reviews on the Vortech MP 40

[ReeferMan420]

Any info or reviews on the Vortech? I know the specs and the price. was wondering if it has good spread, if it's quite, ect ect.

[Hop]

Great pump... I love mine. Some do have issues, but they seemed to be backed by decent (not excellent) support. I've been running mine for about two years without a single issue. I do recommend having a spare wetside assembly for them just in case as it seems when they fail it has to do with the wetside...

[Fly Guy]

If for primary means of flow in yoru system I dont recommend them. There is not enough directional control, and until they fix this, tunze are a superior product as far as actual performance.

Dont get me wrong, they are sweet, and the low profile is very desirable for aesthetics. I have used them in the past as well as am buidling a system right now that will have a couple, but they are supplemental, and I have the systems directional flow needs already taken care of otherwise.

tunze come out of the box with some directional control, and can very easily be modded to have absolute directional control. With the vortechs you get 90 degrees straight out from the wall....period. I played with them and figured out a very simple way to get to be able to aim them, but the mag drive isnt strong enough to deal with even small shims on both dry and wet side. If they were to add a few simple shims for choices of angle and increase the strenth of the magnets to accomodate the extra space....then we would be in business and I would rather use them as they are so much less intrusive.

jmo of course

[ReeferMan420]

If your going to spend that much time tweaking the magnet, couldn't you just redirect the flow on the pump itself. Gluing a small bit or two of plastic to the outer portion of the fan might help to redirect the flow so that it goes at an angel rather than straight. Just a thought.

[Fly Guy]

you could surely fab and adhere a shield on it in some manner to direct the flow a little...but in doing so it will concentrate the flow into a much higher velocity finer stream, and defeat the entire basic concept of the pump in the first place....which is a wide stream of high flow with relatively low velocity

It would in essence be no different than properly plumbing a closed loop with large pipe so that you get as much flow as possible as wide as possible, and then use small outputs that would reduce the actual flow and jack the velocity of it at the same time

[Jadinop]

Love mine and wouldn't go any other way. Directional control is not needed with the wide variable flow of the Vortech and I don't consider it to be a shortcoming in any way. The only time I see this pointed out as a negative aspect of the Vortech is from people who haven't used them yet.

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by Jadinop

Love mine and wouldn't go any other way. Directional control is not needed with the wide variable flow of the Vortech and I don't consider it to be a shortcoming in any way. The only time I see this pointed out as a negative aspect of the Vortech is from people who haven't used them yet.

Are you insinuating I havent used them? Kind of a bold claim dontcha think?

Maybe you just arent used to seeing people comment on them who have not only used them on different systems with different needs, but expect more out of any of their systems flow schematics than most.


As I said before, they are a great pump. But not for sole means of flow in a tank unless you want to be limiting yoruself as to what you really can achieve with flow in a tank. Used in conjunction with other means of flow they are great. If they werent, I wouldnt still employ them, nor would I intend on adding a bunch more of them when the concrete cures in my new prop system. i will be running many times the amount of tunze that I will vortechs though.

Just my opinion of course. Take is with a grain of salt, but know it isnt built on not knowing the difference

[Jadinop]

Not trying to make that claim so I hope you didn't take offense. The fact that you are posting from first hand experience makes you an exception on this forum and sets you apart from the numerous post count builders.

For the average reef tank, I think the Vortech line of pumps represents a very good option for adding controllable flow without the obtrusive pumps, wires, brackets and magnet holders. Of course, when you get outside the typical rectangular tank there are going to be other factors to consider.

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

Are you insinuating I havent used them? Kind of a bold claim dontcha think?

Maybe you just arent used to seeing people comment on them who have not only used them on different systems with different needs, but expect more out of any of their systems flow schematics than most.


As I said before, they are a great pump. But not for sole means of flow in a tank unless you want to be limiting yoruself as to what you really can achieve with flow in a tank. Used in conjunction with other means of flow they are great. If they werent, I wouldnt still employ them, nor would I intend on adding a bunch more of them when the concrete cures in my new prop system. i will be running many times the amount of tunze that I will vortechs though.

Just my opinion of course. Take is with a grain of salt, but know it isnt built on not knowing the difference

[rainmkr07]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

Are you insinuating I havent used them? Kind of a bold claim dontcha think?

Maybe you just arent used to seeing people comment on them who have not only used them on different systems with different needs, but expect more out of any of their systems flow schematics than most.


As I said before, they are a great pump. But not for sole means of flow in a tank unless you want to be limiting yoruself as to what you really can achieve with flow in a tank. Used in conjunction with other means of flow they are great. If they werent, I wouldnt still employ them, nor would I intend on adding a bunch more of them when the concrete cures in my new prop system. i will be running many times the amount of tunze that I will vortechs though.

Just my opinion of course. Take is with a grain of salt, but know it isnt built on not knowing the difference

I'm sorry, but I disagree. Here is a tank that uses Vortechs as a "sole means of flow" and it looks pretty darn good to me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh6Cz_H8Uhg

[Fly Guy]

You can disagree all you like. It is just my opinion and I have seen great tanks using whatever equipemnt you could name off.

As I said before, I expect more out of my flow schematics than most, and vortechs alone simply couldnt provide what I expect my flow to accomplish. To be perfectly honest, neither can tunze without buying an insane amount of them which is why I use at least one OM 8 way/hammerhead set up on every tank for the random and variable flow needs, and use vortechs and tunzes for supplemental flow.

Expectations aside, Vortechs have a couple of other limitations that make tunze a superior powerhead in some situations

1. the inability to work through 1" acrylic. This is the same downfall that is why we cant simply use a couple fo small shims both wet and dry side to give a little bit of directional control to the vortechs. the magnets arent strong enough to deal with it

2. They need to come out with one that can crank out 5000+ those with larger tanks. I dont have the big tunze yet...but will shortly and am looking forward.

I imagine all of these things will be dealt with in time. And when they are, I will be more interested in using more of them as the built in controllers and super low profile is nice for sure.

[scungili]

I just purchased the MP40. I have a 180 6' long peninsula style. It's effective up to half way and then lacks the power to create sufficient surge at the other end. I'd have to buy another MP40 and set it up as a slave, and maybe, I'd get enough flow on the other end.

I do have a little giant (very loud pump) and 2 squids, which also work very well in creating chaotic flow. I question whether the $430 was money well spent. The Vortech is a very nice powerhead and the flow is soft and wide yet powerfull, but overall it wasn't all I hoped it was. Certainly not as they show in the videos with the giant wave crests. I believe this is only possible in an empty tank with no rockwork or piping.

If you want waves, you better get a wavebox! Otherwise a very nice, expensive powerhead.