Freshwater Circulation Pump

[mnemenoi]

I have been considering adding a decent circulation pump or even a pair. This is for a planted (not extremely dense) 150 tall and would like some recommendations. Looking over the circulation pumps is a bit confusing as most target their application to reef set ups and not a freshwater system. I know quite a few of you troph/petro keepers use them, but I'd worry about too strong a current with plants, so maybe something a bit tamer. The filtration on the tank is decent, but would like to eliminate some dead spots (1-2262, 1-2217), let me know what you think... Looking for brands/sizes I should be looking for...

[BiGPiNK]

Whatever you do choose....DONT use maxijets. The suction cup mounts are absolutely crap and to male them stick you have to purchase $20 magnet mounts separately. ..by which point you may as well have bought a koralia or smaller tunze anyway!
I'll leave others to tell you what kind of flow you need as I don't do planted tanks, just wanted to warn about maxijets. ..they're good utility pumps say for skimmers/reactors etc, but for flow duties they suck donkey.....ahem ;-)

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[Ballinxalex]

Get ur self a koralia 550,750 and u should be good for a planted tank

[myjohnson]

How much you want to spend?

Vortech is worth the money.

For something nice but cheaper...

Google modded tunze nano stream.

[crazy42bmx]

Personally im a fan of the Aqueon ones. Their smaller in size compared to the big round koralia ones and they push water very well.

[jeb102385]

Mp10 or40... totally worth the $$. Totally customizable in speed and how they run

[Ballinxalex]

+1 on the vortechs totally worth the money fully customizable with how much flow u want

[myjohnson]

A smaller tunze on wave maker would be cool and different for a planted tank.

The steam plants would sway back and forth like they would in the wild.

[mistahoo]

I have to agree with Thai. MP10 if you willing to dish out money. Tunze Stream Pump if you don't want to pay that much for the vortech. It'll be perfect for your 150 planted and it'll give random currents and cause the plants to sway as if they were in the wild like Thai said. It's still more expensive than most, but both options are well worth it.

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[mnemenoi]

Thanks everyone, I am overlooking the recommendations and I certainly like the MP10, though the modded Tunze sounds interesting and might give a better effect that I am hunting for. I like the random movements and effects it would give the taller plants. We have a 2262 & 2217 and a simple powerhead on the tank, but we still have a few 'dead spots' and I think this might help in eliminating them, while assisting with the flow and circulation in the tank itself. Everything we have in it seems to love strong current and should not mind. How do these pumps compare with heat creation? I have heard a few folks mention them as sources?

[BiGPiNK]

All pumps where the motor is inside the water will create heat, but for the most part it is most negligible for pumps of these size. Return pumps can create a decent bit of heat due to their giant motors. Mp10s don't add any heat to the water as all the motor is outside the glass.I would say if you have the spare cash definitely go for the mp10, they last an age and the customer service should something go wrong is absolutely top notch, plus with an mp10 you have the ability to turn up/down the flow, with the little circulation pumps, you're stuck at a constant flow level whether your tank likes it or not.

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[SunnyHouTX]

MP10 might be a tad on the weak side for your 150.

If you do get a regular constant speed pump, put it on a timer so you can control it more. I run my 450 like that, running only a couple of hours at a time a few times a day to stir up detritus. Very functional and cost effective.

[mnemenoi]

We are good with timers, the 450 might be a good option. Thanks Sunny! I think using it to break and refocus the 2262 discharge and create a dual lift current would achieve the result we are looking for.

[SunnyHouTX]

I meant my 450g tank LOL. I'd say run a Koralia Evo 1400 or Aqueon 1250 (I prefer Aqueon myself).

Oh, and keep in mind that these pumps can chew up little critters that go inside the cage when they are in the off phase. In that respect, Koralia has a better cage.

[BiGPiNK]

It's got to be said...and without meaning to toot my own horn....there's some quality advice in this thread! I'd certainly be inclined to take Sunny's advice, obviously with a monster tank like that he knows what he's talking about when it comes to fresh water tanks!

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