Common subject: Vortech v. Wavemakers

[NikeLV]

I currently own a 104 gallon Rimless Glass tank (1 1/2 inch from surface of water to tip of glass). I have SPS, LPS, and anemones. My current sources of flow are (2) Hydor Koralia Evo 1400 and a 1200 gallon per hour return pump. I feel that my aquarium still requires additional flow. The Hydor Koralia's are very direct. I was wondering if Hydor's are suitable for waves. and if I should get 1 Tunze Wavebox 6215 or 2 Eco-Tech MP40W-ES Vortech's. I want back & forth motion in my tank, it looks much better when anemones flow back & forth + the 2 hydor's only cover the front half portion of the tank.
I am aware that the 2 MP40W's would cost $200-400 more than a Tunze Wavebox 6215. (May have to get the MP40W's separately because they are expensive.) but which one is better for wave making, I want it to have waves, but not enough waves to splash out of my rimless glass tank.

Also, can I run the Hydor's the same time with the Tunze Wavebox 6215?
the same time with the MP40W's?

[NikeLV]

Please vote in the poll section! ^

which wave source is quieter?

[okiestranger]

I have a vortech m40 and I love it I do plan on getting a second but like you said they are expensive. I have read reviews that say they a loud but mine I can barely hear. There is a slight noise as the motor ramps up. But the motion I get is wicked. Also the settings that are preset are impressive. There may be cheaper ways to achieve the say result. But I will gladly drop the cash again when I can I do want another.

Sent from my EVO 3D using tapatalk

[Reefing Madness]

Hydor Wave Maker

Water Pumps & Powerheads: Hydor Koralia Controllable Pumps & Wavemakers

[NikeLV]

Hydor Wave Maker

Water Pumps & Powerheads: Hydor Koralia Controllable Pumps & Wavemakers

tbh, yeah, i've seen those and have considered them but they don't work anything like waveboxes.

whereas waveboxes take in the water and flow it back out, really creates the type of wave I would find more enjoyable for me and the coral themselves. but I also know that the MP40W's have a more indirect flow and have preset wavemaking abilities.

[Reefing Madness]

tbh, yeah, i've seen those and have considered them but they don't work anything like waveboxes.

whereas waveboxes take in the water and flow it back out, really creates the type of wave I would find more enjoyable for me and the coral themselves. but I also know that the MP40W's have a more indirect flow and have preset wavemaking abilities.

?? the hydor and the vortech put off the same kind of flow, scattered. And whats the difference in wave making capabilities between the 2??

[NikeLV]

?? the hydor and the vortech put off the same kind of flow, scattered. And whats the difference in wave making capabilities between the 2??

So getting the Hydor controllable wavemaker will be the same as getting 2 vortechs, correct? Then, I might get the wavebox. I hear many problems that can happen with the Hydor turning on and off with a controllable wavemaker, but it was still a great suggestion. thanks for helping me choose between the wavebox and the mp40's though! --><-- not the right kind of 'thank you' emoticon i was looking for :P

don't take me wrong, those mp40's still look beast

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

The Hydor Koralia Evolution series of power heads were designed to be used on wavemakers. Constant on/off cycles wont do any harm. The biggest problem with the Evo's, is that they are AC motors and tend to run back wards on start up sometimes. Hydor uses a rubber "bumper" in the cover to stop this from happening and it works okay. But every time the pump starts back wards and hits the "bumper", an audible "click" can be heard. Its not really loud but if you had 2 power heads running on a wavemaker/ timer, its possible you'll hear the click every time wavemaker cycles. It might be annoying if you set the cycle to 10 or 20 seconds.

I have one of my koralias on a wavemaker and I hear it click about half of the time or less. It doesn't bother me because my tank is in the entryway. If it were in my living room or bedroom, I wouldn't be using them.

I'm almost positive the Vortech power heads are DC motors (correct me if I am wrong). The power can be modulated to control the pump's speed, rather than the on/off action of AC powerheads (no possibility of running back wards, I think). This gives the Vortech the ability to have various flow rates, creating many different flow pattern options.

If I could justify $800+ for two Vortech MP40's, I would have them by now. It's just difficult to do so when the Koralias are near a tenth of the cost of a Vortech. That being said, I have never met anyone with a Vortech who didn't love them.

[NikeLV]

The Hydor Koralia Evolution series of power heads were designed to be used on wavemakers. Constant on/off cycles wont do any harm. The biggest problem with the Evo's, is that they are AC motors and tend to run back wards on start up sometimes. Hydor uses a rubber "bumper" in the cover to stop this from happening and it works okay. But every time the pump starts back wards and hits the "bumper", an audible "click" can be heard. Its not really loud but if you had 2 power heads running on a wavemaker/ timer, its possible you'll hear the click every time wavemaker cycles. It might be annoying if you set the cycle to 10 or 20 seconds.I have one of my koralias on a wavemaker and I hear it click about half of the time or less. It doesn't bother me because my tank is in the entryway. If it were in my living room or bedroom, I wouldn't be using them. I'm almost positive the Vortech power heads are DC motors (correct me if I am wrong). The power can be modulated to control the pump's speed, rather than the on/off action of AC powerheads (no possibility of running back wards, I think). This gives the Vortech the ability to have various flow rates, creating many different flow pattern options. If I could justify $800+ for two Vortech MP40's, I would have them by now. It's just difficult to do so when the Koralias are near a tenth of the cost of a Vortech. That being said, I have never met anyone with a Vortech who didn't love them.

thanks for the info, my tank is in the living room so the wavemaker is a no-no I agree, I would get those vortechs.. If they didn't cost that much. But I was going to get the Tunze wave box 6125 instead of the koralia wavemaker and mp40's. When they say corals need strong flow, will a waveBOX help adjust that?