Vortech MP, AI Nero, or Reef Octo pulse?

[motoking_1990]

Looking to buy these puck style powerheads for my tank. It's a 72x30x25. Has anyone had any experience with the Nero or the Pulses? I hear a lot about the Vortech pumps but haven't seen much on the others than the better price point. I went to a lfs over the past weekend, and they have 4 Reef Octo's on their 1000g lagoon style tank, and it seemed to provide adequate flow. Its mixed reef. I am planning on having also mixed in my tank but primarily SPS and acros.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I've used both the Nero 3 and Nero 7. Both have done great for me.
I've also used the vortechs, my main complaint about them is they have the ceramic shaft on the impeller side that is very easily broken, had to replace a couple wet sides due to that.
No experience with the Reef Octo

 

[mmorrison55]

If you don’t mind cables inside the tank, the Nero’s will be fine. I have both the Nero and mp40s and prefer the look and ease of cleaning the mp40s.

I have multiple wetsides and im never out of commission. I simply pull out the dirty wet side and swap it out for a clean one, then put the dirty one into some citric acid for a while to clean it.

 

[motoking_1990]

I've used both the Nero 3 and Nero 7. Both have done great for me.
I've also used the vortechs, my main complaint about them is they have the ceramic shaft on the impeller side that is very easily broken, had to replace a couple wet sides due to that.
No experience with the Reef Octo

Is the Nero capable of reaching the other side of a 6' tank? I was thinking of 4 total 2 on each side.

 

[RoanokeReef]

I have the Neros and Orbits, I clean them once a month. I personally have had MP40s in the past and prefer the Nero line, the cables one the Nero even though in the tank are easier to hide than the MPs.

 

[D.WhiteShark]

I've used both Vortech and Nero powerheads. My vote is for the Vortech. While the Neros are good powerheads, the Vortech powerheads move more water IMO and are easier to maintain as you don't have to worry about wires which was a big deal for me. I didn't want to have to pull all the wires through and then reroute them or even work around them while cleaning pumps

edit to add: I also had issues with two of my neros just after the warranty expired and one while it was still under warranty that required replacement. It may have been an issue with the older models before they redesigned them in early 2020 I don't recall the time frame exactly.

 

[exnisstech]

No experience with octo. I ran 4 MP40s on 6ft tank and now have them on a 7ft tank. I doubt i could keep sticks but other coral do fine including monti caps. I have a large bubble coral on the bottom in the center and it has a nice back and forth swaying motion. I have Nero 5s and 3s also. My biggest gripe with the neros is the fact that it has a very long cable attached to the motor so if you want to clean it you have to fish the cable out from the stand. I quickly got tired of that and started setting a stool next to the stand and setting my bucket on that. With the vortechs I just keep a spare wet side and swap them out. Biggest complaint with the vortechs is the price.
PS. I find cables in a tank with euro bracing a total pita

 

[Crabs McJones]

Is the Nero capable of reaching the other side of a 6' tank? I was thinking of 4 total 2 on each side.

the 5 or 7 should be more than capable of handling that

 

[motoking_1990]

No experience with octo. I ran 4 MP40s on 6ft tank and now have them on a 7ft tank. I doubt i could keep sticks but other coral do fine including monti caps. I have a large bubble coral on the bottom in the center and it has a nice back and forth swaying motion. I have Nero 5s and 3s also. My biggest gripe with the neros is the fact that it has a very long cable attached to the motor so if you want to clean it you have to fish the cable out from the stand. I quickly got tired of that and started setting a stool next to the stand and setting my bucket on that. With the vortechs I just keep a spare wet side and swap them out. Biggest complaint with the vortechs is the price.
PS. I find cables in a tank with euro bracing a total pita

Good to know. Mine has Euro bracing as well. And a point I didn’t even think about. I had a couple icecap gyres before but that wasnt a euro braced tank. It didn’t even register that the cord might bother me. It will have a hood so maybe not a deal breaker.

