How strong are the Tunze Magnets?

[paulthomas]

I've got a Vortec and am disturbed at how easy it is to seperate the two halves from each other while on glass. The impeller half even wobbles a bit. With no glass, they're pretty well magnetized and nowhere near as easy to seperate. I was wondering if this is typical and if the Tunze magnets are just as weak on glass.

TIA,
Paul

 

[Matt L.]

How strong are the Tunze Magnets?

Very.

(Seriously. Be careful with them. If you let them slam shut outside of the aquarium, they are very difficult to separate)

Matt

 

[grundig5]

even my tunze nanostream magnets are hard to seperate. Tunze magnets are insanely strong.

 

[paulthomas]

I wonder if I got a bum magnet in my Vortec? I'm no Hercules, but this Vortec is so easy to seperate that it makes me nervous to put it on a tank. I'll give the manufaturer a call tommorrow.

Thanks.

 

[JohnK]

Yea, those tunze magnets are pretty strong. Known for leaving blood blisters on hands that try to mess with them.

 

[paulthomas]

Really? I just pm'd someone who has them both. He said he noticed no difference between the two in terms of magnet strength.

I guess I am a Hercules.

 

[JayM]

Yea, those tunze magnets are pretty strong. Known for leaving blood blisters on hands that try to mess with them.

What John said....been there, done that, got the blister

 

[Liam]

I wonder if I got a bum magnet in my Vortec? I'm no Hercules, but this Vortec is so easy to seperate that it makes me nervous to put it on a tank. I'll give the manufaturer a call tommorrow.

Thanks.

its a well known problem with those Paul.
i read one story where it slid down the glass till it hit the sand

 

[paulthomas]

i read one story where it slid down the glass till it hit the sand

Oh, why'd you have to tell me that.

I know this doesn't solve the problem of a weak magnet, but they suugest you use the supplied adhesive tab to secure the cord of the motor half in case it falls. Once the two seperate, the motor shuts off (so I hear) and the impeller half just sinks to the bottom.

There are some updated features for the Vortec coming this spring. The cost to upgrade is suppsed to be $50. I'm going to call IceCap in a few. I'll report what they tell me. Thanks all.

 

[JohnK]

For the time being, I'd attach a fishing line to the impeller part and tie it off above the tank. That way you can use the pump, but if it seperates or slides down it won't end up on the sand or landing on a delicate coral.

 

[rjdudek]

I have a Vortec on 1/2 inch glass and I cannot get them apart without a sliding them away from each other. If you follow the directions it can't possibly hit the sand running. If they come apart everything shuts down.

You tie the cord to keep the solid metal motor from swinging into the glass and breaking a panel. Why do you thing they would come apart? The pump is pushing the wet side against the rubber gasket / glass. Unlike the Tunze the only thing that has to be supported by the magnet is the 6oz wet side.

The upgrade is to the driver. There is new software and an interface for the remote control.

 

[rjdudek]

Was thinking about your concern, do you have the index pins set correctly? They adjust the distance the magnets are from each other.

 

[mandrake]

I agree with RJ my vortec is not easily seperated on 1/2 in. glass.

 

[paulthomas]

Ok, dumb@ss reporting. I spoke to Dave (the tech guy) from IceCap yesterday. While talking to him, I played with the Vortec a bit and got the pins from the rubber cover to line up properly on the motor half and set it for 1/2" glass. If one is not careful, the pins can be bent and may need replacing. It's still not that difficult to seperate now, but it is tougher than on the thinner glass settings. Dave said that if there is too much magnetic strength, then it may hinder the operation of the pump and possibly bind the impeller. As of now, I don't see the pump falling apart unless disturbed by something heavy, like a hand or falling rock. I was wrong.

If any of you guys have a relatively new pump, it'd be a good idea to call IceCap with the serial number (off the controller). Apparently, some of the pumps had too tight of a drive shaft and need replacing. Mine is of the 06121... serial number and needs the new part. It's supposed to ship today.

Chris from IceCap explained that the upgrade, which should be out this summer, is simply a new controller that has three settings. One is a feeding mode and the other two play with currents. So each pump will have its own controller. The cost to upgrade will be $50. Beyond that, there is supposed to be a wireless controller in the works.

You tie the cord to keep the solid metal motor from swinging into the glass and breaking a panel. Why do you thing they would come apart? The pump is pushing the wet side against the rubber gasket / glass. Unlike the Tunze the only thing that has to be supported by the magnet is the 6oz wet side.

I was wrong. After re-setting the magnet distance, they shouldn't come apart easily. The cord also needs to be secured in place so that the motor half, which is pretty heavy, doesn't hit the floor.

It was refreshing dealing with such helpful people over at IceCap. I am really impressed with their customer service.