Reef Octopus Varios 6 or Vectra M1 return pump?

[Xclusive Reef]

I am really trying to decide which return pump to go with. I was going to go with a Sicce 5.0 but I want something I can control. I am looking to keep a mixture of mixed corals and 5-8 fish. I will probably have a manifold I will be using in the future as the tank evolves.

 

[Ocelaris]

I have the sicce pro 1900 and love it. It's silent and easy to clean. Only reason I would consider it is DC pump is heat/energy consumption. But you can always restrict the flow on an ac pump without issue, and I believe you save some energy, but not nearly as much as a DC pump. I drive a big uv and carbon/gfo on my 110 and it's been a great pump.

However I also have a previous generation varios pump on my skimmer and it's also great. Only consideration is pressure and flow, and the ac pumps for the price point win in my book.

How big of a tank and what's your budget? Honestly a return pump you want to oversize, and I've never had a reason to dial it down. Return with a gate valve usually handles any adjustments fine as long as it can keep up with the pump.

 

[bif24701]

Do you have an APEX and want to use it to control the pump? The Varios is APEX ready out of the box, just need the cable. The Vectra needs another +100$ module. I have the Varios-6 and it is great, no complaints.

 

[Scott.h]

Varios 6. Vectora-The company charges extra for the proper fittings we need here in the states, its not apex compatible, they had/(have?) Issues with them overheating if not submersed in water, and they are more money. If you are ok with spending more and want to buy the module it probably doesn't matter. I run their powerheads and they are great.
I've had no issues so far with the varios 6 and at 60% you can't tell it's running.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

Do you have an APEX and want to use it to control the pump? The Varios is APEX ready out of the box, just need the cable. The Vectra needs another +100$ module. I have the Varios-6 and it is great, no complaints.

You have brought up really good points here. Just not having to buy the module makes my decision much easier. I still want to hear on how the Varios does over time ? Anyone running their pump for over 2 years with no issues?

 

[andrew james]

The Vectra will not interface with the APEX even with a module.

 

[bif24701]

You have brought up really good points here. Just not having to buy the module makes my decision much easier. I still want to hear on how the Varios does over time ? Anyone running their pump for over 2 years with no issues?

The Varios is pretty new, but I've had mine a full year and though I check it every 6 months I've not had to clean the bearings or anything. They don't seem to build up Calcium like other pumps in the past.

 

[mfinn]

I voted Vectra M1.
Very solid pump. Very quiet.

 

[andrew james]

The Varios is an awesome pump I own a Vectra M1 and a Varios 8. The Varios was definitely created as an answer to the Vectra. It's a way more complete kit and It can be controlled by Apex which is the one area where the Vectra fails and has no solution for. Honestly I cannot think of a single thing the Vectra does better, maybe the ability to run modes in a closed loop.

 

[Mrx7899]

I vote Varios I have a varios 2 on my system I like that it's Apex ready and has safety float switch and comes with everything you need to install it. Also that it is so quiet that if the water wasn't flowing through my tank you won't even know it's on that's how quiet it is

 

[Xclusive Reef]

The Varios is an awesome pump I own a Vectra M1 and a Varios 8. The Varios was definitely created as an answer to the Vectra. It's a way more complete kit and It can be controlled by Apex which is the one area where the Vectra fails and has no solution for. Honestly I cannot think of a single thing the Vectra does better, maybe the ability to run modes in a closed loop.

What size tank do your have the Varios 8 on? for a 48x20x24 , would the Varios 6 be enough? I will be running a manifold as well. At the lowest setting, what is the Varios 8 pushing?

 

[andrew james]

What size tank do your have the Varios 8 on? for a 48x20x24 , would the Varios 6 be enough? I will be running a manifold as well. At the lowest setting, what is the Varios 8 pushing?

Its on wife's office tank Reefer 525x with 3 aquamaxx reactors on the manifold its running at 3 which i guess is 50%. At 6 at 80-100 would be fine. I dont have a flow metr so dont kno th output exactly.