Tunze or Other Powerhead Recommendations

Chipper1978 · Mar 8, 2021

I currently have an MP40 on each end of my 4 foot mixed reef tank. Have quite a few acro frags and am looking to get some more flow, including increased surface agitation. Considering two Tunze powerheads for the back wall of the tank. These look like good options since you can point them upward or wherever you would like the flow. Anyone out there have a specific model of Tunze they would recommend? I am also open to other brands if people have different suggestions.

WIReefer · Mar 9, 2021

Tunze are great, I would put the two mp40’s on the back wall and add a small gyre out two on the side wall. I used to run something very similar on my 4 ft tank.

homer1475 · Mar 9, 2021

+1

Was going to suggest a gyre myself.

I have a center tower style overflow and run the gyre on that at the top. Creates great flow at the surface, and pulls water from the bottom of the tank(up swelling like on a reef edge). Great pumps if used right.

Chipper1978 · Mar 9, 2021

So put the MP40s on the back wall and one Gyre on a side wall? Tank is 4 feet. Would you go with XF350 (5280 GPH, 80-800+gallon) or XF330 (2350 GPH, 25-100+gallon)?

X-37B · Mar 9, 2021

My 4' 120 runs 2 Tunze 6095' on the back wall. They are at 100% and pulse every 10 seconds. They are small and push alot of water.
They are aimed at the center and surface.
I run 2 Tunze 6105's on each end at a constant 100%.
Your 40's are perfect on the sides.
The only thing I dislike about the tunze on the back wall is the little blue rubber cushions.
Get a few extra as you will loose a few removing the powehead over time when cleaning as they are hard to reach on the back wall.
They should have been designed to float instead of sink.
I get around 9000gph at any givin time in my 120.

Chipper1978 · Mar 11, 2021

I really appreciate the feedback everyone. I’m really up in the air between getting a gyre or two Tunze. It would be amazing if I could somehow eliminate any powerheads on the side walls. Thinking about putting my empty 40s on the back wall and then adding two Tunze on the back wall also. Other option would be to go with the gyre. Pros and cons?

jda · Mar 11, 2021

You can put the tunze on the back walls and point them to the middle like they were on the back walls. I have a xf380 (I think) and it moves a lot of water, but I hate the static flow. I have tunze too and I like them better. I have not had issues with my gyre and it has been working well for probably 3 years without any cleaning - some complain of reliability issues, but I have not experienced that. I have experienced Tunze pumps lasting more than a decade. In the end, I buy any used Tunze pumps that I can find, which are few since they are my most preferred pump.

Chipper1978 · Mar 12, 2021

jda said:
You can put the tunze on the back walls and point them to the middle like they were on the back walls. I have a xf380 (I think) and it moves a lot of water, but I hate the static flow. I have tunze too and I like them better. I have not had issues with my gyre and it has been working well for probably 3 years without any cleaning - some complain of reliability issues, but I have not experienced that. I have experienced Tunze pumps lasting more than a decade. In the end, I buy any used Tunze pumps that I can find, which are few since they are my most preferred pump.

So are you suggesting I could put the MP40s and the two Tunze on the back wall (no powerheads on the side walls)? Your reply says “point them to the middle like they are on the back wall.” Little confused. Thanks for the reply!