Hydor Koralia hold up OK?

StrategicReef · #1 11/05/2007, 11:05 PM

Hi, I need some circulation for a 80 gallon tank.

I have used tunze nanostreams for about 1 year and the tabs keep on breaking, the shaft keeps loosening and getting stuck and now everytime I have to spin to prop to start it! I had replaced every part of the nanostream under their great customer service, but I have given up on tunze.

I want to go with the Hydor.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...Ntt=hydor&Np=1

I want to know how well the hydor works. I want something that is like maxijet that just keeps on working without maintenance.
I want to get maybe 3 or 4 Koralia 4's and want to know if this will work alright.. I am keeping SPS and want about 60-80x flow.

My new tank will have 1/2" glass so I want to know if the magnet really works well at that thickness too.

Thanks

jake32010 · #2 11/05/2007, 11:12 PM

i would go with the koralia 4 because i just got one today for my 72gal and it works great i also have a koralia 1 it works good too

jake32010 · #3 11/05/2007, 11:18 PM

also to go with my other post is the magnets are so strong so dont do with any other powerheads i already spent more then $50 on a rotating powerhead and it dident work good from the start then about 1 month later it stoped working and i went with the koralia 1 thinking it would be geart with my 72gal but it dident more alot of water for my tank so i buy the koralia 4 and it the best ever!

charmander59 · #4 11/05/2007, 11:24 PM

I have had them for a few months and really like them. I have 2 Koralia 3's on a 75 gallon and 1 K3 on another 75 gallon + return from the overflow and have plenty of flow.

I also had trouble keeping a Tunze nanostream working. So far so good with the Koralia's.

seagirl · #5 11/05/2007, 11:25 PM

hydors are great. get the 4's. i have 2 in my 75 and love them. same problem here withthe nano. roger has taken care of me everytime but i still have to pay to send it in and be w/o it for a week.

reefaluva · #6 11/05/2007, 11:46 PM

koralia's are good i love mine, go with the 3 or 4.. I have 2 3's both been working great for months now)

StrategicReef · #7 11/05/2007, 11:57 PM

Maybe not 4 of them but do you think 3 Koralia's will be OK in 80 G?

mile sq. reefer · #8 11/06/2007, 01:24 AM

2- Koralia #4 would work well for your tank. I use 2 Seio 620's for my 55g and will be upgrading to 2 #4's from all the positive feedback I've read and because my SPS are growing quite well. I know I just jinxed myself.

jmkins · #9 11/06/2007, 01:50 AM

I have had a k4 for quite awhile, a couple months after they were first released. I haven't had any major problems. It has spun backwards if I unplug it and plug it back in maybe 1/10 xs but to correct it I have just unplugged it again.

I am planning to swap out the maximod in my tank with another k4 when my finances allow. I have been extremely satisfied with my k4 and am going to email hydor about the newly engineered shroud which is supposed to answer flow problems and is available on newer pumps.

I don't have any personal experience with the nanostreams so I cannot comment on how the two compare.

StrategicReef · #10 11/06/2007, 01:58 AM

Hello do you have the problem with spinning backwards then, I have the same problem with the nanostream for a while.

madadi · #11 11/06/2007, 02:39 AM

i have two 3s in my 90 and im going to replace them with two 4s and put the two 3s behind the rock work. ive had them for more then 6 months and they work great. once i broke the impeller shaft when cleaning it, i was way too rough with it lol and they sent me a bunch of replacement ones for free. I DIDN'T EVEN PAY SHIPPING! i thought that was cool. i would never buy any other type of power heads but koralias if they keep up the good work and customer service.

jmkins · #12 11/06/2007, 03:00 AM

I wouldn't call it a problem, once in every ten times that I have unplugged the pump it has started up backwards. Fixing it is as easy as unplugging it for a second and plugging it back in. I have never had to manually hit the prop like I have my maximod (has no stopper). So no I have not ever had a problem beyond unplugging something.

BangkokMatt · #13 11/06/2007, 08:30 AM

I use both Tunze and Koralias. I prefer koralia for the quality and output but Tunze for the size. Over all I would go for Koralia.

hdyoung · #14 11/06/2007, 03:28 PM

Hydor sent me shrouds for the K4s that I bought a while back for free. I have had no reliability problems with either of them.

I really like them. The price is right and they perform as advertised. My tunze is better but 3 times the cost. The maximods can move a bit more water but they cost just as much with no warranty and DIY headaches.

dhnguyen · #15 11/06/2007, 03:34 PM

Perhaps you have seen the Gulfstream II MJ mods. This and the Algae Free highflow Sureflow kit will eat both Koralia and Tunze nano for lunch in terms of performance, build quality, and reliability. AND they're cheaper too.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...2#post11129152

SteveOhh · #16 11/06/2007, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dhnguyen
Perhaps you have seen the Gulfstream II MJ mods. This and the Algae Free highflow Sureflow kit will eat both Koralia and Tunze nano for lunch in terms of performance, build quality, and reliability. AND they're cheaper too.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...2#post11129152

And you have no warranty................

dhnguyen · #17 11/06/2007, 03:40 PM

Read again. The GS2 have a lifetime warranty

mg426 · #18 11/06/2007, 03:49 PM

The 3 that I have just locked up and will not restart. I would geuss that a soak in vinegar will free up the shaft and all will be AOK.

StrategicReef · #19 11/06/2007, 03:58 PM

Thanks but I don't want to mess with maxijets anymore, by the time I buy a algae free magnet ($25) for it, I can just buy a Hydor Koralia???

Would you say the Koralias are as trouble free as maxijet? I mean my tunze nanostreams were always breaking, separating, spining backwards, stuck and not want to start, etc.

dhnguyen · #20 11/06/2007, 04:10 PM

Well it's your choice and wallet

But speaking from experience Maxijets are some of the most reliable pieces of equipment I have ever owned. I have a used maxijet 1200 that I bought 5 years ago that is still going strong. Can't say that about any other pumps I've used. Can't say about the Koralia though since they haven't been around that long.

For the record you don't NEED to buy the Algae Free magnet. The Gulfstream kit comes with a mount that has suction cups already. Then if needed just glue some rare earth magnets onto it and you're done.

http://tritonaquatics.com/index_files/TheGulfStream.htm

http://www.gaussboys.com/ndfeb-magnets/D3006.html

This would also be the cheapest option for those that have Maxijets lying around already. Heck you can pick up a used MJ1200 for about $5-$10 on the used selling forum

StrategicReef · #21 11/06/2007, 04:33 PM

OK thanks for the info. I thought it was one of those early development but looks like this mod has came a long way with quality parts now.

They really need to include a premade magnetic mount, since I am not really keen on making their mounting system even thicker. and glue usually separate over time due to the vibration.

crispyreef · #22 11/06/2007, 04:38 PM

I have a K#4 and a sure flow mod on my MJ1200. I like MJ mod much better. It is smaller and puts out more flow.

barjam · #23 11/06/2007, 04:47 PM

The maxi mods would be ok if you can hide them but man they are ugly.

Quote:

Would you say the Koralias are as trouble free as maxijet? I mean my tunze nanostreams were always breaking, separating, spining backwards, stuck and not want to start, etc.

I have had mine since they came out, no issues (other than the initial recalls on the 2/3s).

crispyreef · #24 11/06/2007, 04:56 PM

I think all PH are ugly. I guess you have to pick the lesser of evils.

dhnguyen · #25 11/06/2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barjam
The maxi mods would be ok if you can hide them but man they are ugly.

I have had mine since they came out, no issues (other than the initial recalls on the 2/3s).

no uglier than a Huge Tunze or Koralia IME/IMO