Vortech MPs

[RayAllen]

Hey guys,

before my wife drops $235 dollars on this MP10 ES pump for my X-Mas present...

I know most of you who run them love them, but i have heard a few stories of issues.
How is Vortech customer service if there are problems?
I know they can be noisy. Those running the mp10s what do you think about the noise level?

Just want to be completely sure this is the way I want to go for sure. I know Tunze also make pretty good pumps. I never thought Id even consider paying over $200 for a pump/power head.

[Zack]

I love my mp10, however when it was bare bottom and I cranked it to 90% it was a noise that I could hear and people would ask about. It wasn't loud or anything, just there. I slept through it and I'm a pretty light sleeper. Honestly, it's a great pump and well worth the money. Are you getting the wireless version?

[reefreak]

I had mine at 90% too it made a little hum

[RayAllen]

I do not plan on having more than one so I was thinking of just going with the ES for $235. The wireless is $285 or so.. If im correct the only difference is the wireless can communicate with other Mps which I do not have much use for only running one.

Thanks for the info on the noise. I wanted ask because my aquarium is in my family room where spend a lot of time and Id rather not here a pump over us talking or watching tv etc.

[Flyride95]

Ray I can't help you much with info on the vortech but I have a tunze 6206 wave maker set up. I can honestly say it is completely silent and it works beyond what I need it for. 1.5 inch waves and it is barley on. It really gets things moving. Not trying to talk you out of vortech because I'm sure they make an awesome powerhead just what I can tell you on the tunze is all.

[Zack]

It won't disrupt talking or tv, if your staring at it, you will notice it's making the noise. Also, One mp10 on a 40 will do the trick but it'll have to be run at 90-100% according to RC. Also if you plan on SPS your better off going two mp10's or 1 mp40.

[RayAllen]

Thanks, i have been reading up on Tunze as well. For as long as I've been in the hobby 10yrs now I think.. Tunze has always made great product.

Only thing with Tunze is you have to buy both the pump and the box controller correct?

[RayAllen]

It won't disrupt talking or tv, if your staring at it, you will notice it's making the noise. Also, One mp10 on a 40 will do the trick but it'll have to be run at 90-100% according to RC. Also if you plan on SPS your better off going two mp10's or 1 mp40.

My tank will have maybe 2-3 SPS tops the rest Softies and LPS. give what SPS I have room to grow in the 40g.

Right now my return pump is actually putting a heck of a lot of flow in the tank. I run a mag 9.5 with only loosing 3ft of head at full throttle so its pushing ~800gph through the tank. With the addition of the MP 10 should be plenty for my plans livestock plans.

[Flyride95]

Yea it came with the box, pump and controller. All 3.

[Big_Pun]

I love them and will always use them. yea you can hear them but I don't really notice them. as for customer support I couldn't tell you either way, never had an issue. I did call to check comparability with gen2 and ES and they actually answers the phone and helped. emily likes her 10 on her 20L.

[Zack]

My tank will have maybe 2-3 SPS tops the rest Softies and LPS. give what SPS I have room to grow in the 40g.

Right now my return pump is actually putting a heck of a lot of flow in the tank. I run a mag 9.5 with only loosing 3ft of head at full throttle so its pushing ~800gph through the tank. With the addition of the MP 10 should be plenty for my plans livestock plans.

Yeah you should be fine.

[Zack]

I love them and will always use them. yea you can hear them but I don't really notice them. as for customer support I couldn't tell you either way, never had an issue. I did call to check comparability with gen2 and ES and they actually answers the phone and helped. emily likes her 10 on her 20L.

What setting/ % is she running on the 20 long?

[ErikH]

Let's put my 60 on it! I'd love to see that wave!

[Big_Pun]

65-75% I have it on nutrient extract mode, with a saved wave in it.

[FireWater]

I ran the mp10 on the old finnex 30g at work. You could hear it when it was cranked up, but I ran mine about 80%. I had some issues with mine and contacted customer support. After diagnosing the problems I was told I needed a new part for the controller. They said they would send it out to me. "It" was a new controller in box 2 days later. Only customer service I have had to deal with vortech on.

[FireWater]

The key to some of the vibration is positioning. It had to be precise positioning between the dry side and wet side.

[RayAllen]

Thanks with all the imput guys. Im going to go for the MP 10. Really over tunze because I like the fact that it will take up very little room in the tank and I love the slick look.

I was reading that to John on some review and youtube vids. Make sure its as close to perfect on alignment or you will have more vibration noise.

Erik your MP60 would probably throw the rocks out of the tank... Would be a site to see, but I will pass :)

[Mr Cob]

The vibration that some people mention on the forums is as John stated above...not positioned correctly. The hum however, is there no matter how you position it. BUT... the hum is only there on the wave pulse mode. They are great pumps but I cannot stand that humming noise and I only like the short pulse mode to get the wave...so I just have to deal with it.

I WOULD NOT only use 1 MP10 on a 40g dude. I don't think you will be happy with that. 20g sure...29g sure..anything over that is pushing it for just one MP10 in my opinion.

2 MP10's synced up would be perfect.

[Big_Pun]

agree your going to need 2 or one 40 ;)

[RayAllen]

MP 10 in the house!

Guys what mode do you run your MP 10 in?

I 1st put the pump on the left side of the tank closest to the SPS and it was blasting the heck out of them to the point where the SPS just withdrew its polyps.

I moved it over to the right side of the tank and at the moment have it on lagoonal mode where it ramps up to ~80% and the SPS and LPS seem to react to it a lot better. It came with a booklet showing various modes but im curious to what your MPs are set to.

Will be posting tank pics with the new MP and new aquascape on my build thread later tonight.

[Mr Cob]

short pulse mode all the way dude...pretty much the only mode I like...just because I'm all about the wave. Use the auto wave mode feature to set the wave. Only problem with this mode is the wheeening sound. It goes like this...


wraerrrr...wraerrrr...wraerrrr...wraerrrr...wraerr rr

if you speed it up... it goes like this:

wraer.wraer.wraer.wraer.wraer


lol

Nutrient Export mode is another good one for SPS lovers but I don't know, I like to see my over priced pumps at work and that can only be done by staring at the controller and it's nice flashy lights or by running the short pulse mode for the wave :)

[Big_Pun]

I make a wave in auto tune and save it. then run it on nutrient extract

[Zack]

How crazy of a wave are yall getting on yours? I've seen product demos of the wave at 60% making water practically spill out of the tank. Any videos of a crazy wave you've gotten?

[Big_Pun]

I'll get one up on the 20g. I've rocked water out of the 150 with 2 40's.

[FireWater]

I saved a wave in mine using short pulse. The nutrient export more tweaked everything in my tank so I quit using it.

[mkengr45]

Anyone used these on a half circle tank? Kinda tricky to make waves if they don't have a flat surface to bounce off of...I would think anyway.

[electricrcplane]

I make a wave in auto tune and save it. then run it on nutrient extract
I do the same, my MP10 runs at about 50% in nutrient extract mode and I can't hear it. When it does start to make a bit of noise a quick vinegar bath usually clears it up.

[jcnkt_ellis]

I had a mp10 on a 30 gallon corner pentagon shaped tank and it did well creating a wave with all of those weird angles so it should do fine on a curved tank