Some of you may know that I have recently been experimenting with a new product made by Reeftec. As one of the early customers of the PE-1 I wrote a comprehensive review which may be worth reading if you are unfamiliar with this product, click here. Soon after a new version of the PE-1 kit was made available, the “slim-line” model. This model shaves off about an inch in width and adds water intake slots along the sides and the bottom. The old version only drew in water from the top creating problems for users who had their units mounted high in the tank; the intake was so strong that a whirlpool formed drawing in air. I believe this effect is lessened now that the intake is evenly spread out.
Soon after the PE-2 model was released. This model was already tested by Richard Harker in his review, click here. Although very pleased with my PE-1s I decided to give the PE-2s a try. The cost of two black PE-2 kits was $100, with an extra cost of $5/ea for the perimeter brace (euro-brace) style bracket. I found the PE-2 pumps online for $57/ea. All told, shipped, the units cost about $120 each.
Upon receiving the new units it is worth noting that their construction is improved. Reeftec is using new equipment which allows for the new intake slots and slimmed down dimensions. While I appreciate the effort made to reduce the bulk of the unit my wife aptly pointed out that it’s the depth of the unit, not the width, which really stands out when looking at the tank head-on. This is no fault of Reeftecs, as the enclosure is not much larger than the depth of the pump and propeller assembly. Once again, I was glad I chose black acrylic which has a sleek, more professional look. The enclosure no longer has mounting tabs on the inside of the box which left the pump with noticeable “wiggle-room”. Now the acrylic neatly “wraps around” the pump with no extra room at the sides or back. The intake slots are placed at the shaft, between the pump and propeller. In addition, twice as many mounting holes were drilled in the bracket, allowing for more than 4 mounting heights.
Now knowing what type of flow to expect (see previous review) and minding the Reeftec’s website mention of a 16% increase of performance I plugged in both PE-2s to my Red Sea Wavemaster Pro. The increase in water movement was substantial. Based on purely visual observation it appeared to increase 50%. I mentioned in the last review how the diffuse cone-like output becomes very broad past 2’ providing little, if any, tactile indication of water velocity (although the laminar flow can easily be seen visually via polyp movement and by adding air or dumping food in front of the unit). The PE-2 output could be felt well past the 2’ marker. The deflection off the side walls is so great that current bounces back. This can be best seen in my tank by watching a single Reeftec PE-2 running on the back-right side of the tank, running over and behind the rock structure. The current bounces off the left wall, around the rock structure to the front, and back to the middle of the tank. My first impression was “Finally! The water movement I’ve always hoped for!!!”
After making observations over the past couple weeks something happened which I never thought possible. I had actually gone too far! We have always heard the advice of the experts claiming that our sps can handle “as much current as we can throw at them”. Thus many of us have been searching for new ways of producing stronger and stronger current. I think very few of us have hit that point where we actually have too much water motion. With Reeftec we have to seriously consider what is too much flow and purchase accordingly.
It should be noted that my tank is 60”x18”x24” with a 5” DSB. I have a sps dominated tank with clams. Most of the corals are acropora, which like the new flow just fine. The fish, too, seem to enjoy the current (although pushed around a good bit). However I have noticed sediment damage on my montipora capricornus and pavona. I have noticed tissue damage to my montipora digitata and tubinaria (already partially caused by the PE-1s). Both clams, which reside on the sand bed, have been pushed over numerous times as the sand bed has been reshaped due to the current. I have noted that their inhalent siphons are nearly closed, as if they are trying to keep current out. Lastly my gorgonian, which greatly appreciated the flow of the PE-1 has scarcely shown a polyp.
I have since deactivated the night-time mode on my Wavemaster which tends to run both pumps simultaneously for extended periods of time. This is simply too much current for the tank. A sand storm kicks up, the fish are pushed every which way, and the water surface boils with turbulence. On the “gentle” setting the pumps mostly alternate which seems better. The long-term effect on my sand bed is unknown, it may keep pushing sand until the glass bottom is exposed and require rocks to be placed to create barriers. This should also be of concern to those who rest their rock structures on the sand as opposed to on the bottom or on PVC stand-offs. I now plan to remove one of the PE-2s in favor of running a PE-1/PE-2 combination. Hopefully this will solve some of the issues I’m having with sedimentation and tissue damage.
* Before continuing with a summation I wanted to mention that I am not a beta tester nor am in any way affiliated with Reeftec. I purchased both pairs of units at full price and took a loss when selling the PE-1s in order to test the PE-2s. That stated I want to assure you I have attempted for this review to be as impartial as possible.
While the idea of propeller driven pumps is not new, a simple commercial option was previously unavailable. Although you do not need to choose Reeftec, for the money you get a professional enclosure and can rest easy knowing your pump is secure (this would certainly be different than a powerhead falling off its suction cups!). The propeller modification is quick and straightforward; I almost did this second batch in my sleep. The water movement generated is simply remarkable considering the relative low power consumption of these pumps (36watts for the PE-1, 47watts for the PE-2, 80 watts for the not yet released PE-2.5). I believe the type of flow produced is the “most correct” for our reef tanks. Correctly sized you will achieve complete water movement, with turbulent and broad laminar flow. I think the fact that it is now possible to generate too much current is nothing short of revolutionary. Reeftec moves us beyond robotically throwing more power towards water movement with no consequences. It is an option which will force us to rationalize how much movement our systems actually require and choose the correct option accordingly without overshooting. Before, I chose Reeftec as a temporary alternative to a closed loop with SeaSwirls. Now I am convinced my new tank will use Reeftecs instead. Simply put I don’t think powerheads, closed loops, or Wave2Ks can produce the type and amount of current of a Reeftec. And for that I have no other choice but to award this product:
Soon after the PE-2 model was released. This model was already tested by Richard Harker in his review, click here. Although very pleased with my PE-1s I decided to give the PE-2s a try. The cost of two black PE-2 kits was $100, with an extra cost of $5/ea for the perimeter brace (euro-brace) style bracket. I found the PE-2 pumps online for $57/ea. All told, shipped, the units cost about $120 each.
