MP40 placement?

[Texas Reefer]

I've had these 2 MP40s QD wireless, with reeflink for quite a while now. I like them, but have never figured out how to make a good wave back and forth. I'd love for one and then the other to cycle on, or higher, so that I have a good back and forth. The result of one being the master, and the other the slave, for me, is a bare bottom in the middle of the tank. Any help?

 

[mcarroll]

What you're trying to do is a great idea, but the computer in the Vortech's isn't flexible enough to do that.

For a completely different reason than that (but to also solve that problem), I'd consider switching your pumps to match your new tank. The mp40's yo have now have a good 24" reach, but beyond that range they are pretty weak. Running them full-bore (and clearing out your sand bed they way you did) is kinda the only way around this.

Consider switching to a pump that's oriented to flowing a long tank – you'll be able to keep more of that flow up off the sand.

Tunze's Streams are the classic choice....a pair of 6105's in there would be like the difference between night and day – much stronger than that mp40's. This gives you a lot more flow options. Gyres are probably a better choice than the Vortech's too, but they seem a little finicky on cleaning to me and not quite as flexible in use as the Stream design.

Going back to the flow plan you described...

I'd love for one and then the other to cycle on, or higher, so that I have a good back and forth.

You don't even want controllable pumps for this type of flow setup....just plain AC-powered ON/OFF pumps like the Tunze 6065, 6085 and 6125 or the smaller nanostream models, the 6015, 6025, and 6045.

All you need for "control" is two appliance timers or equivalent to turn the first pump ON for a few hours while the second pump is OFF.

Then, a few hours later the timers turn the first pump OFF and the second pump ON for a few hours.

This slowly alternating flow gives a great tidal effect....coals love it and it's easy to set up in most cases. A pair of those 6085's is only $320 too!

 

[Texas Reefer]

What you're trying to do is a great idea, but the computer in the Vortech's isn't flexible enough to do that.

For a completely different reason than that (but to also solve that problem), I'd consider switching your pumps to match your new tank. The mp40's yo have now have a good 24" reach, but beyond that range they are pretty weak. Running them full-bore (and clearing out your sand bed they way you did) is kinda the only way around this.

Consider switching to a pump that's oriented to flowing a long tank – you'll be able to keep more of that flow up off the sand.

Tunze's Streams are the classic choice....a pair of 6105's in there would be like the difference between night and day – much stronger than that mp40's. This gives you a lot more flow options. Gyres are probably a better choice than the Vortech's too, but they seem a little finicky on cleaning to me and not quite as flexible in use as the Stream design.

Going back to the flow plan you described...



You don't even want controllable pumps for this type of flow setup....just plain AC-powered ON/OFF pumps like the Tunze 6065, 6085 and 6125 or the smaller nanostream models, the 6015, 6025, and 6045.

All you need for "control" is two appliance timers or equivalent to turn the first pump ON for a few hours while the second pump is OFF.

Then, a few hours later the timers turn the first pump OFF and the second pump ON for a few hours.

This slowly alternating flow gives a great tidal effect....coals love it and it's easy to set up in most cases. A pair of those 6085's is only $320 too!

Thanks!
I don't even have these at 50% on this 6' tank. I hate selling them... I was thinking setting the left pump further back so that they're not flowing 100% at each other... What do you think that would create? And would it slow flow into the overflow?

 

[Texas Reefer]

What you're trying to do is a great idea, but the computer in the Vortech's isn't flexible enough to do that.

For a completely different reason than that (but to also solve that problem), I'd consider switching your pumps to match your new tank. The mp40's yo have now have a good 24" reach, but beyond that range they are pretty weak. Running them full-bore (and clearing out your sand bed they way you did) is kinda the only way around this.

Consider switching to a pump that's oriented to flowing a long tank – you'll be able to keep more of that flow up off the sand.

Tunze's Streams are the classic choice....a pair of 6105's in there would be like the difference between night and day – much stronger than that mp40's. This gives you a lot more flow options. Gyres are probably a better choice than the Vortech's too, but they seem a little finicky on cleaning to me and not quite as flexible in use as the Stream design.

Going back to the flow plan you described...



You don't even want controllable pumps for this type of flow setup....just plain AC-powered ON/OFF pumps like the Tunze 6065, 6085 and 6125 or the smaller nanostream models, the 6015, 6025, and 6045.

All you need for "control" is two appliance timers or equivalent to turn the first pump ON for a few hours while the second pump is OFF.

Then, a few hours later the timers turn the first pump OFF and the second pump ON for a few hours.

This slowly alternating flow gives a great tidal effect....coals love it and it's easy to set up in most cases. A pair of those 6085's is only $320 too!

And I had a Gyre and didn't like it. Too powerful close up.

 

[mcarroll]

Thanks!
I don't even have these at 50% on this 6' tank. I hate selling them... I was thinking setting the left pump further back so that they're not flowing 100% at each other... What do you think that would create? And would it slow flow into the overflow?

I think the only way you'll get good action in a tank that long is to move the mp40's to the back glass and add a third one in the middle. $$$, but if you look around for some examples it's about the best setup for these.

The Gyre flow is nice – but ideally you don't point it right at your corals. That may be more or less possible due to it's size and somewhat limited placement options.

The Tunze Streams (controllable and non-controllable) are probably the most ideal in this respect....they can be placed anywhere and aimed literally in any direction to get he flow where it needs to be.

 

[Tyler Caviness]

Pump reach may end up being an issue with this method, but you could try putting the pumps at approximately the same height on opposite sides, but then position one pump all the way toward the front glass, and move the other pump all the way toward the back glass. In doing so you might be able to get a gyre effect. Can't help you with the wave you're looking for though
That's my set up on a 36 inch tank, though, so I'm not sure if they'll be strong enough on a 6 footer.
If that doesn't make sense I'll try to clarify