Gyre Purchase - Reefwave or Maxspect?

[christopher.lauwers]

Looking for some advice on purchasing a pair of gyres.

Currently running 2 mp40s on my 525XL and with the new RS Reefwaves out i was thinking of giving them a try. But then started looking at the Maxspect Gyres... and now debating if those would be better?

The big turn off for the Maxspect is not having the wifi control. Can anyone share their experiences with using the MS controller? Hows the noise level of them?

Are there any Reefwave users out there that can share any feedback?

 

[MoreReefPlease]

I switched from an MP10w to an Ice Cap 4K Gyre with WiFi controller.

Besides the lack of many preprogrammed settings, I'm happy with it and wouldn't go back to my Ecotech.

I do like the software side of Ecotech better though.

 

[christopher.lauwers]

I was looking at ice cap too and just recently say they came out with a WiFi version as well.
Hows the noise level on the ice cap?

 

[malacoda]

I love the flow from Maxspect gyres, not to mention the programmability.

There is one problem with the new 300 series though... The magnets are weak.

If your tank glass thickness is at the upper end of the pump specs you'll need to find stronger magnets. For example, I have a pair of XF330s on my tank. They're rated for up to 1/2" glass. My glass is 1/2" and the magnets barely held the pumps on. If I ran the flow at any angle other than perpendicular to the glass, it would blow the pumps right of the tank wall.

Maxspect's solution is to get an extra set of dry-side magnets ... which are supposed to be waterproof ... and use them inside to 'double up' the wet-side magnet pull. However, both 'extra' dry side magnets I ordered had cracks in the plastic casing ... making them unusable in water.

So, I ordered an extra pair of XF 350 magnets (both which also happened to have fine cracks in their casings) and used them to replace the 330 dry-sides. That solved the problem and my 330s are now held very firmly in place.

If you have 3/4" thick glass and get the XF350s, there is no larger magnet to upgrade to on the dry-side. So, if they don't hold well, you'll either have to find a pair of dry-sides that have good (no cracks) to 'double up' your wet-sides or find some other magnets to strengthen the dry sides.

Can't comment on the Reefwave as I've never seen or had one.

And I think someone else has released a gyre-style pump ... or soon will. But I can't recall who. I want to say Reef Octopus, but I'm not sure. I'll post back here if I think of who it is...

 

[MoreReefPlease]

I was looking at ice cap too and just recently say they came out with a WiFi version as well.
Hows the noise level on the ice cap?

I can't tell a difference between the Gyre and my MP10.

One caveat is that I'm only running at 40% of max because I have a 4K (and Tuesday another 2K) on a 40g breeder with a 20g sump/refugium/bioreactor.

Noise may be different at 100% but I've been all the way to 60% and didn't notice any noise.

 

[dohc97]

I run the maxspect 330s on .5" glass, they are weak but I do not feel like they will fall off, I might consider the 350 magnets though. I like them a lot more than an mp10/40 flow is way wider and I don't care for the extra bells and whistles on a vortech. They do have a wifi controller but does not seem to be currently available

 

[christopher.lauwers]

Thanks for the feedback.
My tank is 5/8 glass...so as you said pushing the limits of the magnets. Not sure I like the idea of having to search for strong magnets.

How's the noise on the MaxSpect? How was the setup of the pumps via the controller? I have 2 small kids that keep me pretty distracted, finding 5 mins to do anything that I want is impossible

 

[dohc97]

My 2 330 are quieter than the vortechs I had before, virtually quiet 40% and below, slight hum above that. I have only had them up to 60% on a 4 foot tank, any more and I will be mopping up water from the floor.

 

[MoreReefPlease]

Thanks for the feedback.
My tank is 5/8 glass...so as you said pushing the limits of the magnets. Not sure I like the idea of having to search for strong magnets.

How's the noise on the MaxSpect? How was the setup of the pumps via the controller? I have 2 small kids that keep me pretty distracted, finding 5 mins to do anything that I want is impossible

Just want to add, the magnets on my IceCap 4K are so strong when I've had to pry them off the tank, I'm afraid I'll crack the glass doing it.

I'm 6'3" and 245 pounds and they're tough for me to remove.

