gallon which is four feet long and when i put it in the blue pulse mode and turned it all the way up which is 3000 gph, after tweaking with the distance between pulses it started a wave back and fourth which does the best job at moving the water in the whold tank. I will be getting another so one will work as the slave to the master and pulse on and off against each other to create the wave across the entire six feet. I think you can get buy with the one but if you get a second one you will be able to lower the out put of the pump so that you dont blow anything over directly in the path of the out put. look on you tube for ecotech vortech and you will see a bunch of demonstrations.

[wesley6610]

Good suggestion Dave and if you can attach the link for others, that may make it easier for us to see exactly what you are referring to on YouTube. Good eye!

[shermdawg]

So did anyone know if that controller that Wesley linked us to is the type that slowly cuts power and slowly powers up? When I bought my Koralias the guy at customer service said there was one out already that did do that and he gave me the name but I have since forgotten it. He said that Koralias have motor troubles when they are shut off/on with no slow power cut so that a nicer controler was needed.

I just set up my tank with the Koralias on all the time to make circulation and then I have my 2 old maxi-jets(or whatever they are) pointed against the flow and they come on and off to make some motion. Its still cycling so I will see if thats good for now but I am definitely interested in a controller for the Koralia's as I don't see any Vortechs in my future.

Jeremy

[aquasalt]

This thread has made me think more about flow. I think flow is incredibly important, probably one of the most overlooked things in this hobby. I think the more expensive powerheads are probably worth the money, but the investment on return is going to be low if your other equipment is below par. For instance, why would I go spend $800 or more on flow if I don't have a good protein skimmer, or lighting?

My plan is to continue employing cheaper alternatives such as Koralias which offer great results for their price. Once everything else is in place, then it might be time to consider higher end powerheads.

[wesley6610]

Jim you make a good point and whenever you want to get the Vortech's, put me down for 2 also and we can swap stories about how good they are treating our tanks, but just not at both of our financial expense, lol. Seriously though, you are quite right about the flow being as important as the lights and skimming, but I still argue that a lower profile and adjustable down from 3000 gph is pricy for a PH and to have a pair and controller with battery back up is like $1200 and would easily make it more expensive than my lights, skimmer and other equipment put together. I don't think my stimulus check will cover that, lol.

[aquasalt]

Not unless you have a couple kids and quick!

[wesley6610]

Not for another few years so I can regroup from the student loans.

[elvis142]

hello to all, i have been offline for a while. what is a vortech?

thanks,
E

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by elvis142

hello to all, i have been offline for a while. what is a vortech?

thanks,
E

A Vortech (in this case) is an upper end power head that produces water flow/current/turbulence in your tank. Our tanks need this activity to survive.

[wesley6610]

Jim forgot to mention that it is the same price as a resonable car note or cheap laptop at Best Buy during Christmas time, lol.

[aquasalt]

Vortechs are the Rolls Royce of powerheads. The truth, however, is that both a Ford and a Rolls Royce will get you from A to B, and similarly Vortechs and Koralias (for example) will provide adequate flow. But if cost wasn't an issue, most aquarists would choose a Vortech.

[gimmito]

I have 2 vortechs on my 75 with battery backup. It has saved my tank more than once during power outages we suffered earlier this year in the bayarea. I would consider tunze and vortechs the best ph's in the market. I hear a lot of complaints about the price of the vortechs, but if my tank crashed because of a power outage that would have been hundreds (and in some of you guys cases thousands) of dollars.

That price doesn't seem so absurd now does it ?

To answer blu23girl's question:

2 opposing vortechs opposing each other should be sufficient. I've found one on reefcrest mode and one on lagoon mode gives me the most random flow

[blu23girl]

thanks Jim- I got a good deal on two used vortecs from a fellow reefer! hope to get them in the tank this week! =) i love when UPS comes to the house! =) something new to tinker with!

Can i put them side by side on oposite sides of the back of the tank, or do they need to face each other from one side to the other to "talk"?

I would like to avoid putting them on the sides if i can help it... ya know... aesthetics and all...

[gimmito]

Blu23girl,

The vortech's need to "see each other" or a have a "line of sight" in order to have one in master/slave mode. Personally, I have both in master mode (one reefcrest and one lagoon).
Asethetics wise...you won't hardly notice them at all.

[wesley6610]

Jim, I would agree with your point about spend the extra money and not have to upgrade later, but my question is now about angling of the vortechs; they sit flush on the wall of the tank, right? How can you ensure that there are no dead spots in the tank?