Ecotech's VorTech MP40w Propeller Pump

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david540i

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I was just wondering how everyone liked their Vortech pump.

I got mine, installed in a 5ft 120gallon and I'm somehow liking my 2 MJ1200's on a ACJr with timer better.

I got some waves going in the tank, but at 5ft and chak full of Live Rock, I don't believe its running to full potential.

Are the Tunze waveboxes better????
 
@david540i wrote:
I was just wondering how everyone liked their Vortech pump. I got mine said:
I have a 6 ft. 220g and started out with 2 VorTech's (the older style) and sold one and bought a Tunze wave box. Now I have one of each. The only reason I still have the VorTech is because of the battery backup safety. I love my Tunze and have noticed a faster SPS growth since I installed it. It's big, ugly to look at, and takes up a lot of room but it's worth it to me.

Mark
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I feel the same, at $400 I sure was expecting A LOT! Does anyone elses pump have a very warm touch?

Mine might be going up for sale shortly :?
 
@david540i wrote:
I feel the same said:
Didn't you get a good deal on it from the tank buy? I have to think it's are really good buy for you because even a Tunze 6100 with controller would cost $400.

IMO, There's no comparison for single Vortech versus a Wavebox because they're meant to accomplish different water movement.
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Yep! I got ONE HECK of A DEAL 8).

No offense but i would have been kicking myself if I had bought one at 400.00

Blide, your right. I was totally expecting different things with this pump. I was expecting more of a "Tunze Wavebox" type of movement.

I tried different settings, different locations as to mounting depth to try and vary the output. Nothing really to my taste.
 
Since you only have a 120g you might try turning off any other powerheads you have and then test the Vortech. That might make it easier to check your settings.

I had a Tunze 6000w/controller on a 75g and I had similar thoughts about the "wave" action in the begining, but once I was able to understand how these type of pumps work and how to utilize them it made it worth every penny. :D
 
its definately a different animal, and you are either going to love it or not. you can get a decent wave dialed in on a tank that size, ive seen a 115 and a single vortech do a nice job. you also have to realizse you dont want too big of a wave, just see if your softies are movin back and forth and your probably good movement wise. i have one on my 90 will have 2 on my 210 and want to buy another one. i love em
 
Hi,

Do you have the wireless driver or the old sytyle. With the wireless driver you can change the frequency as well as the speed. In pulse mode you can get some nice swaying going on, but it's way more effective with 2 Vortech's. When I had one Vortech in my 130 it wasn't cutting it, but once I put the second one in and sync's them up, it made all the difference in the world. I'm not saying you need to buy another Vortech, just saying for what you want it to do in your tank, you may need more than one, even up to three. That said, if you are gonna sell it....put me first in line. :)
Cheers,
 
i agree with mark tunze wave box is ugly but man no comparisons in my opinion with vortec's...i had nothing but problems with my old vortec before i traded it for a wavebox...
 
I have two vortechs on my 180 running in sync/antisync and the flow/waves are really nice.

I also have the battery backup unit running on the master unit in the likely event of another big power outage.

All that and no pumps/powerheads/boxes in the system? I'm satisfied with it. I can understand your dissatisfaction with just one of them though, 120 gallons is still large tank.
 
It's the wireless. I turned the flow to the highest and set the freq to about med. Got about 1in waves in the tank but there was MAJOR flow out in front of the output. but thats understandable coming from a prop pump.

Maybe I'll stick it back in the 60 Cube and REALLY get the waves going.

BUT one thing that distrubes me is that the tank is rimless. With the additional stress and ALL that water...
 
@david540i wrote:
It's the wireless. I turned the flow to the highest and set the freq to about med. Got about 1in waves in the tank but there was MAJOR flow out in front of the output. but thats understandable coming from a prop pump. Maybe I'll stick it back in the 60 Cube and REALLY get the waves going. BUT one thing that distrubes me is that the tank is rimless. With the additional stress and ALL that water... said:
Which program are you using...reefcrest, pulse etc.??
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I'm using the Pulse for waves. I have turblence set to the highest setting and frequency set to Medium.

The blue light blinks on and off just about every second
 
on my vortech, I have to set my speed to max and pulse everything sec to get a nice wave action. once you have your pulse frequency dialed in, you will notice the difference in waves.
 
It's the first setting. Say if you change to the Pulse program, this is when you set the speed. Hit the button and then turn the dial to tune the frequency.
 
I was always curious, what do you get out by all those wave settings, I think the vortec has like 5 different modes, what's the point of all that, does it just make the water movement pretty? Or the tunze wave maker? I never used any kind of wave maker which makes me wonder, if there is any real benefit in having waves. I know there's always a discussion going on about which wave maker is better. I know my tank isn't suffering without waves, so what the reason for it?
 
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