i am looking into buying a vortech mp10 or 40. I was wondering if a 40 could be turned down low enough for my LPS coral. I would rather want to buy 1 MP40, rather then 2 MP10, since I am looking to upgrade to 180g down the road.
40g breeder
- Thread starter Temp
- Start date
- Tagged users None
melypr1985
totally addicted
I would think that a 40 would be too much for that size tank even turned down. I could be wrong of course as I've never attempted it. I'll give you a bump an a shout out to the #reefsquad for more eyes on.
dbl
It Takes Less Energy to be Nice
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Moderator Emeritus
Reef Squad Emeritus
Hospitality Award
My Tank Thread
I would agree with Meredith on this one. The 40 is likely too strong for a 40g. Check out their flow calculator...it may help you select as well.
http://ecotechmarine.com/calculator/
http://ecotechmarine.com/calculator/
I'm running two MP10's at 100% reefcrest in my 40. I wouldn't hesitate to upgrade one of them to a MP40, running on the lower side.
tankaholic
2500 Club Member
Hmmm this has been my ? Before i did my 40gal breeder.
I settled on 2 jaebo pp4's...
Originally i had 2 hydras the 1150's...and these were too much...and went from those to the pair of pp4's...
I settled on 2 jaebo pp4's...
Originally i had 2 hydras the 1150's...and these were too much...and went from those to the pair of pp4's...
Sabellafella
7500 Club Member
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Reef Of The Month
Reef Squad Emeritus
Reef Master
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2015
- Messages
- 7,593
- Reaction score
- 12,048
Either way is fine. If you have plans on a upgrade, buy the 40
Are you growing SPS in a bare bottom tank?
That's the only reason I can think of for running an MP40 in a 40 breeder.
I would definitely go with the 40. I've run a 40 breeder mixed reef with an mp40 with no probems at all. If you go with the 10 the flow is more narrow and you may find yourself needing to supliment depending on your scape. You'll also thank yourself when you upgrade. I currently have my mp40 in a 34 solana while I work on my 45g cube and everything is healthy and happy.
tankaholic
2500 Club Member
Whats your scape look like?
I will post my scape...
tankaholic
2500 Club Member
Heres tank shots of my 40gal breeder
Here is a pic, you can see the mp40 on the left. I had a pretty minimalist scape and I was happy with the 40. I don't remember what I had it set at but I know it wasn't turn down all the way by any means. And actually the center of the tank in front of the arch could use a bit more flow. I had a bunch of my zoas there and the ones that were else where and received more flow were happier. I sold off my mp10 and just used the 40.
Are you growing SPS in a bare bottom tank?
@Humblefish, I am growing mostly SPS at the top, however, near the sand I have many different zoanthids, acans, blastos, and flower nems. I did go with a slightly larger grain sand (Tropic Eden Reefflakes) to keep it from moving. With two MP10's mounted opposite and one slight forward from the other, the sand doesn't move at all.
To add to this, I have around 600 gph coming into the tank from the return.
I tried an MP40 once in a 40 breeder, and it was rough on my LPS at the bottom even on the lowest setting. Now admittedly, this was using an early model MP40 so maybe even the lowest flow rate was higher than the current models.
In any case, I took all my LPS (and sand) out of that tank and went all SPS, cranked the MP40 up and the growth I saw under halides was a thing of beauty.
I tried an MP40 once in a 40 breeder, and it was rough on my LPS at the bottom even on the lowest setting. Now admittedly, this was using an early model MP40 so maybe even the lowest flow rate was higher than the current models.
You make a fair point, the flow stream on an MP40 is much wider than the MP10. This could be why I'm able to run two at a higher flow vs your experience. I'd like to upgrade at some point, but it isn't a necessity at the moment.
Mstanker
Well-Known Member
It also depends on the return pump you have. I have a return pump that's for a 150g tank so with a mp10 I run my MP10 on low settings. With a MP10 and my return pump on a 40gb tank; my mushrooms are getting a nice flow over top of them on 35% flow. Also like other ppl have said if you are going to upgrade to a larger tank in a year or two then i'd buy the MP40. But If I were going to buy a new powerhead I'd buy a maxx gyre.
bairdimusprime
Bill
mp10 might be a bit much on a 40-Breeder.. i had one shooting sand all over the place.
the smaller maxspect gyre might be a good option as you can control its power a little more
the smaller maxspect gyre might be a good option as you can control its power a little more
