sea swirls. who owns them and what do you think?

[fungia]

i am thinking about getting sea swirls for my 100 gallon but i also have the option of tunze streams which costs more. this is a new tank so i am flexible. do you like your sea swirls or would you go with streams instead?

 

[Len]

I own two Sea Swirls: a 3/4" model and a 1" model. They've worked without fail for me for several years now and I can heartedly endorse them. I've been thinking about adding Tunze Streams (with controller) but since the SSs work so well, I can't justify the additional ~$600 for Streams right now. Besides, I'm not sure Streams would look natural in my tank. And I hear they're hard to find right now due to demand.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a 3/4 seaswirl on a closed loop withn a mag9, a Stream (the cheap one with no controller) and a gemini external powerhead all on my 120, in addition to the return from sump.

The SS is reliable, although I think they are a bit overpriced. With that pump its output is hardly noticable when the others are on.

The Stream makes the best flow. I have it on all the time except off for about 6 hours at night. It makes all the water in the tank flow around in a big circle. It is pretty big.

The gemini pumps at a very high velocity. I have it on/off every 3 minutes. You have to make it so it travels across the tank before its output hits anything. When it hits the output from the stream it makes a standing wave that washes over the center brace, so I have put a flow reducer on the outlet. I think it came with a fit-on thingy that directed the flow more downwards, but I can't find it.

 

[reefcam]

I have 2 1" SS on my tank and had 1 of them go bad within a year. But SS just replaced it. Would I switch them for other models (ie. Ocean Current). No. Unless something similar comes along. The SS does not reduce the current except through the size of the opening. There's only a limit amount of water that can be push through a 1" opening. Since the motor is not based on the water current, the rotation is constant regardless of the water current. The non-electric versions (i.e. Ocean Current) is dependant on the water current. And it will reduce the current a bit since it's being put to work to rotate the device. The 1" does make a little noise, but not a big deal. I also have the 3/4" on other tanks and they do run quieter.

 

[fungia]

how loud is the noise? is it annoying or a quiet hum?

 

[fungia]

bump

just want to know how loud the 1 inch ones are cuz if they are too loud i dont want them and will go with two 3/4.

 

[Len]

My 1" model doesn't make much noise, just a gentle motor sound. You can barely hear it above other equipment like skimmers, pumps, and fans. I hear the newer models have quieter motors, but I can't verify this.

 

[texman]

I have a 1" sea swirl and would agree with Len that I can't hear it above the noise from the other pumps, etc. If everything else is off, then it does produce a quiet ticking noise. I am very impressed with its durability. Mine has been running continuously for 3 years, with absolutely no maintenance. I also have a Tunze Stream (with controller) and must say that the two are not equivilant. The tunze produceds a much broader, less intense flow than the sea swirl. I have about 1100 gph running through the sea swirl and I really cannot place any corals within 18" of it since the force seems to break them loose from their anchor. The tunze produces a much wider stream with higher flow, but less intensity. I do question the 3000 gph (12000l) that they claim. I am not sure how easy it would be to actually measure the flow?? I have also had to disassemble my tunze twice in the past 6 months to remove calcium buildup from the inside which eventually caused it to seize, and luckily, shut itself off. I would highly recommend both and use both.

 

[Anonymous]

I have two of the 1 inch ss's. Dead quiet. They rock.