Gyre v mp40

[jordonm]

Hi all,

I’m currently running 2x gyres and 2x tunze 6015 pumps in my sps dominated 250l.

I’m debating whether to swap all of those for 2x mp40s. The reason being is I’m having a problem getting correct flow patterns and would also like to cut down on the number of sockets used. The gyres can also require a lot of maintenance and have broke on me on several occasions in the 8 months they’ve been running.

Additionally, I’m also looking to add an auto feeder, and the ability to have the pumps turn off when the auto feeder kicks in really appeals to me.

Would 2x mp40s be a direct swap for all my current pumps (including tunze ones)?

Also, would this be a sensible swap?

All thoughts and opinions welcome

Thanks!

 

[Bboy aqua]

I know this is my first post here on reef2reef
Got a few thousand on reef central so I got some decent knowledge of reefing
Anyhoo,

I think the two mp40s would be more than enough assuming your running a sump with decent return
The mp40s you can always use on a larger tank if you decide to upgrade

if you wanted to save money I honestly thing two mp10s and maybe one of your gyres or tunzes for a little randomness would also be adequate
So many possibilities

 

[jordonm]

I know this is my first post here on reef2reef
Got a few thousand on reef central so I got some decent knowledge of reefing
Anyhoo,

I think the two mp40s would be more than enough assuming your running a sump with decent return
The mp40s you can always use on a larger tank if you decide to upgrade

if you wanted to save money I honestly thing two mp10s and maybe one of your gyres or tunzes for a little randomness would also be adequate
So many possibilities

Thanks for the info

I’d prefer to have more flow and be able to turn the mp40s down, rather than having mp10s on 100%.

As I’ve not used Ecotech powerheads before (only return pump) I don’t have any experience with how accurating their pump ratings are.

I’m not too fussed about having a tunze of gyre to supplement them - I like the idea of having the mp40s connected to a reeflink so that they can be turned off when the auto feeder comes on when I’m out the house.

 

[Bboy aqua]

I would probally go with the mp40s too

The flow ratings seem accurate although I have no way of testing
Ive owed an mp40 in the past and now mp10 and can say they really move a lot of water

The mp40 is about .5” bigger in diameter and sticks out an inch more from base to tip than the mp10, although I wouldn’t see that as a problem

 

[mcarroll]

The best I can say is that if you have a cube shaped tank at that size, then it's a maybe. But they are very low velocity pumps and very expensive so I hesitate.

Needing IV pumps in there does seem to be overkill so maybe if you post a picture we can help.

I can say off the bat that your selection of pumps does seem odd. If I were starting from scratch I would probably The best I can say is that if you have a cube shaped tank at that size, then it's a maybe. But they are very low velocity pumps and very expensive so I hesitate.

Needing four pumps in there does seem to be overkill so maybe if you post a picture we can help.

I can say off the bat that your selection of pumps does seem odd.

If I were starting from scratch I would probably pick a pair of 6055's or even 6045's if money is a priority. I'd also have to see that tank picture to be positive.

 

[jordonm]

I would probally go with the mp40s too

The flow ratings seem accurate although I have no way of testing
Ive owed an mp40 in the past and now mp10 and can say they really move a lot of water

The mp40 is about .5” bigger in diameter and sticks out an inch more from base to tip than the mp10, although I wouldn’t see that as a problem

The best I can say is that if you have a cube shaped tank at that size, then it's a maybe. But they are very low velocity pumps and very expensive so I hesitate.

Needing IV pumps in there does seem to be overkill so maybe if you post a picture we can help.

I can say off the bat that your selection of pumps does seem odd. If I were starting from scratch I would probably The best I can say is that if you have a cube shaped tank at that size, then it's a maybe. But they are very low velocity pumps and very expensive so I hesitate.

Needing four pumps in there does seem to be overkill so maybe if you post a picture we can help.

I can say off the bat that your selection of pumps does seem odd.

If I were starting from scratch I would probably pick a pair of 6055's or even 6045's if money is a priority. I'd also have to see that tank picture to be positive.

Thanks for the feedback guys...

Re pump choice, i've taken inspiration from several SPS reefers that I've spoken to. My aim was to have lower flow coming from more angles as opposed to high flow from less.

Here is the pic... please excuse the state of my tank - i'm working on fixing things! The Tunze pumps are in the back top 2 corners with the gyres on each end.

 

[mcarroll]

You said 6015's but those look like Turbelle® stream 6105's. Holy moly!

