Vortech MP40 too much for CHALICE tank??

R6REEFER · Jan 13, 2016

Hey guys,

So due to some unfortunate events that took place in my new 160 gallon reef Ive came to terms wqith the fact that I want to do a chalice palace. The tank will obviously be primarily chalices and cyphs, as far as fish, ANGELS. I'm obsessed with angels and chalices. I currently have a juvenile emperor and coral beauty that are absolutely fantastic. Only bad thing is the emperor has a nipping problem which pretty much rules out sps. She doesn't mess with my 4 chalices though.

So question is, would 2 MP40QD'S be too much flow for my plans? I know they tend to care for higher light and low to moderate flow. I will be ordering 2 MP40QD's early next week to compliment my Vectra, with a reeflink. The tank is a RR Aqueon 125, standard dimensions. Total system volume of around 160 gallons. I also have the option of goin with a Gyre xf150 and a reeflink but I'd really rather stick qith ecotech cause they never cease to amaze me. Any personal expierence or recommendations are greatly appreciated!

HiddenUser · Jan 13, 2016

For a 6' tank I'd probably run two. You can always turn down the flow.

I have one MP40 running in my 266G tank which is 6' in length and it really doesn't do much for the other side of the tank...Saving up money for a pair of MP60QD's so just making due with that I have for the time being.

R6REEFER · Jan 13, 2016

Nice, yes they are quite expensive. I'm borrowing against my retirement to pay for em! I currently have 2 maxijet 1200's running that tank. They have massive amounts of flow but no controllability. I just want to make sure the 40's won't be too much. I'm going to be doing quite a bit of tinkering with the programming software.

mfinn · Jan 13, 2016

I would go with 2 MP40 QD's.

Just because they have a ton of top end power, doesn't mean you have to turn them up all the way.

kevindo123 · Jan 13, 2016

Sorry to tell you this but the Reef Link is a badly engineered product from Ecotech. I like all their water pump products, but the reef link stands out as the worst product I have ever used. I will be returning it very soon as it has a hard time connecting to my home network, slow, and not reliable.

kv69 · Jan 13, 2016

kevindo123 said:
Sorry to tell you this but the Reef Link is a badly engineered product from Ecotech. I like all their water pump products, but the reef link stands out as the worst product I have ever used. I will be returning it very soon as it has a hard time connecting to my home network, slow, and not reliable.

The reef link works best when linked to your router via cat5(hardwired).

kevindo123 · Jan 13, 2016

kv69 said:
The reef link works best when linked to your router via cat5(hardwired).

How far the reef link needs to be from the Ecotech mp40 and vectra? My router is upstairs and tank is down stairs so cat5 Ethernet may not be feasible.

Canadian-reef · Jan 13, 2016

I have my reef link downstairs next to my router and it runs all the G3 pros and mp40''s roughly 40' away and up 1 floor without a problem.

rossco · Jan 13, 2016

I would go with 2 as well.

I have 2 MP 60s and 4 MP40s on my 6 foot 210 and the chalices I have on the bottom near the front are doing just fine. The current is really ripping there, enough that the sand needs to be replaced between them periodically.

R6REEFER · Jan 14, 2016

kv69 said:
The reef link works best when linked to your router via cat5(hardwired).

So I would just run a coaxial cable from my router to the back of the reeflink? My aquaillumination director works perfectly.

R6REEFER · Jan 14, 2016

rossco said:
I would go with 2 as well.

I have 2 MP 60s and 4 MP40s on my 6 foot 210 and the chalices I have on the bottom near the front are doing just fine. The current is really ripping there, enough that the sand needs to be replaced between them periodically.

Quick question, can I generate a wave with 2 40's? I can see the auto tune for one unit everywhere but not 2. To me it would seem as if they should oscillate simultaneously to generate a more robust wave.

Stephanie11 · Jan 14, 2016

I run 2 jebao 40's on my 125. I have a ton of chalices. Obviously the vortechs are "better" but it's all about placement.

When you need chalices let me know.

garra671 · Jan 14, 2016

R6REEFER said:
Hey guys,

So due to some unfortunate events that took place in my new 160 gallon reef Ive came to terms wqith the fact that I want to do a chalice palace. The tank will obviously be primarily chalices and cyphs, as far as fish, ANGELS. I'm obsessed with angels and chalices. I currently have a juvenile emperor and coral beauty that are absolutely fantastic. Only bad thing is the emperor has a nipping problem which pretty much rules out sps. She doesn't mess with my 4 chalices though.

So question is, would 2 MP40QD'S be too much flow for my plans? I know they tend to care for higher light and low to moderate flow. I will be ordering 2 MP40QD's early next week to compliment my Vectra, with a reeflink. The tank is a RR Aqueon 125, standard dimensions. Total system volume of around 160 gallons. I also have the option of goin with a Gyre xf150 and a reeflink but I'd really rather stick qith ecotech cause they never cease to amaze me. Any personal expierence or recommendations are greatly appreciated!

I got 2 mp40s for Christmas for my 55 gallon and I run then At 25% on either side of the tank and it keeps my sand whiter than my toilet seat. Also I have a huge chalice in the center of my tank that's the shape of a bowl and they blow it around (it's not attached to the rocks) and it still sends out feeder tentacles at night and eats when I feed it.

garra671 · Jan 14, 2016

R6REEFER said:
Quick question, can I generate a wave with 2 40's? I can see the auto tune for one unit everywhere but not 2. To me it would seem as if they should oscillate simultaneously to generate a more robust wave.

The mp40s are wireless and will automatically pair with one another and so if you put it on feeding mode they both will go to it and if you put it on wave mode it will automatically do it. As for having them hit back and forth to create a larger wave if they don't automatically do it there is a reason. ecotech has a huge warning for the waves that the vortechs can create and I would suggest just letting the power heads do what they do. Don't mess with how they do it or you could have a huge mess on your hands.

PedroYoung · Jan 14, 2016

I had 2 MP40's on my 6' 125G and they worked great. Usually ran them anti-synched at 75% in tidal swell mode. Once a week I would do nutrient transport mode for 3-4 hrs to keep detritus clear

R6REEFER · Jan 14, 2016

Stephanie11 said:
I run 2 jebao 40's on my 125. I have a ton of chalices. Obviously the vortechs are "better" but it's all about placement.

When you need chalices let me know.

Inbox me, let me see what you have!

R6REEFER · Jan 14, 2016

garra671 said:
I got 2 mp40s for Christmas for my 55 gallon and I run then At 25% on either side of the tank and it keeps my sand whiter than my toilet seat. Also I have a huge chalice in the center of my tank that's the shape of a bowl and they blow it around (it's not attached to the rocks) and it still sends out feeder tentacles at night and eats when I feed it.

lol who would buy you TWO MP40's for a 55? Haha that's crazy. Good stuff though, nice xmas present lol. I got that Kessil purple H150 you see in the pic.

R6REEFER · Jan 14, 2016

garra671 said:
The mp40s are wireless and will automatically pair with one another and so if you put it on feeding mode they both will go to it and if you put it on wave mode it will automatically do it. As for having them hit back and forth to create a larger wave if they don't automatically do it there is a reason. ecotech has a huge warning for the waves that the vortechs can create and I would suggest just letting the power heads do what they do. Don't mess with how they do it or you could have a huge mess on your hands.

I hear ya on that one, so you can tweak the auto tune settings like, per say, the intensity of the wave?