Gyre 250 dialed way back, or back to Ecotech?

[ectoaesthetics]

Hey all,

So I'm setting up a 24x24x24 cube. The biggest issue that I'm struggling with is flow that will work with my planned scape. I plan on three pillars in the display so putting in a typical pump will end up blasting something with flow. So I decided I would look into the gyres. The ideal size would be the 230 which would work perfect if it wasn't SUPER loud. I know the 250s are quieter, but can they be dialed back enough and consistently run low enough to work in this setup?? Its only having to move 24 inches of water. Looking to hit about 2200 gph of movement. Between two gyres (to help randomize flow) that is PRETTY dialed back!!

I also looked into the Nero 5 which looks promising (since it isn't direct flow), but I have always used something comparable with my Neptune controller -which has always made feeding and water changes super easy. I'm not stoked on having another step or thing to manage when I'm doing either.

I have not played with the gyres nor the mp10 in my own tanks. How direct is the flow from an mp10? And how possible would it be to dial a gyre 250 down?

 

[WVNed]

I have 2 230s

Not loud

silent

 

[ectoaesthetics]

I have 2 230s

Not loud

silent

@WVNed Good to know!! I've seen them be super loud. Did it have a break in? Are they brand new (i.e. is it something the manufacturer addressed)? What % are you running them on?

 

[LJLKRL05]

I have a gyre 250, it is quiet, and you can turn it down to 10%.

 

[WVNed]

Mine are running so that they go from -10 to + 40 right now. I have run them for long periods at +- 40, 50 and 60%. I have run them all over the place. You can hear them at about 70% or higher. I have never run it that much for very long so I don't know if it would go away. That is a lot of flow. Running then so they reverse seems to keep most of the gook out of them. I have heard that can make them noisy.

I have had them running since May. One went noisy and I cleaned it a month ago. It had a baby snail in it. The other hasen't been cleaned yet. I did run them in some vinegar a couple of months ago.
Honestly It might be a good idea to get a 250 if you are considering ever getting a bigger tank. What you loose is some flexibility in adjusting your flow.

I used one at first. I got tired of all the water going in one direction all of the time. Everything always bent to the right wasn't the look I wanted so I got another one. I got hung up on all the programming options at first but they have been in alternating gyre mode for months now.

I was only using them but added back am MP-10 to push water toward the overflow to get the film to go down.

 

[Mrx7899]

I had a 250 gyre in my 50 gallon cube and it was way to strong for my lps.

 

[ectoaesthetics]

Thanks guys! Super helpful info!!! @Mrx7899 @WVNed

 

[kirbuno]

I would agree on them being two powerful. I have two on my 120 gal. I have them dialed way back. Love them though. Maybe the 150's?

 

[ectoaesthetics]

@kirbuno @Mrx7899 Thanks. From others the 230s can really only be run at sub 60% (if I am one of the lucky ones that doesn't have sound issues below that) before the pumps become noisy and the 250s are too strong. This seems to be about where I am at with the Ecotechs as well, the MP10s are going to give me too focused of a push with the water (especially when dialed up to what I will need) and the MP40s are just way too powerful.

 

[User1]

I have a pair of XF250's and the only time I hear them is if I spool them up to 100% in any of the patterns. That or if I have a pattern that is using them in reverse without the proper blade attached. Anything other than that and the are fine. One piece of advise, well two (second is free, right?), is:

1. Do you have any upgrades in the future
2. State of your tank with regards to coral and rock maturity

Let us take 1 above. Price point the XF250 is a pretty solid deal when you look at the amount of water it moves compared to the lower model. If you can work with it I believe it is the best return on investment. Especially if you have one tank today and grow into the next size you just saved some money by just adjusting the power level. Sort of like Spinal Tap and their apps. 10 is max, right? Nope - they put 11 on there because, well, 11 is greater than 10 thus louder

With regards to item 2. This is the deal breaker. Mixed in with a new tank, bare rock, or recent upgrade but you have a lot of bare areas the Gyres just move too much water so you have to really fiddle with the flow patters and intensity / power. I have a relatively new tank, lot of rock, but not a lot of coral that I moved over. It is a 210 gallon tank 54" wide, 30" tall and 30" deep. I set up one XF250 and it works well up to about 60%. I added a 2nd one because I wanted to get some alternating high and low tide flows but I really can't run them both together even dialed down. The gyre effect even at lower power is just too much with my narrow tank. So what I did is just remove one and save it for later for when my corals grow!

In any case they are pretty silent and move a lot of water. I just think there are some dumb things they forgot on the controller (increments of 10 vs 1 - 10 below 30 and then 5 increments) that limit adjustments in some situations.

 

[Daniel Elliott]

I have a Gyre 3k in a RSR 250 and I can only dial it to 10-40% pulse at the max in a mixed Reef tank. I love the amount of water it pushes and it’s fairly quiet, but I have a couple dead spots in the tank. I know on the Red Sea Facebook group that’s the big issue with only having 1, you really need two to combat the deadspots. Also, like most have said you really can’t turn up the Gyre. Another thing is I recently cleaned mine after 6 months of use and it was nasty and hard to clean. Im getting ready to upgrade to a 750XXL and plan on doing 2 MP40’s and 2 MP10’s.

 

[Water Dog]

@Daniel Elliott before you lay out the cash to buy MP10s for your 750xxl, you may want to rethink that as MP10s will not stay on glass any thicker than 1/2”... and even that 1/2” is a stretch for the MP10s.

 

[Daniel Elliott]

@Daniel Elliott before you lay out the cash to buy MP10s for your 750xxl, you may want to rethink that as MP10s will not stay on glass any thicker than 1/2”... and even that 1/2” is a stretch for the MP10s.

Appreciate the tip. Do you think only 2 MP40’s will be enough in a 750?

 

[Water Dog]

I would go with 4, although ideally if you went the Vortech route, I’d go 2 MP60’s on the ends and 2 MP40s on the back wall.