I believe you are running the noopsyche k7s as well correct? I have been eyeing them also. Cant beat the price. There is a guy couple hours from me who has 2 orphek Atlantic icons nib for $1500 but I haven’t decided on anything yet. I am taking my time with this build. I am building the stands for the display and sump now. (Sump is in the fish room in basement)

 

[motoking_1990]

Is the Nero capable of reaching the other side of a 6' tank? I was thinking of 4 total 2 on each side.

the 5 or 7 should be more than capable of handling that

Did you have a euro braced tank with the Neros? Any issues you had with the wires inside the tank?

 

[Jarob]

I've got a eurobrace tank with 2 nero 5s, 3 mp40s, and 2 tunze. Cords in the tank are a non issue IMO if you spend 5 minutes to hide/route them. My wife as a non reef tank person and only cares about aesthetics thinks the vortechs are super ugly, she hates the bulky dryside and cords on the exterior.

Having said that you can't go wrong either way. The vortechs are great but also more fragile than a power head should be IMO. The Neros are great too, I love their wider more gentle flow

 

[exnisstech]

I believe you are running the noopsyche k7s as well correct?

That is correct. This is the second tank I had them on.

 

[Reef Jedi]

I’ll throw a curve ball out and not one you’re looking at. But I’ve had all the above mentioned pumps. A Nero 7 couldn’t reach across 4” and I was disappointed with them.

Best hands down I’ve ever played with are these new Tunze eco 6105’s. They come with both a wide flow and a 15° narrow flow guard that you can switch between. Amazing at moving water and I use to be part of the no cord crew and I’ll look past that due to the flow these produce.

I had 2 mp 40’s and 2 mp10’s at one point on this tank and just these two tunze push more water and create better random flow then the vortechs. I’m amazed I say that now since I’ve ran vortechs on my tanks since they first came out.

Maybe something to consider…

 

[Scoob]

I have some Reef Octo pulses that I really like. Also recently picked up a Tunze 6075.

 

[rtparty]

Tunze. Way better than any of those. Deven from ReefDudes has a good video on the new Tunze pumps and them pushing water over 6 feet with no issues

Vortech wetsides last a year to 18 months at most these days. The quality is garbage on them any longer

Nero pumps have horrible magnet issues where they rust, swell, and bust the casing they’re in.

 

[mfinn]

I used Tunze 6105's for years, but have moved to Vortechs. My current pair are about 9-10 years old and still running silent.
I have replaced the wetside on both once.

 

[exnisstech]

Best hands down I’ve ever played with are these new Tunze eco 6105’s.

And they are so reliable. I have one that's been running for almost 9 years without a hick up. It currently doing duty in my brute rock storage. They're just larger than I want in the tank or all I would have is tunze.

 

[exnisstech]

I've got a eurobrace tank with 2 nero 5s, 3 mp40s, and 2 tunze. Cords in the tank are a non issue IMO if you spend 5 minutes to hide/route them. My wife as a non reef tank person and only cares about aesthetics thinks the vortechs are super ugly, she hates the bulky dryside and cords on the exterior.

Having said that you can't go wrong either way. The vortechs are great but also more fragile than a power head should be IMO. The Neros are great too, I love their wider more gentle flow

Any chance you can share your cord hiding method? Im not too creative and couldn't come up a good method to hide them.
The brace is 4"

 

[kboogie]

I've used MPs and Neros for a while. I've had fever problems with my Neros but they still are not perfect. I actually bought a cheap low profile unit from Amazon and it was 1/5 the price and has outperformed the Neros and MPs. It just doesn't have an app.

 

[kboogie]

I've used MPs and Neros for a while. I've had fever problems with my Neros but they still are not perfect. I actually bought a cheap low profile unit from Amazon and it was 1/5 the price and has outperformed the Neros and MPs. It just doesn't have an app.

This is the unit I bought to replace an AI Nero, which replaced an MP. I've been impressed, and the price makes it even more impressive. The in aquarium profile is almost identical to the Nero.

JEREPET 4200GPH Wavemaker Pump

There are some things in this hobby that are totally worth buying premium (sumps, rollers, lights, etc). Then there are other items where you can get 95% of the solution for a fraction of the price.