Upon receiving the new units it is worth noting that their construction is improved. Reeftec is using new equipment which allows for the new intake slots and slimmed down dimensions. While I appreciate the effort made to reduce the bulk of the unit my wife aptly pointed out that it’s the depth of the unit, not the width, which really stands out when looking at the tank head-on. This is no fault of Reeftecs, as the enclosure is not much larger than the depth of the pump and propeller assembly. Once again, I was glad I chose black acrylic which has a sleek, more professional look. The enclosure no longer has mounting tabs on the inside of the box which left the pump with noticeable “wiggle-room”. Now the acrylic neatly “wraps around” the pump with no extra room at the sides or back. The intake slots are placed at the shaft, between the pump and propeller. In addition, twice as many mounting holes were drilled in the bracket, allowing for more than 4 mounting heights.
Now knowing what type of flow to expect (see previous review) and minding the Reeftec’s website mention of a 16% increase of performance I plugged in both PE-2s to my Red Sea Wavemaster Pro. The increase in water movement was substantial. Based on purely visual observation it appeared to increase 50%. I mentioned in the last review how the diffuse cone-like output becomes very broad past 2’ providing little, if any, tactile indication of water velocity (although the laminar flow can easily be seen visually via polyp movement and by adding air or dumping food in front of the unit). The PE-2 output could be felt well past the 2’ marker. The deflection off the side walls is so great that current bounces back. This can be best seen in my tank by watching a single Reeftec PE-2 running on the back-right side of the tank, running over and behind the rock structure. The current bounces off the left wall, around the rock structure to the front, and back to the middle of the tank. My first impression was “Finally! The water movement I’ve always hoped for!!!”
After making observations over the past couple weeks something happened which I never thought possible. I had actually gone too far! We have always heard the advice of the experts claiming that our sps can handle “as much current as we can throw at them”. Thus many of us have been searching for new ways of producing stronger and stronger current. I think very few of us have hit that point where we actually have too much water motion. With Reeftec we have to seriously consider what is too much flow and purchase accordingly.
It should be noted that my tank is 60”x18”x24” with a 5” DSB. I have a sps dominated tank with clams. Most of the corals are acropora, which like the new flow just fine. The fish, too, seem to enjoy the current (although pushed around a good bit). However I have noticed sediment damage on my montipora capricornus and pavona. I have noticed tissue damage to my montipora digitata and tubinaria (already partially caused by the PE-1s). Both clams, which reside on the sand bed, have been pushed over numerous times as the sand bed has been reshaped due to the current. I have noted that their inhalent siphons are nearly closed, as if they are trying to keep current out. Lastly my gorgonian, which greatly appreciated the flow of the PE-1 has scarcely shown a polyp.
I have since deactivated the night-time mode on my Wavemaster which tends to run both pumps simultaneously for extended periods of time. This is simply too much current for the tank. A sand storm kicks up, the fish are pushed every which way, and the water surface boils with turbulence. On the “gentle” setting the pumps mostly alternate which seems better. The long-term effect on my sand bed is unknown, it may keep pushing sand until the glass bottom is exposed and require rocks to be placed to create barriers. This should also be of concern to those who rest their rock structures on the sand as opposed to on the bottom or on PVC stand-offs. I now plan to remove one of the PE-2s in favor of running a PE-1/PE-2 combination. Hopefully this will solve some of the issues I’m having with sedimentation and tissue damage.
* Before continuing with a summation I wanted to mention that I am not a beta tester nor am in any way affiliated with Reeftec. I purchased both pairs of units at full price and took a loss when selling the PE-1s in order to test the PE-2s. That stated I want to assure you I have attempted for this review to be as impartial as possible.
While the idea of propeller driven pumps is not new, a simple commercial option was previously unavailable. Although you do not need to choose Reeftec, for the money you get a professional enclosure and can rest easy knowing your pump is secure (this would certainly be different than a powerhead falling off its suction cups!). The propeller modification is quick and straightforward; I almost did this second batch in my sleep. The water movement generated is simply remarkable considering the relative low power consumption of these pumps (36watts for the PE-1, 47watts for the PE-2, 80 watts for the not yet released PE-2.5). I believe the type of flow produced is the “most correct” for our reef tanks. Correctly sized you will achieve complete water movement, with turbulent and broad laminar flow. I think the fact that it is now possible to generate too much current is nothing short of revolutionary. Reeftec moves us beyond robotically throwing more power towards water movement with no consequences. It is an option which will force us to rationalize how much movement our systems actually require and choose the correct option accordingly without overshooting. Before, I chose Reeftec as a temporary alternative to a closed loop with SeaSwirls. Now I am convinced my new tank will use Reeftecs instead. Simply put I don’t think powerheads, closed loops, or Wave2Ks can produce the type and amount of current of a Reeftec. And for that I have no other choice but to award this product:
