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richardpryor
Guest
Are these the cream of the crop? They sure look awesome! These aren't that expensive and look slick in your tank.
J
jrthomas40
Guest
they are good power heads....i have 2 #4's now and i had 2 #3 before i sold them
C
calvertbill
Guest
Originally Posted by RichardPryor
Are these the cream of the crop? They sure look awesome! These aren't that expensive and look slick in your tank.
I have 5 of them and they're quite good, but cream of the crop they ain't. I've got three Vortech MP40Ws in my big tank and they're awesome!!! One is set up as a master and the other two receive wireless signals to adjust their flow based on what the master instructs them. The motors are outside the tank so they don't contribute to raising water temperature and each one can be cranked up to 3000 GPH flow rate. Hit a button on the master and all three slow down to a very slow "feed mode" for 10 minutes and then they all resume their former speeds.
Are these the cream of the crop? They sure look awesome! These aren't that expensive and look slick in your tank.
I have 5 of them and they're quite good, but cream of the crop they ain't. I've got three Vortech MP40Ws in my big tank and they're awesome!!! One is set up as a master and the other two receive wireless signals to adjust their flow based on what the master instructs them. The motors are outside the tank so they don't contribute to raising water temperature and each one can be cranked up to 3000 GPH flow rate. Hit a button on the master and all three slow down to a very slow "feed mode" for 10 minutes and then they all resume their former speeds.
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vicegrip
Guest
I had 2 #4's. I cleaned them every 2 weeks and they both burned up after 8 months. I like the tunze streams.
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swalchemist
Guest
No not even close to the power, reliability, and upgradeable functionality of a Tunze Stream. The Nano Stream 6055 is far superior to a koralia. One 6101 will put out more flow than 4 koralia 4s combined. The only thing koralia have going for them is they are cheaper which means you loose something (reliability IMO). Can't speak on Vortechs as I have never witnessed one in operation.
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swalchemist
Guest
Maybe so but they are still not controlable, and even if they were they can not be used on a DC driven multi-control device for true wave simulation. They are basic powerheads, decent design but they do have there flaws. The units I tested threw there props after 1 week and one just quit working until I restarted it by hand.
ninjamini
Active Member
You are comparing a $40 PH to a $60 one. Thats 1.5 times the price. I would hope its better.
That said I have a korola 1 and 3 and love them both. Had them for like 6-8 months. Just when they came out. Would I buy them again yes because of price. That said my next PH will probably be a Tunzie and I'll wish for a vortex.
That said I have a korola 1 and 3 and love them both. Had them for like 6-8 months. Just when they came out. Would I buy them again yes because of price. That said my next PH will probably be a Tunzie and I'll wish for a vortex.
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swalchemist
Guest
Yes you can not use a standard "on/off" controller (natural wave, etc) as they generate a "square wave" meaning they cut the pumps on and off. Yes AC produces a "sign wave" so you can only run an AC pump on them but ever time they go off and come back on they may "alternate (start up backwards)" hence the name AC (alternate current). If you do this the units can start in reverse causing problems. This is why it's a good idea to check those koralia and Seios after a power outage.
The new controller will work something like the Seio controller does, it will generate an artificial sine wave that can not alternate, meaning the power never goes fully off it ramps up and down much like the DC current in the Tunze systems do. This allows the pumps to run, slow down a bit then power up again in cycles. If timed right this will lead to some nice random current and wave action. The only controlled nano Stream out there is the Tunze 6055 and it is something like 5 times the cost of a Koralia but again far superior in the end. Vortech an amazing technology, I would love to test drive, just have not gotten to do it yet.
The new controller will work something like the Seio controller does, it will generate an artificial sine wave that can not alternate, meaning the power never goes fully off it ramps up and down much like the DC current in the Tunze systems do. This allows the pumps to run, slow down a bit then power up again in cycles. If timed right this will lead to some nice random current and wave action. The only controlled nano Stream out there is the Tunze 6055 and it is something like 5 times the cost of a Koralia but again far superior in the end. Vortech an amazing technology, I would love to test drive, just have not gotten to do it yet.
b bauer
Member
Originally Posted by SWAlchemist
Yes you can not use a standard "on/off" controller (natural wave, etc) as they generate a "square wave" meaning they cut the pumps on and off. Yes AC produces a "sign wave" so you can only run an AC pump on them but ever time they go off and come back on they may "alternate (start up backwards)" hence the name AC (alternate current). If you do this the units can start in reverse causing problems. This is why it's a good idea to check those koralia and Seios after a power outage.
The new controller will work something like the Seio controller does, it will generate an artificial sine wave that can not alternate, meaning the power never goes fully off it ramps up and down much like the DC current in the Tunze systems do. This allows the pumps to run, slow down a bit then power up again in cycles. If timed right this will lead to some nice random current and wave action. The only controlled nano Stream out there is the Tunze 6055 and it is something like 5 times the cost of a Koralia but again far superior in the end. Vortech an amazing technology, I would love to test drive, just have not gotten to do it yet.
how can you change direction on on a single phase ac motor with out a vfd?I dont know if I read this correct but you have AC in your house that would mean that every time you turn on a pump it might run backwords?
Yes you can not use a standard "on/off" controller (natural wave, etc) as they generate a "square wave" meaning they cut the pumps on and off. Yes AC produces a "sign wave" so you can only run an AC pump on them but ever time they go off and come back on they may "alternate (start up backwards)" hence the name AC (alternate current). If you do this the units can start in reverse causing problems. This is why it's a good idea to check those koralia and Seios after a power outage.
The new controller will work something like the Seio controller does, it will generate an artificial sine wave that can not alternate, meaning the power never goes fully off it ramps up and down much like the DC current in the Tunze systems do. This allows the pumps to run, slow down a bit then power up again in cycles. If timed right this will lead to some nice random current and wave action. The only controlled nano Stream out there is the Tunze 6055 and it is something like 5 times the cost of a Koralia but again far superior in the end. Vortech an amazing technology, I would love to test drive, just have not gotten to do it yet.
how can you change direction on on a single phase ac motor with out a vfd?I dont know if I read this correct but you have AC in your house that would mean that every time you turn on a pump it might run backwords?
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calvertbill
Guest
Has anyone else noticed the near religious zeal with which hobbyists proclaim the merits of their favorite brand of stuff? This one's great and that one sux...I once had one and it broke so they all stink!...I had a friend who...
It seems to be most frequently exhibited regarding skimmers and powerheads. Let's face it, things occasionally break down not matter what the brand. I happen to love Vortechs but I once had one with a bound propeller. Every company occasionally has a dud or a lemon.
Fortunately they urged me not to try to fix it and sent me a shipping label so I could exchange it for a new one. Customer service impresses me.
It seems to be most frequently exhibited regarding skimmers and powerheads. Let's face it, things occasionally break down not matter what the brand. I happen to love Vortechs but I once had one with a bound propeller. Every company occasionally has a dud or a lemon.
Fortunately they urged me not to try to fix it and sent me a shipping label so I could exchange it for a new one. Customer service impresses me.
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swalchemist
Guest
You are right your standard impeller driven pumps can and do start backwards but it makes no real difference in operation. Most now include a mechanism to make the impellers start in the correct direction this was the issue when we tried modding out the MJs to a prop design in the beginning. If a prop start backwards you notice it real fast. I select my favorite brands the same way, if I have problems and I get treated with respect and get answers I go back and of course I tell everyone about the experience. Same with a bad experiences. Equipment breaks but how a company or manufacturer deals with it makes all the difference in the world IMO.