What's up with the new"controllable" Koralia's?

cracker · 04-24-2008, 06:28 PM

Man I have been out of touch lately! So Koralia has come out with a new controllable power head. Why are the new ones controllable where as the old ones are not? How is the motor is designd differently? Too bad the controllers are just as pricey as other brands.

chromiumlux · 04-25-2008, 11:38 PM

Iv'e got 3 koralia nanos in my tank and decided to control two of them with a duo-pulse wave maker. Worked fine for a few cycles then one pump would not restart. I removed it and cleaned it and still no cycle on the switch from pump to pump.
From what I understand the new controllable koralias are configured differently. The connector looks like it's only useable with the koralia controller.
I tried the old reliable mj900s with my wave maker--works like a charm!, but you dont get the broad flow the koralias give.

koffee · 04-25-2008, 11:40 PM

As far as I can tell, the controllable version must be plugged into the controller. It is a low-voltage unit, and does not simply plug into the wall or a timer.

cracker · 04-26-2008, 10:52 PM

Thanks for the replies. I don't quite get the" low voltage " claims. Do the motors use DC current & the controller converts the AC to DC ? I understand once You do the math they all consume close to the same amount of "watts".

saltysupply · 04-29-2008, 02:59 PM

yes these pumps are to work with the new controllers and plug only into the wavemaker

Woodstock · 04-29-2008, 03:04 PM

Interesting. Great option for sure.

I have two Korallia #3's on a wave timer (on/off 10 minutes) that is controlled by my Neptune Aquacontroller III. The controller does have 'soft start' which is supposed to be gentle on the powerheads.
Both have been on the wave timer for almost a year now with no issues.

BigAl07 · 04-29-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodstock

Interesting. Great option for sure.

I have two Korallia #3's on a wave timer (on/off 10 minutes) that is controlled by my Neptune Aquacontroller III. The controller does have 'soft start' which is supposed to be gentle on the powerheads.
Both have been on the wave timer for almost a year now with no issues.

I have 2 nanos and 1 #1 on my neptune now for a good while and have had no problems at all.... Just lucky maybe.

Woodstock · 04-29-2008, 03:20 PM

Maybe the Neptune's 'soft start' is working

cracker · 05-03-2008, 08:41 PM

Thanks for the insight! So the standard koralia's will work on a controller. Probably not best for the life span of the power head but may be cost effective in some circumstances. I have two #4's now but could use a couple more.

Woodstock · 05-03-2008, 09:24 PM

My controller has "soft start" and I think maybe that feature has protected them from the damage of the constant off/on cycling.

Origami2547 · 05-03-2008, 09:28 PM

The new controllable Koralias use a DC motor to give them their variable speed control capability. The standard Koralia uses an AC motor design that makes the RPM constant.

Because there's only one "right" direction for the standard Koralias and because bang-bang controllers (like the Red Sea Wavemaker) start these AC motors with ambiguous direction, the prop in the standard Koralia will sometimes start up in the wrong direction. This causes undue wear and tear on the standard power head and results in premature failure of the pump. You don't see the same problem with something like a Maxijet because the impeller design on that kind of pump doesn't care which way the motor's turning.

04-24-2008, 06:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
cracker Acropora Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North East Florida Posts: 1,776 View Gallery Karma Komment	What's up with the new"controllable" Koralia's? Man I have been out of touch lately! So Koralia has come out with a new controllable power head. Why are the new ones controllable where as the old ones are not? How is the motor is designd differently? Too bad the controllers are just as pricey as other brands.

04-25-2008, 11:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
chromiumlux Midas Blenny Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 110 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What's up with the new"controllable" Koralia's? Iv'e got 3 koralia nanos in my tank and decided to control two of them with a duo-pulse wave maker. Worked fine for a few cycles then one pump would not restart. I removed it and cleaned it and still no cycle on the switch from pump to pump. From what I understand the new controllable koralias are configured differently. The connector looks like it's only useable with the koralia controller. I tried the old reliable mj900s with my wave maker--works like a charm!, but you dont get the broad flow the koralias give.

04-25-2008, 11:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
koffee Midas Blenny Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 119 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What's up with the new"controllable" Koralia's? As far as I can tell, the controllable version must be plugged into the controller. It is a low-voltage unit, and does not simply plug into the wall or a timer. __________________ An Alaskan Reef: 40G Tank + 38G Sump/Fuge with mushrooms, Xenia, GSP, some LPS, Coral Beauty, Lawnmower Blenny, Sea Hare, a pair of Ocellaris, Skunk Cleaner and Peppermint Shrimp, and various snails.

04-26-2008, 10:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
cracker Acropora Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North East Florida Posts: 1,776 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What's up with the new"controllable" Koralia's? Thanks for the replies. I don't quite get the" low voltage " claims. Do the motors use DC current & the controller converts the AC to DC ? I understand once You do the math they all consume close to the same amount of "watts".

04-29-2008, 02:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
saltysupply Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 295 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What's up with the new"controllable" Koralia's? yes these pumps are to work with the new controllers and plug only into the wavemaker __________________ Salty Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies

04-29-2008, 03:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,264 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What's up with the new"controllable" Koralia's? Interesting. Great option for sure. I have two Korallia #3's on a wave timer (on/off 10 minutes) that is controlled by my Neptune Aquacontroller III. The controller does have 'soft start' which is supposed to be gentle on the powerheads. Both have been on the wave timer for almost a year now with no issues. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

04-29-2008, 03:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,264 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What's up with the new"controllable" Koralia's? Maybe the Neptune's 'soft start' is working __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

05-03-2008, 08:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
cracker Acropora Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North East Florida Posts: 1,776 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What's up with the new"controllable" Koralia's? Thanks for the insight! So the standard koralia's will work on a controller. Probably not best for the life span of the power head but may be cost effective in some circumstances. I have two #4's now but could use a couple more.

05-03-2008, 09:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,264 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What's up with the new"controllable" Koralia's? My controller has "soft start" and I think maybe that feature has protected them from the damage of the constant off/on cycling. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

05-03-2008, 09:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
Origami2547 Limpet Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ashburn, VA (near DC) Posts: 135 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What's up with the new"controllable" Koralia's? The new controllable Koralias use a DC motor to give them their variable speed control capability. The standard Koralia uses an AC motor design that makes the RPM constant. Because there's only one "right" direction for the standard Koralias and because bang-bang controllers (like the Red Sea Wavemaker) start these AC motors with ambiguous direction, the prop in the standard Koralia will sometimes start up in the wrong direction. This causes undue wear and tear on the standard power head and results in premature failure of the pump. You don't see the same problem with something like a Maxijet because the impeller design on that kind of pump doesn't care which way the motor's turning.

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