Vortech and acrylic tanks

triggerfish1976 · #1 11/14/2007, 01:35 PM

I am looking for feedback from anyone is using vortechs on acrylic tanks.
I am mainly trying to find out the following:

Heat problems: Has there been any problems with the tank associated with the excess heat given off by the driver? Any temp. increases or negative effects on the acrylic itself?

Scratching: Does your vortech scratch up the acrylic?

saltysupply · #2 11/14/2007, 03:14 PM

they do get pretty warm, although I dont think it should affect the acrylic

saltysupply · #3 11/14/2007, 03:15 PM

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...ech+on+acrylic

Bebo77 · #4 11/14/2007, 03:23 PM

man they run at 150 degrees.. ouch....

triggerfish1976 · #5 11/14/2007, 04:01 PM

I read that thread already and it appears that there isn't any real long term data on what the extreme heat will do to acrylic over time since they are a fairly new product.
My main worry is if the heat will be comprable to what metal halides can do to acrylic over time as far as expansion and contraction. I am not really worried about it causing the tank to fail but there are other negative effects that can be caused by this.

jnarowe · #6 11/30/2007, 09:34 PM

Your message box is full.

invincible569 · #7 11/30/2007, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
Your message box is full.

lol. I already know what your going to tell him.

jnarowe · #8 11/30/2007, 09:41 PM

Don't spoil it!

kdblove_99 · #9 12/01/2007, 01:07 PM

MY LFS store uses one on his 300 gallon glass display and you cannot touch it for longer than few seconds, It gets super hot

sherm71tank · #10 12/01/2007, 01:52 PM

I think they all run at about 140 degrees at 100%, and yeah, thats pretty damn hot!

jnarowe · #11 12/01/2007, 03:54 PM

I wonder if that heat actually translates into adding heat to the water column on glass tanks?

sherm71tank · #12 12/01/2007, 04:29 PM

I'm sure it has to add some but most of it is dissipated into the room air (which also has an effect on tank temp). Overall I think it's minimal and for sure is better than having the motor in the tank water.

jnarowe · #13 12/01/2007, 04:56 PM

I'll have to do some tests and see what the temp. is on the inside of the glass.

GSMguy · #14 12/01/2007, 05:08 PM

Jnarowe you have WWD's yet?

jnarowe · #15 12/01/2007, 05:16 PM

got 3. 2 are working and one works but sometimes needs to be reset. Waiting on 3 more.

sherm71tank · #16 12/01/2007, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
I'll have to do some tests and see what the temp. is on the inside of the glass.

Your welcome to check my tank if you would like. I got back from town about 30 minutes ago and the roads a pretty bad (nobody around here can drive in the snow either). The temp has also dropped back down to 32 so I'm sure they are going to start freezing into a sheet of ice very quickly.

jaws_too · #17 12/01/2007, 06:29 PM

ok so i have a 3/4 inch acrylic tank, brand new not set up yet , should i be worried when i move all my livestock and the 2 vortechs i have running?

jnarowe · #18 12/05/2007, 09:14 PM

Check my thread:

sherm71tank · #19 12/05/2007, 09:30 PM

I can only add that I've seen Jonathan's tank in person and to call that "crazing" is the understatement of the year! I use the Vortech pumps on my tank but it's glass. NO WAY would I recommend them for acrylic tanks. He has multiple other spots where they have caused only cosmetic crazing as well, which would have been enough for me to crap a brick.

kdblove_99 · #20 12/05/2007, 09:33 PM

Thanks for posting this.
That is just crazy

Aquaticman74 · #21 12/05/2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kdblove_99
Thanks for posting this.
That is just crazy

Amen to that.

Bebo77 · #22 12/05/2007, 09:42 PM

what the.. man i have to see your thread.. it did that to your tank? OMG

jnarowe · #23 12/05/2007, 09:50 PM

And with the earthquakes you have Gabriel, that's a SUPER NO-NO!!

We had a small one the other night, and as Sherman so aptly puts, I nearly crapped a brick. I tried to be "the Man" and ignore it, but at about 1 am I couldn't take it any more and got up to check on the tank.

triggerfish1976 · #24 12/05/2007, 09:54 PM

That crazing is unreal. I am surprised that you are still using these and looking to add more.

jnarowe · #25 12/05/2007, 10:07 PM

I would add more if Eco-Tech stepped up and fixed the heat issue. It would be a fairly simple add-on that cold be upcharged as well. I really like the flow from these pumps. But obviously there are some issues with them.

To be honest, I was sorely disappointed with the WWD as well. It is a sub-set of what one would expect in controlling high-end powerheads. Seriously no night mode? You can't even walk in between them without them losing communication, and what we saw in the old MACNAA video of a central controller...well that went "poof" now didn't it?