MP40W ES worth it?

[Reeftanker3295]

I have an SWC180 cone and MH/VHO lighting, I think I am going to put this money towards LED's and get 2 K4's or get a controller.

 

[reefs4life]

I was in the same shoes you're in now, I never thought I would get even one MP40 or LEDs and now I have both. I have 2 MP40w ES that I got this year and LEDs as well. At the same time when I was 16 and fresh in the hobby, I barely had money to buy the right light fixture and skimmer. Honestly for right now I would just go with the K4s for better flow, I used to use those 2 on my 75 and a 90 is pretty much the same thing except for a few inches in height. Like you said, they money is going towards the tank anyways and you're thinking LEDs or a controller. Personally I recommend a controller, that's what I got first and it was just the right place to start in terms of upgrading equipment just because at the end of the day, that will be the main control of the tank. It's like getting a screen, keyboard and mouse without a computer tower. Anyways what I'm trying to get at is, don't worry about getting certain things before others because eventually you'll end up getting them all but it must be done gradually or you'll be broke at your age (I know from experience)

 

[FlyTekk]

I had 2 koralias 1400 in a 54g, barebottom. I placed them pointing straight down to the bare glass behind the rock work. Not only could i not see the pumps but i couldnt see the wires.

This blew alllll detritus from under the rock and anywhere on the bottom glass up to the water column where it gets cauht by my filter sock. Not only that but they are so strong that there was flow everywhere.

The key is not to point them at anything other than glass walls. The flow seems to flow across the glass boucing off it etc etc.

You dont need a vortech to get flow everywhere. They just the sexxxiest way to do it.

 

[Reeftanker3295]

Will the increase in flow help my acros grow? Because I seem to get slow growth from my SPS even though I do water changes every week and my calcium reads 430 and my phosphates/nitrates read 0. They all look healthy, showing great coloring and PE, but they don't grow nearly as fast as other peoples seem to. I really want my corals to take off in growth. Will more flow do this for me?

 

[FlyTekk]

Maybe not more flow.... but the right flow. Which in your case may need to be more flow. It also depends on lighting. SPS like alot of flow. What lighting do you have. No doubt the vortechs will produce more than enough of the right flow. But i thought the question was if the vortechs were worth it in comparison to other things like skimmer... lighting.... etc. What lights and skimmer do you have?

 

[Reeftanker3295]

I have 2 250w MH's and 2 VHO super actinics for supplement lighting and sunrise/sunset.
My skimmer is a SWC180 cone, I also have a fuge and a phosban reactor. I'm pretty sure I have everything covered... But maybe i'm wrong? My skimmer pulls a full cup of opaque brown liquid every 4 days.

 

[FlyTekk]

I agree. U have everything covered. Lol. Its like the only thing left to get is a vortech. Lol. Controller maybe.