Flow overkill? Need advice before black friday! :)

[HolisticBear]

I had read some really bad reviews about the ice cap pump being really loud, which is why I took it off of my list.

I bought a Gyre xf230 from BRS about a month ago. It was obnoxiously loud the first 24h, measurably better at 72h, quiet after 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, it's quieter than my NYOS. However, my MP10 is still quieter. Just a heads up if you go with the Grye.

 

[Daniel Waters]

I've had gyres and Vortechs. I have a 6 foot long tank, and I would agree the two Vortechs on each side would not be enough flow for an sps tank.

The gyres work best in my opinion flowing across long, open spaces, so if you do go that route, I'd advocate using it on one end of the tank and not the back wall. I'd also advocate using the 250 versus 230 and you will need the controller. You could run one mp40 on the other side from the gyre and one mp40 on the back wall. You can create a lot of flow options with that set up. But with the cost of a controller and the gyre, you could get another MP40. I think 3 mp40s would work pretty well for your size tank. Im not sure it would be better, but we each tend to have our preferences. I sold my gyre and now have 4 MP40s...but it wasn't anything against the gyre. It worked well and wasn't that bad to clean really. I actually loved the surge mode where it would run at 10% for so many seconds and then ramp up to x % for y seconds. I felt like that was a great pulsing type flow. So why did I get rid of it? I can't stand cords in the tank after having Vortechs. Ha.

 

[joekool]

Jebao pp-20 pumps move a lot of water and are adjustable. Way less problems than mp40 and cost much less.

 

[fishbox]

I had read some really bad reviews about the ice cap pump being really loud, which is why I took it off of my list.

I'm with DCS reef. Mine is dead silent. I run it between 10-50%. I mentioned in another thread that it does get a whining noise after I clean it but I really think that's due to air getting trapped in the impellers or whatever you call that. I was skeptical at first because some of the reviews of noise but then I seen a statement by Coral Vue saying that you have to let the pump break in. So I took the risk and yes the pump was noisy for the first week or two but then broken and is just quite as can be now. A lot of the people that made those complaints got rid of the pump before giving it a chance to break in. And those that kept the pump are happy as can be now.

The controller has been flawless. I run it in pulse mode at 80% during the day then random flow at night with the flow rate going from 10-70%. I will say the motor was bad on the unit I bought and coralvue shipped an immediate replacement without a return label. Havent had a problem since. Coralvue was excellent to deal with too. Customer service means a lot to me when using a product as well.

Hey brother do you mind if I send you a p.m. in regards to how you switch your flow at night and day? I I have mine set to change throughout the day but if I could figure out how to change it at specific times that would be awesome

 

[DSC reef]

I actually do it manually, lol. I have to try and program it one day.

 

[fishbox]

I actually do it manually, lol. I have to try and program it one day.

Ohh I got ya. I have about 6 or 7 settings saved in mine that it goes through throughout the day. But I have no idea what time they switch to what setting. I'd like to get it to switch to a nice calm mode at night just need to figure out how to do it LOL

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Hello -

I am building my new 180 and watching BRS for black Friday sales.
Here is my VERY slow build thread - but it is coming along now!
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-180-build-mini-coops-dream-tank.327141/

What I am wondering: I am looking at getting the MP40's for the sides, but am afraid of dead spots with the tank being 6 ft long. I have a lot of dead spots in my 120 and powerheads that shouldn't have a problem with that, but they do. (some of this is due to my aquascape as well. The new tank with have more open islands). So, I was looking to get the XF230 Gyre pump to put in the back from @Bulk Reef Supply. It is rated at 2300 gph. I don't want anything with too much flow, and this one doesn't have a controller.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/xf230-gyre-pump-only-2300-gph-maxspect.html

I have a double overflow/double return, and am using the pan world 200ps as my return pump. So, that will create some flow as well.
Would adding the Gyre in the back be overkill, or a wise idea?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I think the gyers will be great. I fall in the camp of you can never have enough water column turnover. Direct laminar flow is what hurts corals. In my 24x24 cube I’m running 2 mp10’s on max, 2 Jebaos rw’s on max and a return pump maxing my 1” drains. Total I’m pushing 100x tank volume per hour through the display yet have a mostly lps and anemone mixed reef. Everyone forgets these animals come from the ocean where flow is measured in meters per second and far outstrips what we can create with our hobby grade pumps. You just have to position the powerheads smartly in order to create random turbulent flow.

