Ben's 400l Wet Thing

[TigerIssey]

I like the montis too, but the blue haze acro seems to sing and dance at me if you know what I mean. It just looks so shimmery and the way the colour deepens as it gets to the tip is stunnning. I seems to like the purples in the montis as well, although as you say, they are alot easier. Only been looking at them a short time, will wait a while myself and then will probably get some small frags.

What are thinking first??

 

[ben1987]

http/www.reefworks.co.uk/default.asp?sec...mp;subpage=4082

or

http/www.reefworks.co.uk/default.asp?sec...&subpage=79

 

[TigerIssey]

I prefer the first one, the green polyps are a lot brighter. I like the second one but have looked at that in pruple.

That first one would look stunning.

 

[BigC]

Ben give me your true honest assessment of the Wave Polario Turbine Pump in regards of build quality, noise, heat into the tank and water movement, whats it like on the juice, does it live up to your expectations, any regrets etc.
Interesting option though pretty large, just wanting to gauge your opinions on this piece of kit cause I could hide one of those between the portholes and you wouldn't notice it was there.
Regards

 

[ben1987]

Hi Colin... ermmm where to start lol.
build quality of the pump itself seems good. You get a couple of different ways you can mount the pump so its quite adjustable. Theres also a couple of optional bits you can pop on the outlet things. Ive seen a bloke hide one in a central weir and use two lengths of pipe attached to the ends. To me the controller looks a bit cheap and plasticy, but does the job, its simple. Theres feeding mode 8/16 mins, adjustable flow rates (although this is just a dial and doesnt give any indication of how much flow your getting once you turn it down) You can change the timings of the flow as it comes out one side then the other.
Theres 3 leads in total which give a fairly good length. I have a koralia thats got less than a meter cable...that really annoys me. When my tanks just over 2' tall i have to dangle an extension lead to reach it. The polario reaches the floor with loads to spare.
It is quite noisy, it whines while its switching sides. My tanks quite noisy anyway. Its in a computer room though so it doesnt matter to me. I guess if someone had a silent weir and quiet pumps then it would be annoying in the living room.
Its got some power too it. im using it on the lowest setting. You can see from the videos further up it shifts some water. Im unsure as to how much flow there is around the center bit of my tank though. I know theres tons everywhere else. My plating montis polyps have never been so extended and thats bang central though, so i guess it cant be bad.
It is big, i reckon the size of a sports bottle is fair. I had 4 pumps in the tank before though. So swapping them for one is a good result for me.
As for heat it was 26 degrees oputside when i came back from the gym today according to the car. So i came in and checked the tank 26.5. It never seems to go any higher than that either. Having a much bigger water volume than before helps.
It uses 50W on full tilt. Which is more than my old koralias combined. About double infact. But it shifts more than double the water. So its hardly a power guzzler.

Any regrets? no not really. im happy with it. I think the vortech is a more attractive pump. But i got really annoyed the day i wanted to order one of those. Opted for this and im pleased with it so far. Shame your so far away really. Would have been helpful to have a nosey at it.

 

[TigerIssey]

Nice review that Ben. Also the longest post I think I have seen you make.

Having said that, coming from someone that always has way too much to say, well ...

Well worth considering.

Which one did you go for by the way, I seem to remember 25000 being spoken about.

 

[ben1987]

yeah right essay int it! I went for the big one. Not sure if its 22 or 25000 L/H. Reckon the baby would have more than done me. But once i get my grown up job sorted out i may fancy an upgrade. For the extra 20 quid it seemed daft not to

 

[TigerIssey]

I agree with you I think, seeing as how you are into SPS so much you can aquascape so that you have some areas of lower flow for those corals such as Euphyllias that need that bit less, however you cannot increase the flow without upgrading. Therefore for the difference in price, you may as well have gone for the bigger one, which will last you for the long term, especially when paying that sort of money for a powerhead.

Reet, what do you mean Grown up job, I thought were grown up already?? Next question, are you planning an upgrade again already??

 

[ben1987]

well im 21, grown up ish. I still only have the job i got while i was doing my A-levels. Got a lot more hours now though. But its stil hardly a career. I wanted to be a fireman but i have applied a few times and im not wasting anymore time on it now. Im doing my advanced driving lisence, about half way through. Then i intend to be an instructor. My girlfriends on her way to bein a teacher too, my dad can put her in one of his schools. So when we both have grown up jobs it might be time to move out. Then there could be room for a big tank Not planning yet, just sort of thinking ahead.

 

[TigerIssey]

Ah ha I see now. Andrews mate applied for the fire service twice, they rejected him both times too, something about equality and diversity in the interview or something. He has given up now too.

My cousin used to be driving instructor, he taught me to drive, you need the patience of a saint as I am sure you already know. I don't envy your girlfriend teaching though, kids today have got too much mouth on them (I won't go into my views on kids, lucky the only kids I have are the other half and my staffie).

Save up alot of money before moving out of home, I had no choice when I did as my dad and I would have killed each other had I not gone (my mom followed soon after me I might add). After 6 months of me renting we bought our first house, then Andrew decided he wanted to renovate a stone built cottage in Lancashire, money pit and a half. After 4 1/2 yrs of owning this one, we are about 60% done with renovations but obviously my living room carpet has to go and the room needs decorating, easier said than done with a first floor lounge that has a 14 ft high vaulted ceiling. So far the renovations come in at about £55000, we are lucky our first house doubled in price in the three yrs we owned it.

Don't want to put you off at all, just want you to be aware that there will not be as much money for the tank, if I were you I would get all that first, that way you know you will still be able to have the dream tank or tanks in my case.

 

[ben1987]

oh i know i made it sound easier than it is It will not be for a good couple of years this anyway! I wouldnt rush into something like taht...i mean i would have to do my own washing and everything!

 

[Trod]

oh i know i made it sound easier than it is It will not be for a good couple of years this anyway! I wouldnt rush into something like taht...i mean i would have to do my own washing and everything!

you sound like my son and he's 27

 

[seffieuk]

oh i know i made it sound easier than it is It will not be for a good couple of years this anyway! I wouldnt rush into something like taht...i mean i would have to do my own washing and everything!

you sound like my son and he's 27

Also sounds like the kray twins

Well Ben, been and ordered myself a big boy (22000) polario, really looking forward to it arriving - mind you have nothing big enough to put it in yet (that is wet ) - so think it will have to be the bath

There is no way I could afford two vortechs and to be honest I rather like the size and shape of the polario seems perfect for my five footer

Seffie x



ps let me know if you have any tips Ben on setting it up

 

[ben1987]

one tip i have got...the magnet is amazingly strong. It comes with foam between the two bits. Seperate them and keep them along way from each other til your ready to mount the pump

 

[TigerIssey]

oh i know i made it sound easier than it is It will not be for a good couple of years this anyway! I wouldnt rush into something like taht...i mean i would have to do my own washing and everything!

I wish Andrew did his own washing, would save me alot of hard work.

Biggest tip I could give you to save your girlfriends sanity is to put your washing in the washing basket and not on the floor It bugs the hell out of me.