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What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:13 pm
by SouthernReefer
What is everyone controlling for powerheads? Need a pair for the 72 build.

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 12:08 pm
by tngo
Mainly Ecotech MP40s; I have 3 in my 180G. I have tried the Jebao, but they give out in about a year. I stopped replacing them after the third one failed. Hydors will start to get erratic and either stop working or begin to spin backwards sometimes after a year or two. They are cheap but not controllable. The Ecotechs I've had to replace one wetside so far after about 4 years. Ecotechs are pricey, but they are stable.

Tim

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 12:12 pm
by SouthernReefer
tngo wrote:Mainly Ecotech MP40s; I have 3 in my 180G. I have tried the Jebao, but they give out in about a year. I stopped replacing them after the third one failed. Hydors will start to get erratic and either stop working or begin to spin backwards sometimes after a year or two. They are cheap but not controllable. The Ecotechs I've had to replace one wetside so far after about 4 years. Ecotechs are pricey, but they are stable.

Tim

My wife hates the Frankenstein monster bolts look of the ecotech, not to mention the $$$. I'd love to have 10-10 control if I can but also don't want a giant pump in the tank.rhis is only a 4 foot 72 gallon tank.

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 5:04 pm
by rimai
Have you thought about the gyre?

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 5:06 pm
by SouthernReefer
rimai wrote:Have you thought about the gyre?
Problem I have with those and I own an ice cap 3k is finding one that will go low enough

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2020 6:16 pm
by binder
I have a pair of maxspect gyre xf230s running on my 75 gallon tank. I run them alternating at around 50-52%. works pretty good for me.

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Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2020 8:07 am
by SouthernReefer
binder wrote:I have a pair of maxspect gyre xf230s running on my 75 gallon tank. I run them alternating at around 50-52%. works pretty good for me.

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What types of coral are you keeping? I was considering a pair of the ice cap 1ks too but thought it would be too much flow.

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2020 12:48 pm
by GermanDude
Tunze pumps. Rock solid and controllable.
Excellent tech support in the US.

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2020 2:41 pm
by SouthernReefer
GermanDude wrote:Tunze pumps. Rock solid and controllable.
Excellent tech support in the US.
I've considered nthst, but still seem a bit bulky looking

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2020 7:15 pm
by SouthernReefer
I found a set of maxspecy xf230s for cheap but still thinking too much flow, thinking I'll go with a pair of the new reef octopus octopulse 2s as they have 0 to 10 control so I can connect and control via RA.

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 4:27 am
by binder
SouthernReefer wrote:
binder wrote:I have a pair of maxspect gyre xf230s running on my 75 gallon tank. I run them alternating at around 50-52%. works pretty good for me.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

What types of coral are you keeping? I was considering a pair of the ice cap 1ks too but thought it would be too much flow.
I have 2 clams, a couple montipora plates, 4-5 sps colonies, a millipora, 6 different acan colonies, 2 large trumpet colonies, plus softies.

I'm attaching a FTS of my tank. Image

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:38 am
by SouthernReefer
binder wrote:
SouthernReefer wrote:
binder wrote:I have a pair of maxspect gyre xf230s running on my 75 gallon tank. I run them alternating at around 50-52%. works pretty good for me.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

What types of coral are you keeping? I was considering a pair of the ice cap 1ks too but thought it would be too much flow.
I have 2 clams, a couple montipora plates, 4-5 sps colonies, a millipora, 6 different acan colonies, 2 large trumpet colonies, plus softies.

I'm attaching a FTS of my tank. Image

Beautiful tank! So it wouldn't be too much power? I'm after alot of the same things. Hammers, frogspawns clams acans lps, and choice sps like montis cap

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Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 6:14 pm
by binder
Thanks!
I have a hammer coral in it on the left side.
it honestly shouldn't be too much for it. you definitely want to have flow /circulation. you could probably get by with just one (i did for a while). the top part of the tank gets better flow than the bottom (for obvious reasons). I would keep the frogspawn / clams / etc away from the sides where the flow hits the glass and deflects down.
ultimately its your call but i personally think you will be fine using one. you can even run the pumps slower if you desired.

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Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 6:16 pm
by SouthernReefer
binder wrote:Thanks!
I have a hammer coral in it on the left side.
it honestly shouldn't be too much for it. you definitely want to have flow /circulation. you could probably get by with just one (i did for a while). the top part of the tank gets better flow than the bottom (for obvious reasons). I would keep the frogspawn / clams / etc away from the sides where the flow hits the glass and deflects down.
ultimately its your call but i personally think you will be fine using one. you can even run the pumps slower if you desired.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Are you using the apex module to unlock the 0 to 10 control into reef angel?

