Wanting to add another powerhead

So latley ive been wanting to add another powerhead for more movement. I have vortech mp20 at one end and im wanting to put another powerhead at the other end. Im thinking about getting a koralia, but the one thing that i dont like about them is their bulkyness. I have seen pics of the new koralia and their much smaller, so if my lfs caries that i may get one.

But what rating koralia do you think i should get, i just want a little more flow not a ton, i was thinking maybe a K2 or K3?

I am keeping a mixed reef i have a few corals that dont like a lot of flow so their at the opposite end of the vortech and would be near the koralia so you think i should look into the lower K1 or K2 more so than the K2 or K3?

 

Hi Puffer chick

the MP 20 is adjustable between 500 and 2000 gph = so I have read
your tank is 46 gallons and you have 1 x sps birdsnest and an acro? plus a desire for more SPS I believe

flow over 50 x tank volume is normal in tanks with SPS
flow over 70 x tank volume is also very common from what I have read/ learned
is the MP20 all you have for flow at present?
is it set to full power = 2000 gph?

so 46 x 50 = 2300 = so even if your MP 20 is at full power your at the very low end of the scale of SPS needs IMO

So adding another is a good idea - and will help increase the real estate that you can consider SPS for

if we target 60x tank turnover (Im at 66, dont count skimmer though)

46 x 66 ( needs a calculator, hang on a minute LOL) = 2760
So the closest Korallia pump to 760 GPH or slight larger would be what I would get for my tank = K3

Steve

 

Puffer Chick-

If you don't like the bulkiness of a pump in the tank, an alternative would be a Gen2 Vortech from Ecotech Marine. The motor sits outside the tank, and only the propeller is in the tank. It also has wave making capabilities.

Gen2 VorTech Propeller Pump MP40W with Wireless Wave Driver | Power Heads | Water Pumps & Power Heads | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com

I know, it's expensive ($420). But, it solves one of your concerns - space. I have one for my tank (65 gal).

Moose

 

Hi PufferChick,

Since you have the MP20 for around $150 you can upgrade it to an MP40w Gen2 (500-3200 gph). Just a thought

TJ

 

I would do the MP40 upgrade.

 

hmmm ok ill pick up a K3 when im at the lfs this weekend or next, i just worry about how bulky they are, it will take up a lot of space but i want more flow

also how are we able to tell if the vortech is dialed all the way up, all i did was have it set on reef crest mode and thats it

i wish it would be pretty sweet having another vortech, but that's deffiently out of my price range

lol that would be pretty sweet if id be able to afford it

hahaha i wish

 

I'm confused by what you mean by bulky...I have a K3 and its not much bigger than a maxi jet 1200. the good thing about Koralias is that the flow is more broad...as where other powerheads are directional.

As for the amount of flow in a tank, for as long as i can remember 30x was good enough for SPS, but I could be wrong.

 

they just seem really bulky in pics, i have a koralia nano in my 20 which isint very big but i havent seen the others in person. but if their no bigger than the maxijett 1200 thats not too bad. i have one in my tank right now but i dont have it plugged in because i have it holding up my filter sock and i have tried to plug it in a few times but it craeates a lot of bubbles so id rather just get a koralia and be able to place it on the other side of the tank

 

comparing the 1200 to a K3 isnt apples to apples, but I would prefer the Koralia over alot of others. If i was at home I would take a pic of a nano next to a K3 for comparison, but I wont be home till 8 am. I will trade you my K3 for your nano ;D

 

Hyrdor Evo 700... Would be the cheapest and clossest to your GPH needs. At the low end of the flow spectrum.