Tunze stream users.

[npaden]

I just got a Tunze 6100 to replace my Reeftec PE-2 that just died after 2 years of use. Instead of buying a new pump for the Reeftec I am going to try the Tunze out.

With all the hype about how big these things are I was nicely suprised at how small it is compared to my old Reeftec unit. The place I bought it from was out of the fancier brackets that fit my tank but I think I'll be able to modify the standard bracket to work fine.

I'm going to set it up tonight and we'll see how comparable the flow is with the Reeftec PE-2 unit. I always ran the Reeftec 100% 24/7 with good results and I think I will run the Tunze the same way. I haven't bought the fancy controller yet.

As far as justifying the prices, these things do flow the same amount of water as an Ampmaster 3000 setup on a closed loop. I spent $250 for the Ampmaster, $180 each for 2 sea swirls with acrylic mounting brackets and about $100 in bulkheads and unions and plumbing fittings. That's $710! I could have bought a pair of Tunze 6100's with a multicontroller for $780 that flows more than twice as much water!

FWIW, Nathan

 

[taikonaut]

The main issue with regular powerhead is that the impeller will spin in either direction. This is why they use radial configuration (bidirectional) impeller instead of more efficient unidirectional impeller. Jimmy (reeftec.com) uses pumps that spin in one direction, I think.... Rio HF is also unidirection, so maybe people can make use of it in DIY project.

It is possible to make use of propeller pump in close loop. But it is more pickly about the plumbing setup due to the fact that a slight head pressure will decrease the flow rate quite a bit. I did not look into it much yet, but it should be possible to mount a Tunze pump inside a large diameter pipe and use it external for closed loop :? What do you think?

 

[taikonaut]

Nathan, you did not figure in electricity cost in your equation. Now, that should make you even happier!

 

[npaden]

Yeah, when I figure out the electricity I'm spending over $50 more on electricity each year running the super efficient ampmaster! (that's if you pretend it is only using 120 watts instead of the 200+ that some people have reported when they actually tested them)

I do agree that these pumps could come down in price a little but anything with the name "Tunze" has always been expensive. I heard they are coming out with at 5,000+ gph version soon!

Rio is coming out with a version of these also called the SEIO. I'm not sure if they are using their "HF" model as a base design or if they have gone all the way back to the drawing board. I've also heard that they will sell for less than 1/2 the price of the Tunze. They will not be controlable like the Tunze are, but I for one like to run my pumps full out!

I will probably try one of the SEIO's when they come out just because of the price tag.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[Aquarist20]

I too thought the price of the Tunze's were on the high side. But now that I have one in my tank I say it is worth every penny they are chargeing for them, and would buy another if I needed it. I absolutely love it. Ralphy they are quite simple to set up. The hardest part is mounting the pump itself. You have a pretty good range of controll on them. I dont have the multi controller but I have the singe. You have one adjustment on the main box which is a reostat and then the controller plugs into that. You can set it wherever you would like the make more adjustments on the controller. Like switching pumps, wave simulation and I think you can ramp the pumps up and down to create kind of a tidal surge in opposite directions. The only thing I say you might not like is just how much water the 6000's move. I have a 6000 in a 75 and I would have gotten the larger one but it is not controllable. Hope this helps.

 

[Anonymous]

I have two of the 3200 gph ones as the main circulation in my 215 gallon tank. I am very happy with them especially when paired with the controller. My only complaint is the mounting hardware from tunze is really geared around euro style aquariums and the implementation on say your average oceanic tank is kludgy at best. Tunze is supposedly coming out with a new magnetic mount that will allow more flexibility for placement but the price is a tad steep (but then again so are the streams).

I am thinking of pulling out the remaining maxijets in my tank and adding a couple more of the smaller ones for additional circulation.

 

[Ralphyhp]

Excuse me for not response but i dont know whats going on that RO didnt notify me when i have been replied on a thread. Any way thanks for all in special Aquarist20 that answer some of my questions. I present some problems here and decided to get the Tunze kit later. I Need to buy a multicontroller but not for the Tunze Streams just for me, Im spending to much money on the hobby. This is like a crack addiction you need more and more. Thanks for all, Ralphy.