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 6:08 pm
by binder
SouthernReefer wrote:
binder wrote:Thanks!
I have a hammer coral in it on the left side.
it honestly shouldn't be too much for it. you definitely want to have flow /circulation. you could probably get by with just one (i did for a while). the top part of the tank gets better flow than the bottom (for obvious reasons). I would keep the frogspawn / clams / etc away from the sides where the flow hits the glass and deflects down.
ultimately its your call but i personally think you will be fine using one. you can even run the pumps slower if you desired.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Are you using the apex module to unlock the 0 to 10 control into reef angel?
I use the icecap module for the apex and created a custom cable to interface with the Reef Angel.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2020 6:11 pm
by SouthernReefer
binder wrote:
SouthernReefer wrote:
binder wrote:Thanks!
I have a hammer coral in it on the left side.
it honestly shouldn't be too much for it. you definitely want to have flow /circulation. you could probably get by with just one (i did for a while). the top part of the tank gets better flow than the bottom (for obvious reasons). I would keep the frogspawn / clams / etc away from the sides where the flow hits the glass and deflects down.
ultimately its your call but i personally think you will be fine using one. you can even run the pumps slower if you desired.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Are you using the apex module to unlock the 0 to 10 control into reef angel?
I use the icecap module for the apex and created a custom cable to interface with the Reef Angel.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Fairly simple to build?

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2020 6:42 pm
by binder
SouthernReefer wrote:
binder wrote:
SouthernReefer wrote: Are you using the apex module to unlock the 0 to 10 control into reef angel?
I use the icecap module for the apex and created a custom cable to interface with the Reef Angel.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Fairly simple to build?
absolutely. easiest for the star. I can help guide you if you need it. the star uses a network cable. cut one end off and splice some of the wires together with a 2.5 mm mono cable. pretty straight forward. I bought a 6ft mono cable and got 2 - 3ft cables from it. then bought a distribution block to split the wires and make everything look clean and reduce the need to solder. (i don't like soldering thin cables...well working with them in general sucks). it was much harder for the plus because of the connector but still very doable.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 10:54 am
by SouthernReefer
[

Are you using the apex module to unlock the 0 to 10 control into reef angel?[/quote]I use the icecap module for the apex and created a custom cable to interface with the Reef Angel.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk[/quote]

I appreciate it. I do have the star. Just got here last week. I lost out on those used gyres, so I think I will go with my plan A of reef octopus octopulse 2s. I'll be ordering one to start some testing shortly. So leads me to this question.

Is this then what would work with the star? Controllers for octo have the mono females for native 0 to 10

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/y-module ... cecap.html

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 4:33 pm
by binder
I believe so. The only downside, I think, is that it only uses 4 of the 8 wires. This will allow you to only use 2 of the 4 channels. it's not a big deal initially, unless you plan to use all 4 of the pwm channels.

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Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 5:16 pm
by SouthernReefer
binder wrote:I believe so. The only downside, I think, is that it only uses 4 of the 8 wires. This will allow you to only use 2 of the 4 channels. it's not a big deal initially, unless you plan to use all 4 of the pwm channels.

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Good as I've got it on order. I'll be running 2 of the reef octopus octopulse 2s that's the only item I'm looking to use 0 to 10 v for. If I decide to add a new return pump with o 0 to 10 I'll have to build my own cable then.

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 5:39 pm
by binder
SouthernReefer wrote:
binder wrote:I believe so. The only downside, I think, is that it only uses 4 of the 8 wires. This will allow you to only use 2 of the 4 channels. it's not a big deal initially, unless you plan to use all 4 of the pwm channels.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Good as I've got it on order. I'll be running 2 of the reef octopus octopulse 2s that's the only item I'm looking to use 0 to 10 v for. If I decide to add a new return pump with o 0 to 10 I'll have to build my own cable then.
you will have to look at what wires are used in the network connector to tell what pwm channels are being used. I have that same cable but not handy, so I can't tell you. the best way is to plug both cables in and have the pwm set to zero. then manually change 1 channel at a time and see what happens. (of course, you probably already knew that but I still felt like sharing)

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Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2020 2:40 pm
by SouthernReefer
Actually I didn't. This is my first controller and first time with 0 to 10 control, but I'm a tech guy so very inclined, but still would of taken a bit of research, so that saves me some time. I appreciate it!!

Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:46 pm
by binder
SouthernReefer wrote:Actually I didn't. This is my first controller and first time with 0 to 10 control, but I'm a tech guy so very inclined, but still would of taken a bit of research, so that saves me some time. I appreciate it!!
anytime. feel free to ask all questions you want or even PM me. I'll help as best as I can.

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Re: What are you all using for powerheads?

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:45 pm
by SouthernReefer
Appreciate it! Just started remodeling the room the new tank is going in, so won't be long before im wiring it all up and get it coded. Already doscovt about 3 more modules I "need" LOL