So yeah, pretty simple question. I see lots of people buying these pretty pricey pumps, even throwing them on nano tanks. Now I'm kinda of a nooblet so I don't know much about these controllable wavemaking pumps. What do they do exactly? Are they worth it? Could I use it on my 30G X-Tall, with a Taam Rio 2100 (695gph)?

they're just a sleek pump that puts out strong, variable, wide flow. they have different modes for different types of environments. i have an MP40 on my 40b and I love it - but you don't have to have one to get good growth out of your SPS - other cheaper pumps can work fine (koralia, etc.).

Thanks for the info. I currently have a single Tunze 6025 that I will throw in the tank once its up and running. As a side question, do you think I will have enough flow with that power head and the flow of the pump? Or should I throw in another Tunze, or comparable Koralia? The tank is gonna have a mix of Acroporas, Montioporas, and LPS corals. I will also have some softies like Zoanthids. BTW, Love your sig! I am a strong supporter of the tea party. Take out the trash!

The pumps you have in that tank are pretty strong and the addition of a wavedriver pump might not make that much of a difference. I hardly noticed my MP20 with a 700gph return pump on my 40br. I had mine unplugged for a week inbetween water changes before I noticed when I went to unplug it for my next wc. Made me kind of think. However in my 30g all in one, (AIO), with only a maxijet 1200 as primary return pump the mp20 is the life scource of the tank. Like dhuat mentioned the best features are variable modes you can set on the pump. I have timed to night mode when my MH bulb goes out and everything slows down under actinic lighting making the tank kinda dance at night. That to me is all worth the extra coin. You couldn't do that with koralia or many other pumps.

I guess I should have included this before... The return nozzle will be almost 4 feet from the pump, and has 3 90 degree turns. This will considerably inhibit some of that flow.

As mentioned they are completely controlable and have some awesome modes. The reason i like them the most is because one mp10 replaced 4 of my powerheads i had going in my 15 so it gives you a lot more room and its more pleasing to the eye.

Yeah.... But is it worth an extra $150 worth of coins???




WOW!! What are you keeping in that 15 gallon tank you needed 4 powerheads?

I don't see anyone mentioning it but the vortech gives a very BROAD flow range. You may not think it's much different than say a koralia for flow but the fact that it's flush against the glass allows it to direct flow in a very broad manner, often reaching the sandbed up to the top of the tank. So you get lots of flow in a very broad manner instead of a one-direction kind of deal which is the main reason i would get a vortech "if" I had the ching.

+1^... Lol i had 2 k1s on opposite sides, a k nano behind the rock work with a another small powerheads in the other back corners of the tank pushing all the detritus out of its hiding spots lol. Its a barebottom tank BTW so i had a ton of flow for my sps

I've got one MP10wES on my Greenleaf 33G and I'm in love with the widespread flow it offers. It keeps detritus/food moving and dead spots are virtually nonexistent. I plan on adding another one in the future because I want to be SPS heavy, but that only makes the value of the Vortech more apparent. With two, they'll communicate and I doubt I'll have any dead spots. Oh, and it looks killer in there

[quote name='basser1' date='Aug 21 2010, 12:48 PM' post='2979612']
Yeah.... But is it worth an extra $150 worth of coins???
Yes, you couldn't that from any other pump out there. To the op you will want to skip the mp20 though, I wish I did and do a pump with es capablilities. Two mp10es pumps would rock your tank, I don't know why they didn't make this an option for the mp20 pumps. It's kind of like the throwback model with out all the modes you get from an es model with only a few more gph flow rate than the mp10. I wish I knew this pump would be coming out when I bought the mp20.

IMO, they are useful if you have livestock that will benefit from very high flow rates and you don't want to have a closed loop system or something else that can provide the same flow. I bought a mp20 solely to keep SPS corals. They aren't necessary in every tank; although, there are many people buying them just for the sake of having a vortech.

Gulfsurfer: I think they got rid of the mp20 since it was basically the same motor as an mp40 and "underdriven". So, the mp10 cannibalized the nano/small tank segment that the mp20 was initially marketed for. A more cold-hearted reason could be the mp10, since it can't be upgraded like the mp20 to an mp40, will now force people who want the mp40 to buy one separately.

Thanks, that is the way I see it too.

Well anywho, I took the plunge Monday. I ordered a VorTech MP10 with the wireless wave driver and it's coming with this Eco Smart device that is rumored to have a neural net for a cpu, and can give you the power of icthyo-telepathy... I'm really excited.

who's the tea party? my sig represents the Col. Gadsden Reputation Restoration movement.

nvm mind man... nvm...

Also vortec's dont transfer as much heat into the water column so it makes you tank easier to cool

Lol, I like ur avatar

I know you already bought one, but I'm commenting anyway...

I thin ki's one of those things that's worth it if you have the funding to spare. It's a worthy product that has a steep price. You can get the same thing done with less money, but if you can pay the premium price you can reap the benefits of a premium device. You can get a bently and have the nicest of nice or get a cadillac and get a damned nice luxury car. Both do more than the minimum, but one does a little more for a lot more (vortech vs koralia or tunze). Now, you could get a kia (maxijet) and drive around, btu you are a missing a decent bit more without a lot of savings.

in short,
I'd buy one if I could justify it.

I am able to justify my purchase. My tank is a room divider in wall, and having a whole bunch of tunze's stuck to the outside really make the nice lines of the aquarium look like shiite. Having just one power head that can be placed in the back end of the tank, that you cant even see, and can do the work of all those other pumps was a win win for me.