Gyre VS MP40's For 180

[Forsaken77]

Mcarrol proselytized to me on Tunze 6105s. I took his advice and got 2 for my 5' peninsula and am incredibly grateful for the advice. It was a great decision. The Tunze pumps hit the 5' back wall with velocity that was unmatched by my way more expensive MP60. I now have my MP60 in my 55 gallon refugium wasting time until someone will buy it. (I know I am not doing incredibly advertising as I promote Tunze... buy my MP60?..ha)

The 6105s allow me to keep all 3 sides of my peninsula free from powerheads and my SPS on the far side of the tank are rocking in the current. You can tell by the sane and the water surface that there is some serious agitation with only those two pumps.

Where's the 2nd 6105? I only see the 1 on the left side and what looks like a gyre on the back wall.

 

[Husker]

Where's the 2nd 6105? I only see the 1 on the left side and what looks like a gyre on the back wall.

If you look closely, there are 2 6105s on the last side (this shows that vortechs aren't the only pumps that "hide" inside a tank and Tunze pumps blend in pretty well with a black background ). There isn't a gyre in there. You might be looking at my Shadow Overflow or my magnet cleaner in the top right.

 

[Forsaken77]

If you look closely, there are 2 6105s on the last side (this shows that vortechs aren't the only pumps that "hide" inside a tank and Tunze pumps blend in pretty well with a black background ). There isn't a gyre in there. You might be looking at my Shadow Overflow or my magnet cleaner in the top right.

Ah yes, now I see it. Didn't zoom in before. It's right next to the other one.

The thing I thought was a gyre is actually the bottom of a picture frame hanging on the wall, lol. Looks like a gyre without zooming in.

Now, I'm assuming you have the pumps on the filter wall of your peninsula tank. The 6105's are able to get water back to the filter without being blown back again by the pumps?

And just to be clear, because I know NOTHING about Tunze pumps, they are a jet stream output, correct? Not a wide flow pattern?

Also, just a quick question that I don't know if you'll know the answer to this, but do those 6105's fit in the Tunze hidden rock structure for their pumps so you can have the pump low in the tank, hidden within the rock?

 

[Forsaken77]

I think I'm going to try the gyres while they're on sale. If I don't like them, I could easily sell them and switch to something else.

The Tunze's are more money and the Ecotech's are almost double the price.

 

[Husker]

Ah yes, now I see it. Didn't zoom in before. It's right next to the other one.

The thing I thought was a gyre is actually the bottom of a picture frame hanging on the wall, lol. Looks like a gyre without zooming in.

Now, I'm assuming you have the pumps on the filter wall of your peninsula tank. The 6105's are able to get water back to the filter without being blown back again by the pumps?

And just to be clear, because I know NOTHING about Tunze pumps, they are a jet stream output, correct? Not a wide flow pattern?

Also, just a quick question that I don't know if you'll know the answer to this, but do those 6105's fit in the Tunze hidden rock structure for their pumps so you can have the pump low in the tank, hidden within the rock?

They are a wide enough flow to create turbulence near them, but enough of a jet to hit the other end of the tank with some velocity. Not as wide as the vortechs, but those really axel over short distances because of the width of the flow.

I think they do fit in the rock, but I'd double check.

I ran the Gyres for a while and was impressed with the output. The only downside for me was that they were a bit of a pain to clean and, at the time, were not very controllable.

 

[Forsaken77]

Well, I pulled the trigger on two XF250 gyres. I had $25 off with rewards points at marine depot, so I got them both for $375, which is a steal. Like I said, if I don't like them, I'll sell them (and probably break even).

 

[Forsaken77]

Crap! Now I have more of a dilemma. My brother with the retail license said that the Ecotech MP40's are on sale till the end of the month from the distributor for $237 each, shipped.

But yet not one store is running a sale on them. I wonder why.

 

[Forsaken77]

Ok... So now it's down to 2 brand new MP40's for $474 or the 2 XF250 gyres for $375.

In that price range, would the Ecotech's be the better option?

 

[DSC reef]

About 100 dollar difference and i believe the gyre's will produce a wider flow pattern. I vote gyre.

 

[Husker]

2 MP40s won't come close to the flow of two XF250s, in my experience.

 

[Mark Brugh]

Ive had both on a 180G. I like the MP40's much better. More program options and flexibility, no heat transfer to tank. The one thing that turned me against the Gyre was once you add rock work the flow pattern gets all messed up. It no longer works like it does in an empty tank. With the MP40's you can find and cover the dead spots better. Just my opinion.

 

[Slayvoff]

what about for a smaller tank, like red sea 250? with the intent to one day get something bigger. mp40 or gyre?

 

[Husker]

what about for a smaller tank, like red sea 250? with the intent to one day get something bigger. mp40 or gyre?

If it were me, Tunze nanostreams and keep adding them until you have the flow you want

 

[Mark Brugh]

I have a lot of rock work in my 180g. so the multiple MP40's worked better. On a 36" tank one Gyre might be able to get the job done. I still think it comes down to amount of rocks you plan on using.

 

[mcarroll]

@Forsaken77 Definitely cool to buy and try!!

Another option if you're looking for a simpler flow solution, but which still packs some power, check out the Tunze Stream 3 (aka 6150).

You can definitely start off a FOWLR with one....

And Tunze has videos on YouTube from Interzoo of the Stream 3 running in a 150 Gallon display as a single and as a pair....there are other vids out now too.

