What powerhead do you?

[GoTakeANap]

Hello everyone. I am at a toss up with what to do. I currently have a Waterbox Reef 100.3 tank. Measurements are 36″ L x 24″ W x 22″ H. I cant decide on what powerhead to purchase for this tank. What I am trying to decide between Maxspect Gyre, Vortech MP10 or MP40 and a AI Nero 5. Which one would you recommend and also include the size?

 

[ca1ore]

IMO the MP10 would be too small; AI Nero might be as well. I'm a vortech fan so the MP40 would be my choice, but the gyre would work too.

 

[Dragon52]

I also have MP40s, I like the power cord outside the tank.

 

[lpsouth1978]

I am not an Ecotech fan boy, but I still vote the MP40. I have Gyres in my WaterBox 230.6 and while they add plenty of flow, I really dislike the look of the pumps. I am just waiting to be able to switch them out for Vortech pumps.

 

[GoTakeANap]

IMO the MP10 would be too small; AI Nero might be as well. I'm a vortech fan so the MP40 would be my choice, but the gyre would work too.

k i will drop both of them. would 1 mp 40 be enough to cover the tank or am i going to need to purchase 2?

 

[C. Eymann]

1 MP40 would be my choice starting out, will probably have to add another down the road once you start getting a good amount of coral in there.

Coverage wise though if wanting to stick with one pump, I'd probably do a gyre style pump as it will cover the 2ft wide footprint better IMO.

 

[Codiak]

I have a Waterbox 190 with 4 MP40's, it's just about right

 

[Bryan68]

I have a Waterbox 190 with 4 MP40's, it's just about right

Do you run them at max output?

 

[fcmatt]

If you plan to run this tank for several years tunze. No doubt about it. Anything else and you will be purchasing twice at the minimum.

 

[Tamberav]

Having owned both vortech and gyre.... neither!

The gyre is just a pain to clean after having vortechs since 2012 and it needed new bearings and the magnet inside started to rust as water had gotten inside the plastic seal.

The original vortechs were awesome. However the new wetsides break way too fast...at least for the mp10s. A Wetside should not have problems with the ceramic shaft in just a year. My old ones were great....lasting 6+ years....new ones broke just after a year.

I am looking to try the octopulse on my Apex or maybe Tunze.

 

[Ashish Patel]

MP40 for sure.. I clean my 2 wetside every month and notice a decrease in flow by 20-30%. Removing anything wired is a challenge and a gyre is good but so close to the surface it will become a algae scrubber and lose efficiency on a daily basis

 

[ca1ore]

k i will drop both of them. would 1 mp 40 be enough to cover the tank or am i going to need to purchase 2?

I would start with one - you can always get a second should the need arise.

 

[Dragon52]

1 Then add as needed.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

If you plan to run this tank for several years tunze. No doubt about it. Anything else and you will be purchasing twice at the minimum.

I have a Tunze 6055 and an old school MP40, and both have been running for years. Don't ask me how I ended up with that combination.

 

[mattdg]

I have had the best luck mixing different pump types and brands. I feel like if I were to start 100% fresh, my first purchase would always be an MP40