Water Movers: What powerheads are you using and are you happy with them?

[WVNed]

what size tank...that's alot of pumps!

3 tanks
2mp 60s and 2 Tunze 6155 in a 240, 2 MP 40s in a 75 and an MP 10 in a 29.
I took the gyres out

 

[Karliefish]

I have since upgraded my tank to an 8’ with 4 MP40’s and 2 ReefWave 45’s.

On my 120 I had 2 top towards the back causing surface agitation and two lower front pushing just across the front of the rock structures

I see that you went with 4 MP40's on your 8' tank. I am getting an 8' tank next month and was leaning towards 4 MP60s and was curious to know why you went with MP40's? Did you already have them? How have the ReefWave 45's been performing? Never considered them as everyone also talks about Maxspect and Ice Cap

 

[Michael White]

Two maxspect gyre 350s in my 210 peninsula. One mounted top left horizontally blowing across the top towards the overflow, which is on the right side, the other in the back right corner mounted vertically blowing across the back. So far the top left on 50% random pulsing, the right corner in alternating gyre mode also at 50%. No dead spots that I can see based on bubble and rock dust being blown around. I had a pair of 230s on a 150 that worked well previously.

 

[Hydrored]

I see that you went with 4 MP40's on your 8' tank. I am getting an 8' tank next month and was leaning towards 4 MP60s and was curious to know why you went with MP40's? Did you already have them? How have the ReefWave 45's been performing? Never considered them as everyone also talks about Maxspect and Ice Cap

I changed to 2 MP60's and 4 MP40's, and yes I already had the 4 MP40's. 4 MP60's will be overkill for coral IMO. Reefwaves are awesome pumps, I just didn't care for the looks of all the pumps.

 

[wenliu51]

I have a fully loaded ApexSystem so I got the Apex WAV.

Fully customizable through the app on a schedule depending on the flow you need. I can also download 'templates' uploaded from other folks, e.g. softies versus SPS template. Also, when I show this to my surfer friends they love that Apex named the waves after popular surf locations.

 

[UkiahTheTurtle]

I use no name brand powerbeads from amazon

 

[Karliefish]

I changed to 2 MP60's and 4 MP40's, and yes I already had the 4 MP40's. 4 MP60's will be overkill for coral IMO. Reefwaves are awesome pumps, I just didn't care for the looks of all the pumps.

Thanks for the awesome quick reply. If you don't mind one more question....everyone complains about how much maintenance is involved in keeping the Maxspect and Ice Cap cleaned and running efficiently. Do you find that is also the case for the Reefwaves 45's?

 

[thelars]

Two Gyre XF 330 with an ICV6 on my 118 gal. I love the app to customize my flow..I can do so many different patterns it is crazy without the controller they would still be good, but it is a nice upgrade.

 

[Hydrored]

Thanks for the awesome quick reply. If you don't mind one more question....everyone complains about how much maintenance is involved in keeping the Maxspect and Ice Cap cleaned and running efficiently. Do you find that is also the case for the Reefwaves 45's?

maintenance is much easier on reefwave’s

 

[Karliefish]

maintenance is much easier on reefwave’s

After getting your positive feedback on the Reefwave 45, I‘ve been doing research this evening. Two constant complaints I’m hearing are: (1) wifi connection can be challenging and (2) problems with firmware updates. Are you or did you initially experience any of these issues? Big issues or minor annoyances? Thanks

 

[Lightspeed]

2 x Octopulse 4, they move massive amounts of water so run random mode and 4th power level setting, would love a few gyres to aim at the back of my scape lower down to flush and flow back to front laminar but is probably overkill for my lps dom.
My single complaint about the OP4 is that they should come with dry side magnets for 19mm glass instead of having to purchase as an extra.

