these are often compared but real world opinions on both are slim so here is my take.
I recently started my first "real" tank with a sump vs AIO systems, a 100g IM INT tank, animal style drain which is drilled middle bottom of tank 1" drains, .75" return.
picture for reference on how my tank is plumbed.
the cor-20 is built well, does not feel cheap at all, although the controller is a bit flimsy feeling. its native output is 1.25" and comes with a union for setup along with 1" and .75" connectors. i decided to use 1.25 and then reduce to .75 this caused quite a bit of noise coming from the reducer area, not sure why but it was by far the loudest part of my tank. I also do not have much distance or friction, just 2 90s into the tank and a 90 to the locline. i had to run the pump at 100% and dial the gate valve down ALOT, i dont have flow numbers but movement was slow in the sump. Apex integration as you can imagine is awesome, feedmodes, flow patterns (if you choose), all work great and setup is a breeze.
I did re-plumb the pump to be ,.75" the whole way to see if it fixed some issues, the sound went away, and is virtually silent now but still needs to run 100%
i got a great deal on a vectra M1 and swapped it into the tank recently, all plumbed .75" (native output), it is as quiet, meaning i cannot hear either but handles pressure much better. i changed nothing else in the plumbing as i was connecting to the first union and could run the pump at 40% without changing the gate valve setting the cor20 was using. i have now upped the pump to 80% and opened the gate valve a bunch, have alot more flow too.
trade off, no apex integration besides turning it off or on with feed modes. i usually dont turn off my pumps anyway so not a biggie for me, fish like to chase the food around. the controller is better build on the M1, and i have reeflink anyway in case i want to use the feed mode(or just push the controller button)
i wanted to the apex to work but i have to say the M1 is the better pump in my application.
hope this helps anyone deciding between the 2
I recently started my first "real" tank with a sump vs AIO systems, a 100g IM INT tank, animal style drain which is drilled middle bottom of tank 1" drains, .75" return.
picture for reference on how my tank is plumbed.
the cor-20 is built well, does not feel cheap at all, although the controller is a bit flimsy feeling. its native output is 1.25" and comes with a union for setup along with 1" and .75" connectors. i decided to use 1.25 and then reduce to .75 this caused quite a bit of noise coming from the reducer area, not sure why but it was by far the loudest part of my tank. I also do not have much distance or friction, just 2 90s into the tank and a 90 to the locline. i had to run the pump at 100% and dial the gate valve down ALOT, i dont have flow numbers but movement was slow in the sump. Apex integration as you can imagine is awesome, feedmodes, flow patterns (if you choose), all work great and setup is a breeze.
I did re-plumb the pump to be ,.75" the whole way to see if it fixed some issues, the sound went away, and is virtually silent now but still needs to run 100%
i got a great deal on a vectra M1 and swapped it into the tank recently, all plumbed .75" (native output), it is as quiet, meaning i cannot hear either but handles pressure much better. i changed nothing else in the plumbing as i was connecting to the first union and could run the pump at 40% without changing the gate valve setting the cor20 was using. i have now upped the pump to 80% and opened the gate valve a bunch, have alot more flow too.
trade off, no apex integration besides turning it off or on with feed modes. i usually dont turn off my pumps anyway so not a biggie for me, fish like to chase the food around. the controller is better build on the M1, and i have reeflink anyway in case i want to use the feed mode(or just push the controller button)
i wanted to the apex to work but i have to say the M1 is the better pump in my application.
hope this helps anyone deciding between the 2
