Recommendation for Powerheads in a 180G

[mcwhng]

I have 5 MP40’s in my 75g (set on lowest setting) and plan to crank them up in my new build...... I just don’t see 2 even beginning to be enough in a tank that size. Maybe 2 on one side, and move all 4 of his current hydors to the other side.


Keeping the 4 you have and adding, is the only way to not completely blow your budget.

If it were me, I would keep what you have and add one MP60 to each side

Doesn’t that turn your reef into fish chowder?!!!

 

[DaneGer21]

I run four mp40s on my 60”L x 36”W x 24”H. Two on each side panel. I run all four at 85% on reef crest. Mounted 10” below water level.

I agree above that 2 will probably not do it as I feel my four is just enough for my set up.(even though I could turn them up a bit more)

 

[Jon Fishman]

Doesn’t that turn your reef into fish chowder?!!!

I keep them very low. I wouldn’t have kept adding them, but I have them for a new build, so thought “why not use them?”

I also have a 1,500gph Hydor too, in use, as well as an overkill return pump!

placement wasn’t even hard....... and this tank has a deep sandbed!


Edit: Whenever I see a good deal on one in the trading forums, I start to think that maybe I need 6!!!

 

[clm65]

I can see where having 4 or 5 would help greatly with flow distribution, especially if you have a lot of rockwork or a wide tank. But I have rocks on each end and a small island in the middle, so it is mostly open. So I'm thinking (hoping) that I can get away with two fairly high capacity pumps. Worst case, I go with two new quality pumps and supplement with my existing pumps if I need to. Also keep in mind that I plan to do softies (mostly zoas, shrooms, GSP, xenia, etc.), so I don't think I will need a huge amount of turnover. But thanks for all the input! I appreciate hearing what others are doing!

 

[Rich Klein]

I love my Vortechs--dependable, links well with Apex, low profile, no cords in the tank.... Do you have a turnover rate in mind? If you are thinking under 30x, which I would guess with your mixed reef, the MP40s would work. Higher than that you may want to consider the MP60s.

+1 on MP40s (or 60s) I keep a couple of spare wet sides, which are quick to swap and easy to clean.

 

[Whasmack]

In my 180g reef (SPS) - I have an Iwaki 55 @ 13' of head pressure, I have a Tunze Wavebox, MP60x1, Gyre XF-350 - which replaced an MP-40.
The Gyre is neat, in terms of flow, but I have to position it in a very particular manner, or else is keeps sucking up sand onto that side of the tank, covering my chalices. Because of this, it is my least favorite.
MP-40's are probably the best bet. Can't be the customer service from Ecotech. MP60 works great, but it is overkill for anything less than SPS. However you can probably pick up 2x mp40's for the price of a 60.

I wouldn't put together another reef without the Tunze Wavebox. It agitates every inch of that aquarium. I love seeing it sway my huge carpet anemone behind rockwork.

 

[clm65]

Well, this morning I ordered a pair of Tunze 6105s. If I found a good sale on MP40s, I may have gone that route, but Premium Aquatics has 15% off on Tunze pumps right now, so I couldn't pass that up. Hope I made a good choice.

 

[99Problems]

Well, this morning I ordered a pair of Tunze 6105s. If I found a good sale on MP40s, I may have gone that route, but Premium Aquatics has 15% off on Tunze pumps right now, so I couldn't pass that up. Hope I made a good choice.

I think you'll be real happy. Around here I see mp's for sale all the time. I know people that have been running tunze for like a decade. I love the gyre pumps but I'd rather stub my pinky toe on a bed post than clean one.

 

[Whasmack]

Tunze is great - can't go wrong. Roger also has great customer service when an issue does come up.

 

[Tuan Black]

For my 180 custom peninsula I had 2 mp40. If the tank is 1/2 thick it’s ok but my 3/4 inch thick acrylic they don’t hold well if u bumped them they would fall off, and the flow wasn’t enough. Algae like crazy. Also depends on if u have sand on the bottom. If you put the mp40 half to 3/4 up and setting to high will blow that sand around. Changed to maxspect gyro 350 x 2 and more the enough flow even when turned down. One on each side. Nice thing 1 controller for 2 pumps to program. And no sand blowing around.

 

[Tuan Black]

For my 180 custom peninsula I had 2 mp40. If the tank is 1/2 thick it’s ok but my 3/4 inch thick acrylic they don’t hold well if u bumped them they would fall off, and the flow wasn’t enough. Algae like crazy. Also depends on if u have sand on the bottom. If you put the mp40 half to 3/4 up and setting to high will blow that sand around. Changed to maxspect gyro 350 x 2 and more the enough flow even when turned down. One on each side. Nice thing 1 controller for 2 pumps to program. And no sand blowing around.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

How bout a Tunze WaveBox?

 

[clm65]

How bout a Tunze WaveBox?

I watched a youtube video of a wavebox after whasmack posted about it. It does look awesome. Maybe that will be the next thing I add down the road if I think my flow is still lacking.

 

[Whasmack]

Just an fyi about the wavebox -
I got the big one from Tunze. It does take up space in the tank (but hides my mp60 quite nicely), it is not the quietest pump (it's the only think I really hear in my tank) and it's not really for flow.
It keeps everything suspended, constantly shifting it back and forth; way better than anything I've had. But that motion is wonderful to watch and it's amazing in that it will move water behind all rock 6' away.

 

[acropora4u]

how about some pics of your 60" x 36" x 24" reef

 

[Roid Reefs]

I have no idea what reefcreat is, but it sounds like a pair of MP40s would certainly do the trick. Thanks for the info!

I have two MP40's on my 180.
Softies and LPS. More than enough flow for the coral. I wish I could add the two MP10's to the back wall just to get a little extra random flow, but the magnets are too weak. I will end using some cheap jebaos until I can get two more 40's

 

[MJREEFING]

might look into the Nero 5

 

[Silent]

I would think putting a gyre on one end and the vortechs on the other end on a random flow patterns or pulse would create good water motion.

 

[savoyard]

These pumps have some serious magnets (wet side/dry side) to mount them in place & mine have never moved (1/2" glass). If the BRS Rep is talking about the actual pump clamp coming loose, then chances are, the silicone dampers (to cut down any vibration noises) weren't properly seated. As for size, the 6105s are about 4" total length from glass to output- not small but in a 6ft tank not obtrusive. Just a FYI the newer Tunze pumps (6105 & similar) now come with their own controllers, which if you connect both pumps with a Tunze link cable will give you most of the features of the multicontroller. You could always look for a used 7096 in the For Sale forum, if someone decides to run their pumps with an Apex etc & sell the controller (that's how I purchased mine). You can't go wrong with these pumps & you don't see many used ones for sale- that says something IMO. All the best.

I don't have an Apex. Can you still connect a newer tunze w/controller to another Tunze with a link cable? Basically connecting a new Tunze to an older tunze.

 

[DogsRule]

I don't have an Apex. Can you still connect a newer tunze w/controller to another Tunze with a link cable? Basically connecting a new Tunze to an older tunze.

You could connect the older Tunze via a Y splitter cable, so that the controller will run both pumps at the same setting.

If you want to run both pumps on opposite flow settings, then you'll need a controller for the older pump, so that it can be placed in opposite setting. Hope that makes sense?

I have some used 7095 controllers & I think also a Y splitter cable in my parts box. If you want either or both shoot me a PM & we can work something out. HTH