APEX and Vortechs

The thing with Vortechs is that after it is all said and done it is just a pump with a propeller. The flow characteristics are very good with how diffuse it is. But it is just a power head. The Vortech "system" though is what sets it apart. The ability to have those modes and the control over just a "simple powerhead" is what makes it what it is. The ability to run multiple heads in coordination is the bomb.

However.... to run those modes on multiple pumps with a controller jumps it up to a whole other level. It has to be about the best way out right now to truly get a random flow and vary the intensity through the course of the day. We will never be able to simulate a natural reef, but I think this is getting much closer.

And to be fair.... Tunze always had their pumps that were very good too. The controllers, and the ability to coordinate multiple power heads is really a good trick. The APEX can directly control 4 Tunze powerheads the same way straight off the main controller and you add boxes to add more powerheads. No wireless driver is needed.

Vortech released the same wireless board to Reefkeeper too, but they have drug their feet and Vortech beat them to the finish line. I'm sure they will get a "WXM" at some point of their own.

 

did that help at all Tat. Hows the tank doing?

 

This has helped out in a big way

Tank is doing well.... looking to take it to the next level with some vortechs.... probably shortly after christmas (income tax time)

Wanted to do all my reading now so im prepared.

So 'wxm" is built into the vortechs and apex? This is how they communicate then? Wireless?

 

The Vortechs still use the wireless driver they came with. The driver still drives mode and speed. The WXM is Apex's wireless communication module($125) for the Vortechs. Just plug the WXM into the Apex and go from there.

The Vortech driver needs to be updated to talk with WXM..... but you do that with the WXM when you set it up. Before to update the driver was a pain.... but now you have your Apex wireless on your computer and you download the driver to the wireless driver. Now they all talk the same language and Apex runs the show.

 

wow....

I have my apex connected by an ethernet cable to my router... how will this change things? (im not wireless)

What I understand now is ... get the WXM module... And the wxm module is wirelessly communicating with the vortechs (as vortechs wireless driver does). And the wxm is all programmable with the apex.

The wxm hooks up to the base module? or to one of the EB8's?

 

Your Apex being on the web wirelessly or wired does not matter.

Ya, you plug the WXM into any of the USB ports on the Apex or EB8s and Apex will recognize it. The Apex talks to the WXM and the WXM gives all the commands wirelessly to the Vortch drivers.

You will now see the WXM in the "module" menu and it gives Vortech spots. Run as many as you like. Just program in the pump profiles and tell Apex when to run them.

 

Thanks Powerman

This has helped me wrap my head around vortechs and the APEX.

Sounds like this is by far the best thing available. But comes at a high price.

You kept a lps in your tank with this setup... two mp40's. How did your lps respond?

My concern is too much flow. But it looks like the lowest setting is a 1000 gph. I believe 1000gph is the lowest setting...

Im not concerned about my sps of course but my lps.

 

I had LPS, but they were not too happy with all the flow of my regular setup. I was moving to keeping less fleshy LPS.... favias, blastos, and such. Had a big brain I had to sell cause it was too big. But this was not a problem with the MP40s, just a problem between corals that liked high flow and those that liked low.

I wanted 2 MP40s on my tank for the syncing, not for total flow. I did not run my 40s over 60-70 percent for any real duration, just from time to time to stir things up.

You can run the 40 down to 10% power.... heck, I actually never thought about it. Not sure if you have to run 10% increments in Apex of if you can go single digit like 8% or 23%. I just used 10s. You can still run them at 50-60%. Obviously that is expensive way to go to buy 2 MP40s just to run at half speed, but you would not have a dead spot in your tank, superior flow and all the tricks..