Tunze 6105 ORCA Initial Review

[rtparty]

Pre and Post op. Shortened. not sure how to link my build thread for details.

Where are the sound and vibration dampeners?

 

[areefer01]

Where are the sound and vibration dampeners?

They are using the shorter version(s). Tunze 6020.620 14mm (0.55in.) silicone buffers. I did not know they existed.

 

[Billgasser]

If you remove the two screws and nuts you can flip the clamps around and it lifts it the height of the clamp

That seems like it only works for a eurobrace tank. Would it work for rimless?

 

[me & my baby]

Isn’t this just a sea sweep with a power head on the end ?

 

[Jamie814]

Isn’t this just a sea sweep with a power head on the end ?

It's like a sea sweep on steroids. Cheaper than a sweep+Tunze as well. Flow can be based on particular degree of angle as it rotates up too I believe 360 degrees. Rotation speed can also be controlled as well as stop points within the rotation. Basically you can have the pump at 20% short end of the tank then as it sweeps to the long side of the tank you can have it ramp up to 100% or anywhere in between or completely random.
Fully programed/controlled via Tunze app, no external controller and 1 power supply.

Sea sweep was a fixed speed rotation back and forth 90 degrees

 

[me & my baby]

Isn’t this just a sea sweep with a power head on the end ?

It's like a sea sweep on steroids. Flow can be based on particular degree of angle as it rotates up too I believe 360 degrees. Rotation speed can also be controlled as well as stop points within the rotation. Basically you can have the pump at 20% short end of the tank then as it sweeps to the long side of the tank you can have it ramp up to 100% or anywhere in between or completely random.
Fully programed/controlled via Tunze app, no external controller and 1 power supply.

Sea sweep was a fixed speed rotation back and forth 90 degrees

Yea I had a couple back in the day . It worked good for what it was . I guess I need to read up on them some more . I didn’t know about being able to adjust the flow at different points . I just saw them and honestly thought they were a sea sweep with a pump in the end . Now they have perks my interest

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

That seems like it only works for a eurobrace tank. Would it work for rimless?

It would not, it probably would not take much to get a small piece of glass cut and silicon it to the edge though. I could imagine just a strip 4" long or so and about 3/8" thick 1.5" wide and get a couple gussets made for the ends to make it really secure.

 

[rtparty]

It's like a sea sweep on steroids. Cheaper than a sweep+Tunze as well. Flow can be based on particular degree of angle as it rotates up too I believe 360 degrees. Rotation speed can also be controlled as well as stop points within the rotation. Basically you can have the pump at 20% short end of the tank then as it sweeps to the long side of the tank you can have it ramp up to 100% or anywhere in between or completely random.
Fully programed/controlled via Tunze app, no external controller and 1 power supply.

Sea sweep was a fixed speed rotation back and forth 90 degrees

Sea Sweep on steroids. Great description

 

[Jamie814]

I just saw them and honestly thought they were a sea sweep with a pump in the end . Now they have perks my interest

I was also a sweep user, and this is exactly what I thought when I first seen them lol. Then I started watching the videos on the Orca's and somehow Tunze ended up getting lots of $$$$ from me

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

On the pipe length, that was the basic engineering issue, the length it is now is the shortest it can be and still be extendable to try to accomodate as many options as people would want but as a compromise it is not perfect. The main problem with being longer is you get leverage on the clamp, especially with the bigger pumps, the pipe won't flex, but the mount might. The material is super rigid, it is real carbon fiber that is made in Germany for structural use, not a print on plastic and it is actually carbon fiber all the way through, lower quality carbon fiber is just a couple layers that are paper thin and usually overlaid on a plastic or paper tube (more of carbon fiber for looks than strength), it cuts and machines really easily, with the caveat you will be stained form it, the black dust is very fine and hard to clean up. I cut mine with a hack saw and the main issue I encountered was that because it has no flex at all, where plastic or metal pipes bend away so the blade can keep passing through, the carbon fiber is so stiff it clamps the blade so you have to cut in again from the side, you can't just pass through in one cut. One option that has been discusses is we could use acrylic and provide a few lengths and make them considerably cheaper, but we initially felt that when you weigh it being $60 less or looking super cool with an exotic material most people would probably rather have the super cool exotic material.

