Tunze 6080 in action.

[Flatlander]

Thought I would post this pic for any interested or have not seen it on RC. I was talking with sps on his thread about our Tunze 6080 stream pumps.

One of the best things I have bought. Tons of nice gentle current all over the tank and the full 6ft. Only 18w and 2200gph.

My chromis school hover in the stream.

[Spanky]

I want one! or two, or three, or four.

I swear, we're like two great minds. I was just getting ready to email you about that. LOL

[Rick O]

I like em but man they're expensive. How would they do on a four foot tank?

Do you have yours on a wavemaker?

[MyReef]

Doesn't look as big as I thought they would....do you know the dimensions and the GPH (3000?)?

[Rick O]

Originally posted by MyReef
Doesn't look as big as I thought they would....do you know the dimensions and the GPH (3000?)?

Here ya go Andy:
http://www.marinedepot.com/a_ph_tunzestream.asp?CartId=

[coralkeeper]

I've never really looked into these things, so what they're saying is that it will pump the water over a wide area intead of just one narrow stream? because I fear that would blast my 4 foot tank if it didn't, anybody got em on a 4 footer?

[Stang69]

I have one on a 5 ft tank and it does wonderful.


Jeff

[Jimbo]

Wow moving sand as far away as 6 feet. Although this thing moves alot of water. For people with DSB's it may not be a very good solution. To bad they don't make a smaller model. A DIY electrical device to limit the current to the wavemaker might be a decent solution here. $170 for this is not really a bad price, I've spent hours in messing with my homebrew unit. It has been fun, but if I was going to get another would probally buy a tunze or reeftec device. If the pump fails on the reeftec you will need to buy another, unless you can get it replaced under warrenty. But if you have to pay for it then the Tunze 6080 would be worth the initial cost. On the other hand if you don't need your sand blowing around the reeftec unit maybe a better solution. It appears to be difficult to adjust these devices to be at an angle in the tank.

I am still using my DIY device, but lose some power because of the belt drive. But for my tank it seems to be just right. Still have problems with it though. Been thinking and thinking about how I could improve the design. Get rid of the belt drive to some sort of a flexible shaft system has been on my mind lately and was what I was aiming for when I started the project. One of the limitations of a flexible drive is that you need a running area, you can't bend it to much all at once. But some low profile design might work out well with a 6" running length. This sort of design pretty much quarentees no SW will get on the motor. Anyway, I'm sort of burnt out on this project at the moment. I would surely like to see some others comeup with alternatives to such devices. A lower power/water movement for people with smaller tanks and DSB's would be nice. Adjustable head angle and adjustable flow. If you have any ideas for a flexible shaft I would like to hear it

[spsphreak]

They are awesome, I am actually getting another one for my 200 gallon. Jimbo, they do move sand around all over the place. Right now my sand looks like hills and valleys, and I am yanking my DSB sometime this week. Andy, they are really not that big for the flow they provide, especially for a tank the size of yours. And Doug is right, the flow is really gentle and pretty much non-laminar. They are just great!!

Scott

[spsphreak]

Jimbo: they are coming out with a smaller model, but really not a whole lot smaller. The cool thing about the smaller one, is it is gonna be controllable like the 6100 is, so you will really be able to throttle it back. I read somewhere today that you can throttle back the 6080 mechanically, but I don't know how.

Scott

[Jimbo]

Douglas, could you take a picture of yours disassembled, would like to see how they keep the shaft in place. Don't break it, but bet they can come apart for cleaning

Thanks

[Jimbo]

I'm not ready to dump my DSB. I have no hair algea and believe it is the reason. I also have some larger pieces of dolomite mixed in with find aragonite. If I where going to dump it, would set up a large refugium with a dsb. Personally I believe a DSB can and is beneficial if you have the right creatures to keep it stirred well. My DSB is not exactly normal though. 1/3 of the tank has mud buried 2 inches down. Denitrification is occuring 1 inch down in that area. If I move the sand it is black at that depth.

[Flatlander]

Great minds think alike Jerel.

The unit is not as large as the pic. I moved the pump up to the front for the pic.

Andy, Its not much bigger than a Hagen 800 powerhead that I use. mine pumps 2240 gph. The next size up, is the 6110. I believe its rated for about 3300gph. I dont think the unit is much bigger. However it comes with an electronic controller.
The 6080 is an ac motor and the 6110 controlled unit is dc. {I think, }.

I would think at 4ft. it would move fine sand around. The 6080, being ac, is not designed to be run on a wavemaker. It made for constant use, although it could be shut down a few times/day. However critters could then enter the prop housing. I do know several people with fine sand using them. Seems after initial movement, the sand settles in. The force @ 6ft. away is not that much. Like Scott mentioned, its a gentle flow. Actually, unbeliveably gentle, considering the volume. However you would not want any corals sitting directly in front.

They have new smaller models coming out soon. Lots of info on the Tunze sponser site @ RC.

Jimbo, I will look again, but in my initial look, it seems to be just magnetic driven, identical to a powerhead. Just has a prop on it instead. Yes, they come apart to clean, again, identical to a large powerhead. If you have ever taken apart a large Hagen, then its similar. Of course its a Turbelle motor though. The Tunze easily adjusts angle,{horizontal}, with the little teeth it locks into on the bracket.

Sounds identical to a small boat motor, when held just under the surface.

[MyReef]

I hate new gadgets...makes me want one....grrrrrrrrr

Now only if they rotated.

[wasabi]

Andy, you are thinking along my lines i wonder if theres a way to mount that beast on a 1" seaswirl. think of the possibilitys