vortech vs koralia

I enjoy my koralias quite a bit I run two 750s with a smart wave... Before the smart wave I never had to replace the cover had them running for year and a half almost two years I think? Few months after the wavemaker was added I had both covers break off the bumpers... e-mailed hydor they sent me 4 new covers... apparently to avoid the issue of breaking the covers you should set them on a 1 minute flow. Rumors say that anything lower leads to a premature weakening of the covers and thus they break...

I'm not 100% on the idea but with vortechs I'm assuming it has a prop style impeller not just flat blades? I have a question and it's rather simple if they have the same style of blades how is it that vortechs don't reverse? or do they? Do the vortechs have bumpers just like the koralias?

 

IMO there is no comparison...like a Chevy to a Porsche

As long as you clean the wet side in some vinegar every 3 months they will last!

 

If you go with the Koralia type, I would recommend you take a look at the JBJ Oceanstream with the Oceanpulse wavemaker. It has a gentler and wider flow than the Koralia. I have the 1,600 gph models in my 150 gal corner hex. They have worked great so far.

 

+1 on having to replace the front covers. I replaced them 4 times in 6 months (I had two 1400s). Then I sold them and bought an mp40 and an mp10 for my 90. I run them together and couldn't be happier.

 

I want to clarify my other post. I wrote that I replaced mine frequently. I was using the wave maker on 30 second intervals. JBJ was great about sending replacements but never mentioned putting the interval above 1 minute.

 

I ran two Evolutions 1400's on a Reefkeeper for two and a half years, switching every 30 seconds and replaced the covers one time for free under their two year warranty. I would say thats pretty good bang for my buck.
I replaced them recently as Big Al's had them on sale for $35 or so and the impellers were showing normal signs of wear where they strike the rubber bumper plus I have 330 lbs of southdown sand in my display and a wrasse so sometimes have a short sandstorm when he decides to rearrange things. 2.5 years equates to over 2.6 MILLION starts and stops so they are pretty darn rugged even if the covers do break sometimes.

I replaced them with the same thing and still have less invested than on one MP.

 

I had 2 1400s and 2 750s on a smart wave, and it could not keep my sand bed as clean as my now 1 mp2 and 2 750s do. So figure that one out? haha

Not to mention how loud the clicking was! my fish freaked out every time they switched, and one of the 750s cases broke.

 

As stated, basically if you have the money, go with Vortechs. If you are on a tight budget, get a few Koralias. I have (2) 750s and (2) 1050s in my 55, wavemaker control from my Reef Angel (random run times from 15-45 seconds). I have a lot of rock (100 lbs), yet I have not seen any dead spots. So they are working for me know.

If I have some extra money in a year or two, I may get an MP-10 to replace (2) Koralias.

 

So far, I haven't seen the need for a 'wavemaker'.
I run Koralia Evo's, and also the MaXiJets with the fan attachment,

The all point different directions, etc.

Seems to work, but I hear most are using a wavemaker.

Why should I change?

 

The idea is to have random flow. With this being said, when I look in my tank, without the wavemaker, I see my corals moving in different directions. I think the flow is pretty random if you point two of the powerheads at each other.