Need help making a decision on a powerhead

[Lou Raffael]

Hi everyone,

I'm driving myself crazy trying to decide on a powerhead. I'm putting together my first reef tank which will be a 90 gallon with two powerheads. I love the ecotech's but they're just a bit out of the budget to spend an extra $300 for two of them.

Trying to decide between the Neptune WAV or the Tunze Nanostream 6095. Reading into these it looks that the Tunze has better flow pressure control as well appears to be a smaller profile. Since I already have the new Apex system I feel I should buy the WAV since it has the DC connectors built in so I won't need to buy the 1link. What I'm reading is that the WAV is pretty big and even at 1% the power is very powerful, in some cases too much.

Anyone that has experience with either of these, especially the WAV and can give me some advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you

 

[fishman77]

I have 2 mp40's and I'm tempted to buy the WAV's. One of my friends has the wav and loves them.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I have to agree....I think people who spend that much money on an Ecotech are blithering idiots. By the way, I own five of them.

I'm not familiar with Neptune WAV and you can never go wrong with Tunze, but with Quiet Drive out, I'm sure you could pick up two used MP40's for a good price. JMTC

 

[Kershaw]

So I bought a used mp40. Noisy as hell!! I just bought the quiet drive controller. And even with this 2013 model it is dead silent. And way cheaper then a new one.

 

[redfishbluefish]

So I bought a used mp40. Noisy as hell!! I just bought the quiet drive controller. And even with this 2013 model it is dead silent. And way cheaper then a new one.

A quick hijack....for about $20 you can replace the bearings on the dry side.

 

[sfmacguy]

I have both the Wav's and MP40QD's, trying to decide which I like more. Wav's are great for being able to angle them, so placing on the back of the tank so I can see in the sides. MP40QD's are awesome as well.

 

[Lou Raffael]

I have both the Wav's and MP40QD's, trying to decide which I like more. Wav's are great for being able to angle them, so placing on the back of the tank so I can see in the sides. MP40QD's are awesome as well.

Is the WAV much larger than the MP40? Is the pressure as high as I'm reading? I've read that most people keep the WAV under 10% power to not damage most corals or cause a sandstorm?

 

[sfmacguy]

Its actually about the same size to be honest. I have my wav's at 35-45% and do get some sand moved. Not a sandstorm or anything.. but movement.

 

[Lou Raffael]

Thank you for the info. I think I may have to at least try the WAV given how easy it will be to set with the Apex system.

 

[mcarroll]

Trying to decide between the Neptune WAV or the Tunze Nanostream 6095. Reading into these it looks that the Tunze has better flow pressure control as well appears to be a smaller profile. Since I already have the new Apex system I feel I should buy the WAV since it has the DC connectors built in

I have to recommend Tunze, no matter which pumps you pick. The 6095's are probably the most comparable to the others you are considering, but I don't know if they (or any of the others mentioned so far) are the best fit for a 90 gallon.

It obviously depends on your rocks and overall layout, but your tank might be better served with a pair of 6055's ($185), or even from the inclusion of a 6040 transverse pump ($140). Or maybe even a set of 6040's and no "normal" pumps. Way more cool flow options on the Tunze side.

Also, now that the Tunze's DC pumps come with a basic controller setup, the hookup to a bigger controller is really, really extra. Granted you need it for any of the fancier setups....but to feel obligated toward one of those fancier setups is a mistake. Cool, but not necessary at all. And as I said, Tunze's all have a basic controller, so you can still fiddle with the flow to your heart's content! YOU be the storm mode!

Seriously, I try to occasionally remind people that just because it's not trendy, there's nothing wrong even with using plain AC pumps.

Especially if you do have a couple of spare Apex outlets so that you can set up a tide simulation. Four 6045's would only run you $312 and you could rock the tank with a set of four!! You're likely to spend as much as double that or more on any of the controllable solutions.

FWIW, I run a pair of 6095's as well as a fleet of 6045's. I've run MP40's and others in the past. I think the 6045 may be the single best reef pump there is. Cheap. Amazingly flexible. Perfect flow character. Nice reach for it's size (3'+). The 6055 is just the controllable, bigger brother of the 6045. 4' reach (and cost) being the biggest difference.

 

[robbie8691]

I use 2 mp40s at 40% on my 75g mixed reef.... I always went by you get what you pay for. I also have used the jeabo rw4 and 8s and they work pretty good as well and are very cost affective.