Power heads? (I know beating a dead horse)

[Neil S.]

Alright everyone,

I’m finishing up acquiring everything for my 125g setup that I will be setting up soon and I can not for the life of me figure out what to do for powerheads. It won’t be 100% SPS but I do plan on having a good bit of SPS coral. I love the idea of wireless but is it really worth it? I would like some controllability but I don’t run an apex so anything that’s best with that is a no-go.Is there anything comparable to an MP40 that’s a better price point? I know it won’t be wireless but it’s not the end of the world. Throw all of your input at me! What are you all using???

Some form of a gyre should work well, most of them have their own controller, and can be set to a number of different flow patterns. Very powerful flow from even the smaller units.

 

[YankeeTankee]

I'm getting ready to run this and I think it's the best deal out there with some of the best powerheads, Reef Octopus Octo Pulse 2 or 4. I just bought the hydros WaveEngine ($299) to run them. The Hydros allows full controllability through wifi. With the hydros, you do not have to buy the controller that comes with the powerheads, which is a considerable savings.

Octo Pulse 4 with controller $279. Without controller $179. Octo Pulse 2 with controller $229. Octo Pulse 2 without controller $149.

I would get the Octo 4's at $179 with the Hydros.

edit: The only place i have found at this point that has the Octo Pulse without controller is PremiumAquatics.com They just came out last week. GL

Octo plus looks awesome for the money. I've got a few questions for you about using it with the hydros.
1. The wire coming from the pump connects to the adapter which then connects to the hydros correct? Buying the pulse without the controller means you get no powercord/plug so it cannot be used alone right?
2. At 300 dollars plus the plug adapters you save like 50 bucks if you buy 4 pulses, if buying 3 or less your saving by not buying the hydros although it certainly does give you that controllabiloity via wifi. Or did you mean you can save by having no hydros either, im confused how the wiring works in that case.
3. Do you know if the pulse controller (not the hydros) can be timed to on off at a certain time of day?
4. Unrelated to the hydros, the pulse 4 says max glass thickness of 5/8s, do you think it could be pushed to 3/4 inch glass?

Thanks!

 

[S.Pepper]

Octo plus looks awesome for the money. I've got a few questions for you about using it with the hydros.
1. The wire coming from the pump connects to the adapter which then connects to the hydros correct? Buying the pulse without the controller means you get no powercord/plug so it cannot be used alone right?

yes, and yes.

2. At 300 dollars plus the plug adapters you save like 50 bucks if you buy 4 pulses, if buying 3 or less your saving by not buying the hydros although it certainly does give you that controllabiloity via wifi. Or did you mean you can save by having no hydros either, im confused how the wiring works in that case.

You save $100 per pulse 4, less the adaptor at $11.99 (at least a premiumaquatics.com) The Hydros is the brain and it has almost infinite ways to control your power heads. Instead of me trying to explain everything about it, go to utube and Carlos from Coralvue does an incredible job.

3. Do you know if the pulse controller (not the hydros) can be timed to on off at a certain time of day?

No it cannot, at least the one i have. Which is another reason why the Hydros is so awesome.

4. Unrelated to the hydros, the pulse 4 says max glass thickness of 5/8s, do you think it could be pushed to 3/4 inch glass?

Sorry, I can't answer that with any certainty, but you can go here to find out. Just ask. https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/coralvue-hydros.1087/

Thanks!

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