tunze and vortech who uses them?

[fishtk75]

Asking how they work for you and what size?

 

[Anonymous]

I've used two tunze streams (6100) on a 300 gallon. The flow is great, the pumps are large and ugly, and I found them to be a royal pain to clean. Because of the way they plugged into the driver it was annoying to deal with getting them off the aquarium and over to a sink where I could scrub them. Plus, I didn't spring for the magnet mounts, so I had to remove/scrub a big hanging bracket too. Bleah.

I'm interested to hear feedback about the cleaning/maintenance for the Vortechs. I like the thought that I would never have to drag a cord along to my sink for cleaning, but how much of a pain is it to have to find a place to set the motor half, and then re-set up the pump again after cleaning? With the tunze, I'd soak the impeller/impeller chamber in vinegar to get rid of buildup - is this required with the vortech as well?

I just remembered that there is a cord holding sticky accessory for the Vortech - can you just leave the motor hanging from that while cleaning the inner section? that would be awesome.

jayo

 

[Anonymous]

I have a tunze 6000 with single controller. My next pump will be the vortech.

 

[Anonymous]

I am planning 2 tunze 6200's on a controller for my 150.

 

[Len]

I have Vortechs and love them. I'll love them even more when I have the full system with controller.

 

[Len]

I'm interested to hear feedback about the cleaning/maintenance for the Vortechs. I like the thought that I would never have to drag a cord along to my sink for cleaning, but how much of a pain is it to have to find a place to set the motor half, and then re-set up the pump again after cleaning? With the tunze, I'd soak the impeller/impeller chamber in vinegar to get rid of buildup - is this required with the vortech as well?

I just remembered that there is a cord holding sticky accessory for the Vortech - can you just leave the motor hanging from that while cleaning the inner section? that would be awesome.

jayo

Vortechs are a lot more maintainence free then Tunze. I don't know if you even have to clean the pump. It's such an open architecture that little can get clogged or built up. I haven't cleaned mine for months.

You can hang it by the cord if you have the cord attached to a good location via the supplied cable ties and cable tie mounts. Personally, I don't know if this is advisable and I'd recommend that you take the motor section off and place it on the floor or table (let the inside half fall down in the tank, then retrieve it). The two halves pop apart fairly easily so cleaning is a clinch.

 

[fishtk75]

Who Has goods prices on both of them?
the tunze has wave timer the vortech have one too?
Also I do not how to say this as these have good and bad say then basic power heads and also looking at a thing called ocean motion.

 

[Anonymous]

I have the Tunze Stream 6000 and a controller. I like it but it is large. They do make a nice unit though. Solid built. I would like to see a Vortec eventually.



I agree with Jayo that they SUCK to clean since the power cord is directly wired to the driver. There should be a plug there so you can remove the pump without unmounting to driver box. I got the new style impeller for the tunze that is a 1 piece design adn its so much easier to clean that. I now bring a bowl of vinegar to my tank and soak the stream housing for an hour then do a couple of fresh water dunks, swishes, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

I have Vortechs and love them. I'll love them even more when I have the full system with controller.

Len (or anyone else with a Vortech)...
I'm thinking about adding one of these, but my concern is placement. No matter where in my tank I were to put one it would be fairly close to *something* -- either rockwork, the side of the tank, etc. Could these be run with only three or four inches of clearance on any side of it, without having problems? How close to the top of the tank can they realistically be placed (bearing in mind an open top tank)?

They cost just a bit too much for me to buy one and find out it's just flat out too much for my 40g because of proximity issues, so any light anyone can shed would be appreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

They cannot be placed to close to the top or they will suck down air.

Go to this page and go to the videos and look for vortech:

http://www.melevsreef.com/links.html

 

[Anonymous]

They cannot be placed to close to the top or they will suck down air.

Yes, I know - which is why I'm asking what the reasonable distance from the surface for them is.

Go to this page and go to the videos and look for vortech:

I've seen them, but thanks. They just don't really answer my questions. Now, I know they can be used on small tanks because Greg Schiemer is using one on his 40 gallon hex - I just need to know what kind of space and clearance it really needs.

 

[Len]

For a 40G, you probably wouldn't be running a Tunze or Vortech at full blast. The Vortech should be at least 6" below the water with 6" around all sides to run ideally IME. Turning down the speed should allow you to place it closer to neighboring objects though. You can crank down the Vortech to about 30-35% of max flow.

The new (not sure if it's released yet) Tunze Nano is worth looking at.

 

[Len]

Who Has goods prices on both of them?
the tunze has wave timer the vortech have one too?
Also I do not how to say this as these have good and bad say then basic power heads and also looking at a thing called ocean motion.

All the prices I see are about the same, so shop with the vendor you are comfortable with or is closest to you. The Vortech currently does not have a timer but a wireless controller is being developed as we speak.

These wide dispersion pumps are a lot better then power heads. Any time you move mass volumes of water with moderate speed is good. Powerheads do the exact opposite. As for Ocean Motions, they are merely a way of redirecting laminar water flow. I have OM Super Squirt to change the flow pattern in my tank. It is not a pump though - just a device that helps you change flow directions.

 

[Anonymous]

You can crank down the Vortech to about 30-35% of max flow.

And, believe me, I would be doing just that

Turning down the speed should allow you to place it closer to neighboring objects though

Cranked all the way down, think 3"-4" would be enough? Since it's not laminar flow, are there issues with having livestock that distance away?

 

[Len]

I can try it when I get home. I think at minimum speed, you can safely put corals that close.

 

[Anonymous]

No hurry, but if you could give it a go and let me know how it works it would be a big help. Thanks Len, it's appreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

Send Greg a PM. He is usually here and, due to his application, would have the answer, with the experience of use in a small tank to boot.

 

[fishtk75]

So all of you that have tunze what size and how many to move water in a 120?

I saw the clip link of one vortech that moves a lot one is good or do you have any other suggestions?

 

[leftovers]

I have run my vortec'hs within 3" of the surface at full blast, though its not recommended. I had to turn the cage so that the large solid block was up.

The current vortech is still a beta and still running 100% 24x7 yes yes i know timbo is screaming for me to return it but its running fine and caked with coraline. I will be sending one back for replacement soon...i know ive been promising for months now to do so....ok beat me its a great product with little to no maintenance. Ive done 0 in the past 2 months. Whisper quiet and NO heat in my tank which has been great since my chiller died on me this past june.

In tanks that are 100gl or larger 2 vortechs, 1 at either end will be AMPLE for circulation and random flow. I have 2 in my 155bow and get fantastic flow for all animals and corals.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm confused why so little cleaning is required for the Vortech - there is a prop in there spinning very fast - the butt end of the prop must spin against something, doesn't this area need cleaning? Is there no shaft that the prop butt sits in that could build up calcium (sort of like an impeller shaft)? Can anyone post a pic?

What about the bearing? I've read that these need to be periodically replaced - has anyone had to do that yet? Is it difficult or expensive?

thanks,
jayo