Calling all Ecotech Vortech Experts

[Johnson556]

I’m days away from filling my tank with Acros again after a 60 day fallow period caused by AEFW. Starting fresh and QT’ing from this point forward.

The tank is a standard 180 (72x24x24) with 4 MP40QD. As of now I have them all on reef crest mode at 80% with 30 min of NTM at 11AM and 6PM. Pumps are controlled via Apex WXM.

Top Right: Master
Top Left: Anti-Sync
Bottom Right: Anti-Sync
Bottom Left: Sync

I configured it this way attempting achieve strong diagonal flow, however I am unhappy with the results. I am still finding low flow spots where I'd like to put some lower end acros. In this current configuration, going above 80% creates a sand storm (Caribsea special grade). Going barebottom is not an option.

Any suggestions?

 

[rkpetersen]

I see what you're trying to do but with vortechs pointed directly at each other you're going to have slow flow areas in the center even if you're trying to use sync and anti-sync. I'd move the two back ones up higher and then move one of them more forward. Maybe move the lower pair slightly lower and ofset them front to back as well. Also you might consider switching to Lagoon mode because it provides more consistently high flow at any given percentage setting as compared to for example Reef Crest. If you're still not happy with your flow then you might think about adding some laminar flow with a gyre.

 

[Johnson556]

I see what you're trying to do but with vortechs pointed directly at each other you're going to have slow flow areas in the center even if you're trying to use sync and anti-sync. I'd move the two back ones up higher and then move one of them more forward. Maybe move the lower pair slightly lower and ofset them front to back as well. Also you might consider switching to Lagoon mode because it provides more consistently high flow at any given percentage setting as compared to for example Reef Crest. If you're still not happy with your flow then you might think about adding some laminar flow with a gyre.

Thank you, I thought about adding an additional source of flow with a Gyre but that will be a last resort.

I will feel like quite the failure if I cant configure something that works with such an open scape and equipment capable 105X turnover...

 

[Potatohead]

105 turnover is one thing, but when you anti-sync you are immediately halving that. Then only running say 80%, and now you are at 42x turnover.

I would try just running them all independently on RC and see how that does. I also like Tidal Swell but for it to work properly you need to put two on the back wall. If you want don't want to do that, I would also try putting two of them up high one one side and syncing them in gyre mode, and play around with that.

 

[Johnson556]

105 turnover is one thing, but when you anti-sync you are immediately halving that. Then only running say 80%, and now you are at 42x turnover.

I would try just running them all independently on RC and see how that does. I also like Tidal Swell but for it to work properly you need to put two on the back wall. If you want don't want to do that, I would also try putting two of them up high one one side and syncing them in gyre mode, and play around with that.

I like it, thank you. I'll do some fiddling tonight. I just noticed the flow type diagrams say "Opposite"/ "Backside" etc.....wow

 

[Potatohead]

I like it, thank you. I'll do some fiddling tonight. I just noticed the flow type diagrams say "Opposite"/ "Backside" etc.....wow

For the Ecosmart modes to work right (Tidal Swell and Nutrient Transport), they are designed to have powerheads on the back glass. It's obviously not 100% necessary but they are designed to use the "Ecosmart back" setting that way. The other modes it doesn't matter.

 

[ca1ore]

You have to move them up. Where you have the lower ones, they will always rip up the sand.

 

[Johnson556]

So I’ve moved the top pumps about 4” from the surface and 2” from the corner overflow. The bottom pumps are a little forward from dead center.

They are all on their own reef crest at 90%. Certainly better but not by much.

Any other settings I should toy with?

 

[Potatohead]

So I’ve moved the top pumps about 4” from the surface and 2” from the corner overflow. The bottom pumps are a little forward from dead center.

They are all on their own reef crest at 90%. Certainly better but not by much.

Any other settings I should toy with?

I would try syncing both on one side to gyre mode (I think they renamed it, it's the pink one) and turn that on for a while and see what happens. When you're doing this turn the other side way down to like 10%. Maybe run that mode for fifteen minutes a couple times a day just to get things moving a bit. I know in my tank when I want to rock things up a bit I just put them all on constant 90-100% and they get things moving pretty serious. lol