I have 2 mp40s both mounted on one end of my tank. Tank is in the wall and is 7'X2'X2'. Pumps had to both be mounted on one end due to wall build. Currently running as master/slave. My question is this is there any advantage to running master/slave as opposed to independently? Tank currently is soft coral only and will remain that way as my son is in the military and away often so softies due to water changes only.
vortech mp40s
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Reeferdood
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Master/slave is good if you want them either to work together or opposite one another on the same program. Nothing wrong with running them independently of one another either, all totally personal preference.
UNCFAN
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I have the same size tank and setup of mp40 and I've run them both ways - the master/slave works very well for wave action. Other than that it is a choice of which provides best flow for you tank.
mcarroll
10K Club member
As long as it's working, it's working – and perhaps with the coral choices you mentioned it can keep working.
But there are much more sensible powerhead choices for that setup in that tank that would be oriented toward delivering flow to the tank as a whole. Those you have are oriented very strongly toward providing flow to what's right in front of the pump...within a couple of feet.
This "issue" will matter for things like detritus settling and related factors, BTW. Flow is not just a coral thing.
Good planning!!
I realize there are many more choices as far as various flow patterns and strengths and also options as far as flow unfortunately my son purchased the house and it came with the tank. Then he got hooked up with LFS and tank maintenance locally which told him lesser quality equipment was problematic. EX. they had had cheap leds which caught fire so the sold him radions. They had problems with powerheads so they sold him Vortech wavemakers. I am visiting and he is no longer dealing with these people but as far as pumps damage is done unfortunately!!!
mcarroll
10K Club member
Understood. And thankfully not a big deal in the short run, at least for the tank.
In the long run, Vortech's do seem to hold resale value pretty well – so selling them and buying something else is always an option. Nothing is written in stone, eh?
ca1ore
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Just my 2 cents - MP40 are a bit underpowered in my view, though probably sufficient for a softies tank. I guess running them master/slave depends a bit on what modes. For example, I run a pair of MP60 in synch/anti synch mode, but they are on opposing ends. Were they on the same end I'd probably run them independently since any pseudo-wave action is harder to achieve.
Thank you all for your responses. I was heavily involved in reefkeeping 20 years ago so I do have a grasp of what works and what doesn't most of the time. Hobby has changed a lot and for the better as far as equipment available and obviously a great deal more info available. However as a parent I do not take kindly to others taking advantage of my children.
mcarroll
10K Club member
Almost surely – good idea.
A pump like the Tunze Turbelle® stream 6105 that has a lot more reach could be placed at the same location as the mp40's and be expected to get flow to the far end. A pair might be all that would be required for the whole tank.
(I'm not sure how the pp15 compares to the vortech or the Stream, so try it out that way too.)
A pump like the Tunze Turbelle® stream 6105 that has a lot more reach could be placed at the same location as the mp40's and be expected to get flow to the far end. A pair might be all that would be required for the whole tank.
(I'm not sure how the pp15 compares to the vortech or the Stream, so try it out that way too.)
Turbelle® stream 6105
For aquariums from 200 to 2,000 liters (52 to 528 USgal.) Flow rate: 3,000 up to approx. 13,000 l/h... mehr
6105.000
285.00 USD
ca1ore
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Both Radion and vortech are among the best quality kit you can get for your tank - I fail to see how this constitutes taking advantage of anybody. Cheap LEDs catching fire does seem a tad alarmist, though it is certainly possible. I've used both cheap units and Radions, and while we could debate whether the latter are worth the premium, they are a clearly superior light. I happen to be in the 'no cheap powerheads' camp and mostly avoid brands like Jebao (junk is probably excessive; I'd call them 'disposable'). Again, while we could debate whether the vortech premium is worthwhile, they are superior pumps in all respects. Frankly, if one is going to be in the hobby for a while, Radion and vortech strike me as quite sensible recommendations.
I agree however having said that not everyone in the hobby has the ability to afford the, what is considered ,the best. Not sure there is such a thing. Radions kessils etc. Lights...skimmers...as an example I doubt one could ever get a 100% opinion as to best anything. Most hobbyists tout that which works for them. Taking advantage was due to comments made stating everything else is junk. Like a salesman tell me why yours is better don't tell me other stuff is junk!! JMO
mcarroll
10K Club member
They aren't the best choice for such a long, narrow tank...the premium price is exacerbated by this since three or four units would be required to have enough flow for coral, generally speaking. If money isn't a sticking point, this isn't an issue per se, it's just $$$$$. Other "premium" pumps could do this better for $ or $$....somewhat because their premium price is less, but mostly because they are better suited for this tank.
However, I suspect neither the store nor your son may have been completely up on the situation given the solution they ended up with....
I suspect both parties were trying to make the best decisions/recommendations they could at the time. It'll all work out in the end....no harm, no foul, right?
However, I suspect neither the store nor your son may have been completely up on the situation given the solution they ended up with....
I suspect both parties were trying to make the best decisions/recommendations they could at the time.
It'll all work out in the end....no harm, no foul, right?
ca1ore
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Yes, true! I generally roll my eyes when I see threads asking about 'best'. The answer is that best is very much about personal preferences and priorities. I do tend to think of brands like Jebao as borderline junk, but I'm a three decade reefer with no plans to go away (though I suppose some might wish it
) and reliability and longevity carry the day for me so paying for better gear is worthwhile to me. But I do appreciate that somebody new to the hobby might be better served with something less costly.Anyhow, apologies for the tangent ......
Completely agree. My feeling is the LFS store deals and concentrates primarily on their mtce business. Therefore I believe they recommended premium equipment considering they were trying to avoid off hour emergency call outs. My son doesn't have an endless supply of money as is the case with most hobbyists as opposed to high end clients and businesses. He is relatively new in reef keeping and as such listened and took as gospel what he was told. He is away for months at a time so I convinced him to go with soft corals only. I also do not have an endless supply of money and have donated fish and corals, Cradle to grave!!! Thankfully we are just visiting for couple weeks otherwise i'd be broke.
No apologies necessaryYes, true! I generally roll my eyes when I see threads asking about 'best'. The answer is that best is very much about personal preferences and priorities. I do tend to think of brands like Jebao as borderline junk, but I'm a three decade reefer with no plans to go away (though I suppose some might wish it
Anyhow, apologies for the tangent ......
You were kind enough to respond to my post stating that you have the same setup as mine. My question is this do you still run just 2 MP40s on the same end or did you install another pump? If you did can you give me what you used and which end did you mount it. I'm currently thinking of installing a Gyre 280 on the opposite end. BTW i'm in SC in Murrells Inlet described as a drinking village with a fishing problem.
TIA Cliff
UNCFAN
Active Member
I still run with the 2 MP40s. These are on opposite ends of the tank - the tank is 6 foot long. The pumps are facing each other - not both on the same end of tank. The Gyre 280 is a good pump as well and I've used them on this tank as well. My preference is the MP40s - nothing wrong with the Gyre 280.