 

[minus9]

I have a pair of 330's with the controller. The flow is great and the modes are pretty good, but I hate that everything is set to 10% increments instead of variable like the vortechs, Tunze, etc. I don't like that you have to buy a separate Wi-Fi controller and there's no apex control either. Why the controller doesn't come with Wi-Fi built in or native apex control is beyond me. I have 1/2" glass and the pumps hold, but easily slip when bumped. I have two MP40's as well on the back wall and both sets of pumps really compliment each other, but I wish there was an easier and cheaper way to control them besides the Hydros wave engine.
I bought an extra set of impellers and cages, which makes cleaning them easy. The cost for the two sets is $20 more than a single wet side of a MP40. It only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to swap out both pumps. I might have to buy the 350 magnets though? I bought these pumps for the flow, but for the money, I think they should have included a few other things that other pumps come with from the start.

 

[Mar344]

Definitely look into the hydros wave engine. You can get the wireless to work with eco tech and control the gyres as well. Not needing to get the controller with the gyres makes the price more attractive

 

[Acon]

I recently setup a new XL525 with 2 Maxspect Gyre XF330s. I was waiting and waiting for the Red Sea ReefWave pumps to come out, but they were delayed. I like the Gyres a lot. I wanted to have open viewing on both side walls of the 525 so I was looking for flow options that would come from the back wall of the tank. I have a XF330 on each side of the overflow box on the 525. As mentioned above, the magnets seem weak, but they hold fine even on the back wall (which is thicker glass). My pumps have never dropped from the back wall with a single magnet holding them (I considered the double magnet option if they didn't hold). I like that these pumps can flow in reverse direction as well. I like that I only need a single controller for both pumps. The controller is on my door and easy to change the program when needed. I think it is just as easy to open my cabinet door and change the flow program (which I never do now that it is dialed-in) than it would be to open the app and do it on my phone (hence, the lack of built-in wifi doesn't bother me). The pumps are quiet. Depending on the program I use (continually increase from 10-50% or intermittent pulses) I only hear a slight hum above 50%. I'm running at 50% or less anyway. I wish RS made an option for the return flow nozzle to be a wide bar like the gyres. the return flow nozzle (with my Vectra M2 return pump) makes way too much flow and I've gone to a 3rd party split return nozzle

 

[wackyreefer]

I am in the same boat here. Trying to make the same decision. The problem I have is that here I can buy 2 Maxpect 330's and controller for the price of one ReefWave 25. So I am also trying to understand if the ReefWave's are really that much of an improvement over the Maxspect version.

 

[wackyreefer]

For sake of conversation I ended up going with a pair of Gyre 350's and more than happy with them.

 

[leepink23]

I added a reefwave 45, magnet is strong, as silent as my mp40. Programming wasn’t too bad once I figured it out. Flow is very good.

 

[parkourkid13]

I added a reefwave 45, magnet is strong, as silent as my mp40. Programming wasn’t too bad once I figured it out. Flow is very good.

have you used maxspects before? im currently going through this debate myself maxspect vs redsea vs just getting an mp40 lol

 

[leepink23]

have you used maxspects before? im currently going through this debate myself maxspect vs redsea vs just getting an mp40 lol

I haven’t had a maxspect, just mp40 and red sea. I prefer the red sea

 

[Viva'sReef]

Any other feedback on the RedSea Gyres? I went with 2 - 330's but my buddy just bought a RedSea and said everything he's read online points to the RedSea being easier to maintain, & quieter but I have not found anything on the forums to support that

 

[minus9]

Any other feedback on the RedSea Gyres? I went with 2 - 330's but my buddy just bought a RedSea and said everything he's read online points to the RedSea being easier to maintain, & quieter but I have not found anything on the forums to support that

I have two 330's and I bought extra cages and impellers for both, so cleaning only takes minutes to swap out the parts. If the motor block is dirty, I use a bucket with a little RO and scrub quickly, reassemble the pump, done. Like my skimmer, I will give them a citric acid bath every six months or so. Even then, I don't have to unplug them, just take one out at a time and let it run in a bucket of citric acid for an hour, rinse, then do the other.
I also use the Hydros wave engine to control mine, plus two mp40's, so I don't need the controller or power brick for the gyres.

 

[rblackmon89]

I was fortunate enough to win a 45 from BRS earlier this year. It's my first gyre and my first "smart" PH and I like it well enough. I do have it dialed way down since it's in a 40b. I can definitely attest to it being extremely easy to tear down. The parts are all color coded so thats pretty nice. I cleaned mine yesterday and its a breeze. I look forward to bumping up the power when I upgrade to a larger system. But I do imagine that I will be part of a variety of pumps to get that random flow.