 

[BZOFIQ]

On the pipe length, that was the basic engineering issue, the length it is now is the shortest it can be and still be extendable to try to accomodate as many options as people would want but as a compromise it is not perfect. The main problem with being longer is you get leverage on the clamp, especially with the bigger pumps, the pipe won't flex, but the mount might. The material is super rigid, it is real carbon fiber that is made in Germany for structural use, not a print on plastic and it is actually carbon fiber all the way through, lower quality carbon fiber is just a couple layers that are paper thin and usually overlaid on a plastic or paper tube (more of carbon fiber for looks than strength), it cuts and machines really easily, with the caveat you will be stained form it, the black dust is very fine and hard to clean up. I cut mine with a hack saw and the main issue I encountered was that because it has no flex at all, where plastic or metal pipes bend away so the blade can keep passing through, the carbon fiber is so stiff it clamps the blade so you have to cut in again from the side, you can't just pass through in one cut. One option that has been discusses is we could use acrylic and provide a few lengths and make them considerably cheaper, but we initially felt that when you weigh it being $60 less or looking super cool with an exotic material most people would probably rather have the super cool exotic material.

Full on carbon fiber handlebars are available with any quality modern mountain bike; people trim them all the time to fit personal preference and/or riding style.

Where am I going with this.... word of caution, spray something on the bar to minimize the dust when cutting.

You don't want to breathe this stuff in.

 

[areefer01]

but we initially felt that when you weigh it being $60 less or looking super cool with an exotic material most people would probably rather have the super cool exotic material.

True, but in an aquarium that fancy looking carbon fiber shaft is covered with algae, film, or other forms of marine line. Mother nature finds a way and it doesn't care if it is acrylic, PVC, or carbon fiber.

:)

BTW I am joking. It does without saying that you used quality material.

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Hoping not too off-topic here, but for everyone mentioning the 6075 vs 6095 vs 6105 in regards to reach, could one or two of you provide some guidance: I am putting together a peninsula build for a standard 75 (48" x 18" x 20" high) and my intention is to upgrade, over time, to an SPS-heavy mixed reef. I had thought a pair of 6105s on opposing sides (each on the same end of the tank, positioned under the overflow box and shooting 48" down its face of the reef) would be adequate without being too much if I turn them down in the early stages.

However, thanks to 6 pages of commentary here so far, I am considering 6095s instead though I like the idea of upgrading either the flow and/or the voltage in time (later, like 3-5 years, these pumps will likely drive a 180).

Stick with the 6105s to reach, or go with more adequately sized 6095s or 6075s?

Sorry, this kind of got away from me with the number of posts.

Just so you know 6095 will be cancelled, 6075 is pretty close in flow and uses a fraction of the electricity and it is hard to justify keeping it around. You would still be able to get parts, it does have greater reach, but in terms of efficiency, it even uses more power than the current 6105.The 6105 will be the best suited for a bigger tank, 6095 is already 24V, you cannot increase the voltage, you can with the 6075 or 6105 as they are 12V but 6075 vibrates like crazy at 24V, people do it, a lot of pumps are worse, but it is a bit much in my opinion. A 6105 at 24V is a 6255, just with weaker magnet holder. For the 75 two 6075's would work, they will be the most discrete, but if you plan to upgrade to a 180 in the near future 2 6105's might be best.

 

[qchau]

I went back and forth between getting the 6075 and the 6105 for my 150 lagoon and glad I went with the 6075. I have them mounted to the top front corners and they provide plenty of power while still looking discrete enough. I have a SPS dominate tank and the pumps are only at 50%.

 

[RobertK]

I went back and forth between getting the 6075 and the 6105 for my 150 lagoon and glad I went with the 6075. I have them mounted to the top front corners and they provide plenty of power while still looking discrete enough. I have a SPS dominate tank and the pumps are only at 50%.

How many did you get and is that with or without Orcas?

 

[qchau]

I got 2 6075s with orcas

 

[Starter]

They are referring to upgrading the power supply from 12v to the 24v to convert it into the 6255.

Do not connect the 24V to the 12V Orca. I have 6255's too and needed to buy a separate powersupply for the Orca to operate. I have less app control for the pump but I does not bother me.

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

You can actually use 24V with the ORCA, it is not a problem.

 

[Futuretotm]

You can actually use 24V with the ORCA, it is not a problem.

I have a few 24v backups I used for my old gyres. Any chance I could loop them in as backups?? Thanks again.

 

[exnisstech]

I went back and forth between getting the 6075 and the 6105 for my 150 lagoon and glad I went with the 6075. I have them mounted to the top front corners and they provide plenty of power while still looking discrete enough. I have a SPS dominate tank and the pumps are only at 50%.

Any chance of picture of the tank? I'm considering a 4ft tank to move all my SPS into and wondering if I could get by with just two orcas. I like quite a bit of flow and currently have 6 powerheads in a 3ft tank