Gyre powerheads
- Thread starter Murica
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My thoughts... Overall I ran an Ice Cap for about a month and sold it.
Noise: Only an issue with certain settings and if you use higher power percentages, but what's the point in having the power if you can't use it?
Size: Not ideal for shallow or smaller tanks at all. Too much direct flow for coral.
Cleaning: Really no different than cleaning any power head... bucket of warm vinegar water
Noise: Only an issue with certain settings and if you use higher power percentages, but what's the point in having the power if you can't use it?
Size: Not ideal for shallow or smaller tanks at all. Too much direct flow for coral.
Cleaning: Really no different than cleaning any power head... bucket of warm vinegar water
Labridaedicted
Wrassetastic
I've got 2 gyre xf250s running in my 180. I've been happy with them. The programming capabilities for them are very cool and the gyre flow is great. Cleaning is not really any different than any other powerhead, as stated above.
As long as you can position the gyre such that the flow output is unobstructed for the length of the tank, you should see very good results. Best is to have it so that it pushes water over your main rock structure.
Reef_Tank_Fan_SC
Well-Known Member
I have a Maxspect in my 29 gal nano. I run it on a random mode at about 20-30% and have had no problems with it what so ever. Noise is not an issue with it, nor the flow pattern. As was stated above just set it so it streams over the top of your rock structure and bounces back down around the bottom and side of it. As far as cleaning it I do weekly water changes and I clean mine while doing that. I am pretty sure that is overkill but my OCD makes me do it on the weekly schedule.
Also an a side not my BTA really seems to like the random flow patterns. In your system with a gyre on each end you could probably produce a really good gyre effect it there
Also an a side not my BTA really seems to like the random flow patterns. In your system with a gyre on each end you could probably produce a really good gyre effect it there
Another option to consider is a tunze wavebox. I've run a 6212 on my 125 for 6 years and have had zero issues. I get polyp extension on my euphyllia like nothing else. Aside from the fact that its a giant black box and sounds like a muffled washing machine, I wouldn't trade it for anything haha. I also run a gyre in that tank to push the suspended detritus to the corner overflows.
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This, i'm a huge fan of the vortech's as well. And they are capable of creating the gyre effect.
I have two XF150s on my 6' 180 and am very happy. I use apex to alternate which one is active. I have them at the top of the tank. Creates a great flow pattern.
TheLadyCrash
Active Member
Have an icecap in my 45g and love it. I was able to replace 3 wave makers with 1 gyre and the coral seem to love it. I think it actually collects less crud and is easier to clean than any of the wavemakers I have.
I think gyre's would work great in your setup. We run an ice cap and can't notice the heat by any means and the price comparison to run multiple vortechs doesn't make it worth while, especially a large tank. It's nice having one gyre in the 75, very clean look. I think vortechs are great but maybe the gyre is a better fit for your setup.
Waters
"...in perfect isolation, here behind my wall."
I always recommended them up until recently. I ran two for almost a year....both stopped working. I was able to replace one of the motors under warranty....the second one is no longer covered. Also it seems like whenever I had to take them apart to clean, it was always a hassle to get them back together and working correctly, without excessive noise. I do recommend the Ice Cap controller though.....makes controlling them much easier than the included controller. I now use the Apex Wavs and absolutely love them.
I've got two in a 220, a XF150 and a XF250 on a gen-2 controller. I couldn't get the "OGC" or "LTC" to work the way they were supposed to (though I haven't tried "upgrading the firmware", which I've heard rumors of some folks doing), so have both pumps in forward/reverse, but with slightly differing timings, so that there are periods where the water flows left-to-right, right-to-left, relatively calm with both pumps in reverse at up to 100%, and times when the flows battle for dominance across the top of the tank, creating vortices that sometimes dance into the flow from my return and send bubbles through the tank like a crashing wave on the sea. (That happens maybe once every hour or two.) Forward speed, I have limited to 50%, and even at that they've scoured the sand nearly to the glass at both front corners, and at the front center. Mine are mounted about 6" down on the side panels - deep enough not to have to worry about them during a water change.
Cleaning is simple enough - a bucket of hot tapwater and vinegar in about a 3/1 ratio, and let it run for an hour or two. Rinse with RO/DI, and drop 'em back in the tank. Any powerhead - or anything that's in the water and under the lights - is going to build up fouling from marine organisms, calcium deposits or whatever.
~Bruce
Cleaning is simple enough - a bucket of hot tapwater and vinegar in about a 3/1 ratio, and let it run for an hour or two. Rinse with RO/DI, and drop 'em back in the tank. Any powerhead - or anything that's in the water and under the lights - is going to build up fouling from marine organisms, calcium deposits or whatever.
~Bruce
DJ Monty
Active Member
I run 2 250s in one of my tanks, I get great coverage & everything is happy. In a couple of other tanks I have Icecaps, up to now I'm happy with them but they have only been running around a month so we will see. I also have a tank with 2 MP40s & 2 Neptune Wav pumps. The MP40s went in 11 months ago & the wavs about 2 months ago.. I like them both but I think the wavs have the edge as I can change the flow direction.. As for cleaning, like it's been said, they are all the same. Warm water & vinegar at a 3 to 1 ratio..
fishbox
Well-Known Member
I did a lot of research before I purchased my Ice Cap and noticed a couple things about the reviews.
1) There seemed to be a few people complaining about the noise which was a huge concern because the tank is less than 10 ft away from my bed.
2) The very same people that complained of noise did not keep their units longer than a few weeks.
3) A lot of those people that complained of noise were told by icecap to give it some time and it would work itself out but didn't.
4) A lot of the people that kept their device for longer than a few weeks noticed a huge reduction noise.
So I took the risk and couldn't be happier. Yes, it was a little too loud on certain settings at first but after a few weeks it got super quiet. I have to look at the impellers to make sure it's running lol. Again, this isn't even 10ft from my bed. The flow is fantastic. I only have one dead spot in the 40b which I suction in when doing a water change. I will say that I've had to change two bushings that have went bad in 6 months. However I realize now that it is recommended to clean the pump every month which I wasn't doing so that maybe the cause.
The noise for me was the last straw, the device itself is just not ideal for my tank. My tank is entirely too shallow and I was giving way too much direct flow to my coral; that's the main reason I parted ways and went back to my hydor's.