Here's a small sample....check out the Tunze account for others:

• 2:08
  Interzoo 2016: TUNZE® Turbelle® Stream 3 - First unboxing
  • 1 year ago
  • 2,883 views
  
  
• 1:07
  2 Tunze® Turbelle® Stream3 creating a wave and a directional current
  • 1 year ago
  • 5,148 views
  A unique feature created by the technical nature of the motor is that a wave and directional current is created simultaneously in the 540l (142 gallon) when two opposing pumps are used in inverse m...
  
  
• 1:06
  Only one Tunze® Turbelle® Stream3 creating a gyre flow in the Interzoo 2016 show tank
  • 1 year ago
  • 3,566 views
  In this video we are only using the pump concealed behind the rock on the right to create a gyre flow from front to back. The aquarium is 540l (142 gallons). The pump is running at full power.
  

Here's the pump itself:


Turbelle® stream 3
for aquariums up to 3.000 liters (793 USgal.) Circulation performance: 2,500 l/h (660 USgal./h) to ... mehr

6150.000

344.89 USD

No sale price needed and it still comes in under the price tag of what you're considering. Flow will be similar to two mp40's IMO....which is to say mild. Adding a second Stream 3, or one or even a pair of 6105's would be a logical future upgrade if you decide to add a real coral population.

All of their ball shaped pumps have a rock cover.

The Stream 3 does too, but due to its unique design it's camouflage is not quite as complete as the others:

I like the coral mount points on it! Hadn't noticed those before.

 

[Forsaken77]

Lol... You guys are gonna have me spending $1,200 on powerheads. But don't worry, I'll sell them back to you all at cost for the ones I don't use

 

[Forsaken77]

@Forsaken77 Definitely cool to buy and try!!

Another option if you're looking for a simpler flow solution, but which still packs some power, check out the Tunze Stream 3 (aka 6150).

You can definitely start off a FOWLR with one....

And Tunze has videos on YouTube from Interzoo of the Stream 3 running in a 150 Gallon display as a single and as a pair....there are other vids out now too.

Here's a small sample....check out the Tunze account for others:

• 2:08
  Interzoo 2016: TUNZE® Turbelle® Stream 3 - First unboxing
  • 1 year ago
  • 2,883 views
  
  
• 1:07
  2 Tunze® Turbelle® Stream3 creating a wave and a directional current
  • 1 year ago
  • 5,148 views
  A unique feature created by the technical nature of the motor is that a wave and directional current is created simultaneously in the 540l (142 gallon) when two opposing pumps are used in inverse m...
  
  
• 1:06
  Only one Tunze® Turbelle® Stream3 creating a gyre flow in the Interzoo 2016 show tank
  • 1 year ago
  • 3,566 views
  In this video we are only using the pump concealed behind the rock on the right to create a gyre flow from front to back. The aquarium is 540l (142 gallons). The pump is running at full power.

Here's the pump itself:


Turbelle® stream 3
for aquariums up to 3.000 liters (793 USgal.) Circulation performance: 2,500 l/h (660 USgal./h) to ... mehr

6150.000

344.89 USD

No sale price needed and it still comes in under the price tag of what you're considering. Flow will be similar to two mp40's IMO....which is to say mild. Adding a second Stream 3, or one or even a pair of 6105's would be a logical future upgrade if you decide to add a real coral population.

All of their ball shaped pumps have a rock cover.

The Stream 3 does too, but due to its unique design it's camouflage is not quite as complete as the others:

I like the coral mount points on it! Hadn't noticed those before.

Have you used these pumps before? Because I definitely dont think 1 would be sufficient on a 180. I rather have more power and be able to turn it down. You don't happen to know the wholesale cost of these pumps, do you?

I already had my brother order the Mp40's also. Like I said, it's odd that they were on sale for retailers, but not for consumers.

I'd imagine the cost of Tunze pumps would be even cheaper at a wholesale cost. I rarely pay retail price unless it's a big item that the shipping cost isn't worth it or I may have to return and pay shipping.

It's not necessarily a gyre flow I'm after. It's just elimination of dead spots and flow throughout the tank with rock work in there (180 pounds). I also don't want to blast the fish across the tank.

I may use the gyres up top and the Ecotech's below. It's a dual corner flow tank. I was asking about the rocks for the Tunzes, just because it would be a good way to circulate water from within the rocks, but in hindsight, I'm using 180 pounds of that CaribSea Life Rock and it's all purple. The Tunze rock would stick out like a sore thumb.

I'll probably just return the gyres unless someone here wants to buy them for 20% off brand new.

 

[Forsaken77]

I have a lot of rock work in my 180g. so the multiple MP40's worked better. On a 36" tank one Gyre might be able to get the job done. I still think it comes down to amount of rocks you plan on using.

Did you try multiple Maxspect gyres in your 180? Because I'm using 180 pounds of CaribSea Life Rock as well.

 

[Forsaken77]

2 MP40s won't come close to the flow of two XF250s, in my experience.

I'm also taking into account the maintenance on the pumps. I already have the Icecap version in my 93 cube and the gyres literally SUCK to clean. The Maxspects are even worse because there's more parts, but a better overall pump than the Icecap model. I didn't realize how cheap the Ecotech's were until after ordering the Maxspects.

It's also that the Ecotech is a wider flow pattern than the Tunze.

 

[DSC reef]

You can't go wrong with either pump but how does rock work affect one power head over another? Somehow the gyre's flow gets blocked but the mp40 Doesn't? Sounds a bit far fetched to me. If anything, the gyre will move more water arond rock work due to its design. The whole heat transfer thing is not a big deal, the gyre won't put out noticble heat to where it will be a problem. The tunze power heads are a great water mover too.