Wave Maker or Vortech?

Very helpful information! Thank for all the input guys. I think I will go with Koralia since it seems to be either this or a vortech. I just do not know if I want to go evo or not.

 

The Koralia Evolutions are much much smaller then the previous K models, draw less then half the power and have a nicer mounting system. 6 months or so ago I did a review on them with pictures for comparison.

 

I could not find your review. I am have deiced to go with the Koralia Evo I am think 3 1050s for a 90 with my return pump I will have 40x turn over rate. Or should I do 1 1400 and 2 1050? 90 Gallon tank.

 

I have two Evo 1400's and my return goes through a OM Squirt two way for an additional 800 or so GPH in a 100G 60" reef system. The Evos can move sand in the far corner of the 60" tank unlike any other powerhead I ever tried.

 

So what configuration would you recommend I only have a 500GPH return going to upgrade to a mag 9 after the important stuff which that will have a return of almost 800. Should I just do 2 1400 or 3 1050 or any combination of the pumps?

 

Two powerheads is usually sufficient when sized properly, it also gives you the option of putting them on a wavemaker or controller.

I would reconsider the Mag 9.5, there are much better pumps in the same size and price range, two examples are the Ocean Runner 3500 and Eheim 1262. Both are more energy efficient, create much less heat, are worlds quieter and popular choices.
I only use Mags to mix water in a bucket or trash barrel in the winter months anymore since they run so hot.

 

koralias with ocean pulse duos

It seems there is a lot of conflicting information out about running the koralias as a wave maker. Ive been reading alot everywhere on this. I have koralias powerheads but not running on a timer to create waves random currents. Ive read these are not wave maker compatable and will fail prematurely. I would like to put 2 1400's on the ocean pulse duo.
Has anyone had issues running this combination?

As this thread was already running I did not want to start up another...

 

i had korilia magnum 5 and magnum 6 power heads in my last 90g, it was awesome, they moved some serious water, when i sold that set up, and got my 93 cube, i went teh vortech route. it moves quite a bit of water, and has wave functions and ect ect ect, and its nice to push teh button for feed mode, but without 2 vortechs, (which is almost $1000!!) your only ever going to get water moving in one direction, if that makes and sense, granted it does pulse and what not. but you can get 4 korilia magnum 6's(2200 gph) at $85 each, with korilia smart wavemaker for $70 and itll still be a bit cheaper than one MP40, plus with all 4 running at once, yould have 8800 gph in your tank, with multi directional flow, for a 97 times turn over rate. which is insane. BUT im just saying. if i had to do it over again, thats how id do it.

oh and p.s. the vortech is loud, even when aligned properly, the hydors are dead silent. a pro for the vortech is that the motor is on the out side of the glass, and that looks great and takes up less room in the tank, which is a plus if you have a smaller tank, but anything bigger than a 90g your not really too concerned about power heads taking up prime real estate. on the flip side of that coin, with the motor outside the glass, your sending magnetic energy through the glass, its going to make noise, no if and or buts about it, you can minimize the noise, cant eliminate it tho.

 

This thread is two years old...but here goes. The appeal for Vortech's is not only the amount of water they can move, it is the integration of multiple units to function together. They don't take up space like the Koralia's (especially the football sized Magnums), have a wide flow stream, meaning less dead spots, have no wires inside the tank, and function wirelessly with each other. Drawbacks to the Koralia's are different wave functions, narrow flow stream, multiple controlled pumps without multiple controllers, size and overall aesthetics. The draw back to Vortech's is the price. Those that have bought them have almost unanimously agreed they would NEVER go back to other wavemakers. I have 2 Vortech pumps in my tank, and have no problem creating random wave flow...I didn't need 4. For the money, Koralia's are great and have their place. For my money, I'll take Vortech's every time.

 

football sized magnums, lol they were pretty big.