 

[Hydrored]

After getting your positive feedback on the Reefwave 45, I‘ve been doing research this evening. Two constant complaints I’m hearing are: (1) wifi connection can be challenging and (2) problems with firmware updates. Are you or did you initially experience any of these issues? Big issues or minor annoyances? Thanks

I use UniFi in my home and had zero issues with WiFi. I did get a call one day from the wife as the pumps were in another mode and the reefwave app would not update them for some odd reason, I power cycled them through Apex and problem was solved. I ran them 90% random mode along with the MP40’s and they were silent on the ends of the tank. When mounted vertical they would get a little bit of a hum at 90%, no issue at 80%

I do love the MP60’s, the MP60’s and the reef waves can hit the ends over 8’. MP40’s do not have the grunt and are best on the back wall. I have an MP40 on each bottom side corner blowing behind the rock scape, 2 on the back walls, and an MP60 on each side upper mid

 

[Tankkeepers]

jebao slw-20 I also run 1 of these and have to say so far so good got 1 in my 32 biocube been running since December on c2 setting turned all the way up and move alot of water in a large flow pattern and has a small footprint inside the tank and 0 sound and a sunsun return 400 gph pump again running since December very quiet (iv got backups of both just in case)

 

[Casket_Case]

I’m just using a Hygger Mini Wavemaker, it’s a really nice wavemaker especially for seventy bucks. It’s really small and EXTREMELY quiet. The controls are simple and it’s a sleek little wavemaker. It also can really move some water if you turn it up.

 

[squidsreef]

1. What pumps or powerheads are you using to provide water flow in your aquarium and are you happy with them?

I'm using a pair of Nero 5 Powerheads in a 60g display tank I recently put together. So far I'm very happy with them! I don't yet have any corals but the AI app has made it pretty easy to set them up, and my pair of clownfish love playing in them. The flow already seems pretty high with a lot of surface agitation, but I only have them on about 25%

2. If you could choose any powerhead or pump on the market what would you choose?

I am a big fan of the look of the vortex pumps for not having any visible cables inside the tank, but the low profile of the Nero pumps was a big plus as well. My pumps will be great for the time being, and I may upgrade them in a few years if I decide to grow SPS corals.

 

[Karliefish]

I use UniFi in my home and had zero issues with WiFi. I did get a call one day from the wife as the pumps were in another mode and the reefwave app would not update them for some odd reason, I power cycled them through Apex and problem was solved. I ran them 90% random mode along with the MP40’s and they were silent on the ends of the tank. When mounted vertical they would get a little bit of a hum at 90%, no issue at 80%

I do love the MP60’s, the MP60’s and the reef waves can hit the ends over 8’. MP40’s do not have the grunt and are best on the back wall. I have an MP40 on each bottom side corner blowing behind the rock scape, 2 on the back walls, and an MP60 on each side upper mid

Great info here! My 8’ long tank is 34” wide and 26” high. So I’m thinking of going with two sets of MP60’s Placing them on the ends of the tank towards the bottom facing each other. One set on the back lower portion and one set on the front lower portion. And then use the Reefwaves 45 (two) at the tank ends facing towards each other. How do you think that configuration would work out. Oh also I have two Abyzz 200 return pumps with four returns. As you can probably figured, I’m big on flow

 

[Peng1606]

I run 6 Neptune Wavs on the back wall and 2 max gyres (200 series) at each end of the tank. I have a 10’ x 3’ tank... Thinking about adding 2 more gyres... looking at icecap or redsea gyres as the new maxspects seem to be disappointing a lot of people.

 

[Hydrored]

Great info here! My 8’ long tank is 34” wide and 26” high. So I’m thinking of going with two sets of MP60’s Placing them on the ends of the tank towards the bottom facing each other. One set on the back lower portion and one set on the front lower portion. And then use the Reefwaves 45 (two) at the tank ends facing towards each other. How do you think that configuration would work out. Oh also I have two Abyzz 200 return pumps with four returns. As you can probably figured, I’m big on flow

internal or external overflow? I still believe 4 MP60’s is way overkill, and this is coming from somebody who runs 6 stages of DI, 5 carbon blocks, and a chloramine monster to make water lol. Im running dual COR20 along my pumps also, I would run Royal’s if they fit my sump. Either way thats an epic amount of flow, will be killer for an sps tank.

My gut tells me you will end up turning 2 of them down if you end of adding any type of LPS, that is my exact problem right now.

 

[blitzkragz]

2x Panta Rhei ECM 63's on the overflow end of a 12' peninsula. One in forward while the other in reverse gets a ton of flow all the way to the glass end of the tank, and are likely the only pumps in the hobby capable of doing so. Silent, crazy power, no constant maintenance like I had with 4 gyres, I am extremely happy with these pumps. If there is a better pump out there, I would love to know.

 

[ReefBridge]

I’ve got 2 ATI Nero 5s and they’re great! Really nice to have an interface from my phone and their app is easy to use.