Powerheads

[frankieboy]

Hi everyone I wrote a thread with equipment list. Was wondering what power heads to get for a 150 gallon how many needed? Also what are mp40 I see it mentioned here a lot on mr, I want to get the best quality equipment popular brand. I'm still planning my tank slow, have everything listed that I need so when I buy tank- stand- canopy I will be ready. Right nowim reading book the reef aquarium volume 3 it's a great book sofar planning on plumbing PVC or other flex PVC. Anyone has preference on PVC, which is better, I want to setup once but right enjoy hobby for years to come. Another question 150 gallon tank 6 feet long is better wide or deep demension, I know tall tanks are hard to clean I had a 35 gallon hexagon tank it was tall had it when I was in freshwater hobby so any advice suggestion on these questions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[brunoboarder2444]

Google ecotech mp40 their website should pop up....you would probably be good with 2 if you put another power head on center back or you could go with 3.....as for long or DD is all a matter of preference and space...personally I would go with the long since the minimum length tank for most tangs is 6'

Sent from my PC36100 using Reefs

 

[frankieboy]

Thanks I'll look it up

 

[Bikeboss11]

You can also go on youtube and see the mp40 in action.... If you got the space I would go long.....

 

[Awibrandy]

Length over height or depth for fish to have ample room to swim. Tall tanks are better suited to Discus fish. Depth is best suited for rock scaping. If you could afford, and have the space lets say a 220 gallon that would be great. You'd have the length for the fish, and the depth for your rock scape.

Pumps; there are many different power head pumps out there. I hear good/bad feed back on the MP40, all good on the Tunze (I don't have these either). Hydor Koralias are IMO great these are the ones I have. In my 6' 155 gallon bow front I have 4 #4 original Koralias. One day I'll be able to get the controllable ones.

 

[shroomie]

I love my koralias!

 

[brunoboarder2444]

Length over height or depth for fish to have ample room to swim. Tall tanks are better suited to Discus fish. Depth is best suited for rock scaping. If you could afford, and have the space lets say a 220 gallon that would be great. You'd have the length for the fish, and the depth for your rock scape.

Pumps; there are many different power head pumps out there. I hear good/bad feed back on the MP40, all good on the Tunze (I don't have these either). Hydor Koralias are IMO great these are the ones I have. In my 6' 155 gallon bow front I have 4 #4 original Koralias. One day I'll be able to get the controllable ones.

i used to have all koralias once i got an mp10 i wouldnt go back, and the mp40 is just as good...most complaints with the mp40s are about the "noise they make" personally they are quieter than my tunze and they only get noisy at hobbyist fault for not cleaning them often enough which could mess up the rotation of the rotor and make it not able to keep up with the dry side since the algae etc is slowing it down, tunzes have some great power just limited controllability compared to a vortech, and koralias are great bang for their buck....they're cheap and reliable and put out moderate powerplus good customer service....never had to deal with customer service for vortech or tunze before....ive never heard of anyone going vortech and switching back since they didnt like them, wont be a disappointment by any means

 

[frankieboy]

So guys vortech mp40s can't decide. Iamo glad I'm planing slow

 

[Tonyscoots84]

2 vortech mp40s with a possibility of 1 or 2 koralias eventually

 

[scampi1]

Mp 40. Worth every penny. Awesome powerheads

 

[frankieboy]

Thanks everyone mp40s will be my pick when get my 150 gallon tank slow panning, Also sorry for late replys. You guys here are all bin great help.

 

[Reef_Paddy]

If your going for the Ecotech you will also need to decide if you want to go for the ES or the slightly more expensive WES versions of the pumps. The "W" means wireless communication, so if you had 2 wireless models they can talk to each other or a 3rd party controller and work together to create the flow pattern you want.

 

[frankieboy]

Reef daddy what do u like better cost is not a factor I want quality good equipment. And Thanks for info

 

[Reef_Paddy]

Quality is the same between the ES and WES, they are both EcoTech You cant really go wrong with water movement and control out of the box with them to be honest. If later down the road you decide to get yourself an Aquarium Controller, you can incorporate these into this also. The other brand I would recommend (again, complete personal preference) is Tunze. They have a wide variety to fit different size tanks and come in controllable and constant flow. EcoTech take up less real estate in your tank and also the pump (heat) is on the outside of the tank. You could also design what is called a closed loop where all pumps are outside you tank (usually underneath) and water is drained out into the pumps and back in again and so on. Requires more holes in your tank and more pre-planning but if done right it can help keep all equipment out of your display. Maybe a little more research required for you

 

[lnevo]

If you are going ecotech vortech pumps. Do not skimp, get the wireless. Thats part of the whole benefit in that they work together and later can be controlled. If you dont get wireless save your money and buy a hydor wavemaker with a couple of pumps. Or get a controller and use that asa wavemaker with cheap pumps too. If you are gonna spend $400 on a pump, might as well spend $450 and not have to spend $100 later to upgrade it. The investment protection is there regardless since the resale on wireless is higher as well.

 

[ecvernon]

MP40 are great pumps. I changed from them because i was one of the people who experienced noise issues from them. they were not quiet enough when ran over 50%. I have since changed to Tunze pumps. These are great pumps and you would not be disappointed. Also I have had a few mp40 (GEN 2) and MP10 and MP20. I have sent all of them in for warranty service.The problems were from controller issues which need to be replaced to extremely noisy dry side.The Good side is that their service is very quick and they are only in Pennsylvania so you could have your pumps back in 3 days or less if a problem comes up.

I have owned my Tunze 6095's for over a year now and never had a problem yet. Tunze also has a 2 year warranty. When i upgrade to larger pumps i have already decided to go with Tunze streams. They work very well with my neptune apex also.

 

[frankieboy]

Thanks guys for info I think wireless I'll go so let plugs for outlets. Echotech is my choice, if anyone gas preference on a equipment they mike please do I feel I can get someother input thanks.

 

[lnevo]

Wireless doesnt mean theres no wires....it means multiple pumps can communicate with each other over RF. you'll still need outlets for each pump. A lot of people make that mistake.

 

[frankieboy]

Thanks inveno so what do you say wireless, what do you have like.

 

[lnevo]

The wireless are able to communicate with each other and are able to coordinate for different programs. Once they are synced with each other, then you only need to set your mode on the master. If you buy an aquarium controller later it can take over the control of the pumps via the wireless signal.