I like your flow goals, but that's overkill the likes of which anyone could appreciate.

For a tank that appears to be something like 90 x 45 x 60cmT (similar to both of my tanks) I would have suggested ....

1) ...my pet-favorite combo of Turbelle® nanostream® 6045's on a pair of timers that simulate tide flow by simply changing flow direction in the tank every few hours. Even four 6045's in this role can be almost invisible compared to what you're running now.

I think this is one of the best flow methods around...of course any of their stream or nanostream pumps can do the same role with more or less power, as needed, but the 6045 has excellent power for its size.

2) ...a pair of Turbelle® nanostream® 6040's hidden behind the rock work. You might even be able to hide a Turbelle® stream 3 back there if you really like monster pumps as much as it appears you do.

3) ...contollable Turbelle® nanostream® 6055's which can be deployed just like the 6045's as they're the same size, but are more powerful and controllable.

The only advantage to oversized pumps would be enabling you to use fewer of them, IMO.

Since that's not a goal, then I think you could consider pumps sized more for your tank.

Using two+ flow pumps is a good idea as it does give you a lot of capability.

When I tried to replace my two 6045's when my corals grew too dense for the flow they provided, I attempted to replace them with a pair of mp40's. The performance of those pumps seemed very cramped so I would not recommend them. If you "needed" to use that brand I'd say use mp10's, but you'll need three+ of them. Not really very economical, but flow will be much better than two mp40's I believe. In my case (50 Breeder) I put the 6045's back in the tank and just added a third one. WAY better than the flow from the pair of mp40's. Eventually I added a fourth, which is a phenomenal amount of flow. They cost almost twice as much back in the day when I bought mine....but a set of four 6045's today will run you just a little over $300. ($78/ea)

 

[jordonm]

You said 6015's but those look like Turbelle® stream 6105's. Holy moly!

I like your flow goals, but that's overkill the likes of which anyone could appreciate.

For a tank that appears to be something like 90 x 45 x 60cmT (similar to both of my tanks) I would have suggested ....

1) ...my pet-favorite combo of Turbelle® nanostream® 6045's on a pair of timers that simulate tide flow by simply changing flow direction in the tank every few hours. Even four 6045's in this role can be almost invisible compared to what you're running now.

I think this is one of the best flow methods around...of course any of their stream or nanostream pumps can do the same role with more or less power, as needed, but the 6045 has excellent power for its size.

2) ...a pair of Turbelle® nanostream® 6040's hidden behind the rock work. You might even be able to hide a Turbelle® stream 3 back there if you really like monster pumps as much as it appears you do.

3) ...contollable Turbelle® nanostream® 6055's which can be deployed just like the 6045's as they're the same size, but are more powerful and controllable.

The only advantage to oversized pumps would be enabling you to use fewer of them, IMO.

Since that's not a goal, then I think you could consider pumps sized more for your tank.

Using two+ flow pumps is a good idea as it does give you a lot of capability.

When I tried to replace my two 6045's when my corals grew too dense for the flow they provided, I attempted to replace them with a pair of mp40's. The performance of those pumps seemed very cramped so I would not recommend them. If you "needed" to use that brand I'd say use mp10's, but you'll need three+ of them. Not really very economical, but flow will be much better than two mp40's I believe. In my case (50 Breeder) I put the 6045's back in the tank and just added a third one. WAY better than the flow from the pair of mp40's. Eventually I added a fourth, which is a phenomenal amount of flow. They cost almost twice as much back in the day when I bought mine....but a set of four 6045's today will run you just a little over $300. ($78/ea)

The tank is a tmc 900 - which I believe is 90x45x45. Regarding my current pumps - I’m sure they’re 6015s, the smallest that tunze do? They were sold to me as that anyway

I actually had 2x 6045s before my current tunze ones, and they were far too powerful for the tank even on there own.

Maybe my pumps just look bigger in the tank than they actually are! Haha.

I’d definitely be open to using 3-4 mp10s, I just figured mp40s might be best as one of my aims is to cut down on the number of sockets used!

 

[mcarroll]

I’d definitely be open to using 3-4 mp10s, I just figured mp40s might be best as one of my aims is to cut down on the number of sockets used!

You'll want to get those 6045's back if the goal want less sockets. Ecotech's design genereally requires more sockets.

(Flow on the 6045's is adjustable to lower flow, BTW. But neither of my SPS tanks that are about the same size as yours never needed LESS flow than two 6045's. FYI. Two was perfect in both tanks until the corals grew out "too much".)