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Ohh I got ya. I have about 6 or 7 settings saved in mine that it goes through throughout the day. But I have no idea what time they switch to what setting. I'd like to get it to switch to a nice calm mode at night just need to figure out how to do it LOL

The ocean doesn’t sleep at night

 

[Mini Coop]

Ohh I got ya. I have about 6 or 7 settings saved in mine that it goes through throughout the day. But I have no idea what time they switch to what setting. I'd like to get it to switch to a nice calm mode at night just need to figure out how to do it LOL

I wonder - with an APEX, can you control all of that?

 

[Mini Coop]

I think the gyers will be great. I fall in the camp of you can never have enough water column turnover. Direct laminar flow is what hurts corals. In my 24x24 cube I’m running 2 mp10’s on max, 2 Jebaos rw’s on max and a return pump maxing my 1” drains. Total I’m pushing 100x tank volume per hour through the display yet have a mostly lps and anemone mixed reef. Everyone forgets these animals come from the ocean where flow is measured in meters per second and far outstrips what we can create with our hobby grade pumps. You just have to position the powerheads smartly in order to create random turbulent flow.

Thank you so much!

What is the fish in the front of your pic? I don't believe I know what that one is - cool looking fella!

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Thank you so much!

What is the fish in the front of your pic? I don't believe I know what that one is - cool looking fella!

Your welcome and Happy Thanksgiving! The goby in the picture is Valenciennea strigata. Common name Gold Head Sleeper Goby. They really are a beautiful fish but come with some drawbacks as they will rearrange your sand bed constantly and always cover your favorite coral haha

 

[fishbox]

I wonder - with an APEX, can you control all of that?

I don't have a stand alone controller like the Apex. As far as I know, the Icecap gyre pumps can't be directly connected to stand alone controllers. Not sure if there's a module that would allow that though.

 

[Mini Coop]

Alright, just in case anyone wanted to know, I was really worried about the maintenance of the gyre pump, but the more research I did, I really haven't seen anyone with bad reviews on them. So, I decided to give it a try! I purchased the X250 gyre pump for my 72x24x24 180 gallon tank. My plan is to put an echotech MP40 across from it and see how that goes. If I am getting any dead spots, I will add 2 more small pumps on the back of the tank. However, with the panworld 200ps return pump, I think I should have enough flow that it won't be a problem.

If you have any input or opinions on how you think this will work, feel free to let me know!

 

[Daniel Waters]

I've used both. I migrated to all Vortechs but more because I already had 3 Vortechs and just the one gyre. I sold the gyre and have 4 Vortechs now. The gyre worked well, but I hated seeing cords. Cleaning wasn't that bad but not as easy as the Vortechs.

I think the gyre works great on long tanks with open rockwork. I think two across from each other would give you tremendous options and would really unlock the full potential of the gyres versus the single unit, but this would be something others would have to comment on as i do not have direct experience and is more an intuitive observation from my experiences with one on my 6 foot tank. Since I think you have an apex, you can buy a module I think and have even more control on the gyres. This would allow you to change modes during the day (I believe), which would be really nice.

Thus, I would suggest one of two routes. Start with the one gyre and see how you like it. If you really like it, add a second one and forego the vortech. If you've never used Vortechs and this is part of your discovery process, go ahead and mix and match. You can always sell one or the other and buy what your preference is.