Gyre VS MP40's For 180

[Slayvoff]

But how quiet is the Tunze 6105

 

[mcarroll]

Very quiet, but I think most submersible pumps are, aren't they?

Also, Tunze has nice sound dampeners in the magnetic mount (even more in the nanostream line), so they may be somewhat more quiet than a similar submersible I guess.

Still, if your 6105 is doing a 100% ramp at full voltage in a library-silent room, you'll hear it. But run a skimmer in that room and I doubt you'd still be able to make out any sound from the 6105.

Powerheads that use air-cooled motors are probably at somewhat of a disadvantage to submersible pumps by comparison....note that special software was eventually applied to help with the issue.

 

[Husker]

The wet side/dry side is a big advantage to vortechs for cleaning, in my opinion. You can take the entire part of the powerhead that is submersed out without having to unplug anything. The one downside to my Tunze is that I can only take off the cover to clean. If I want to clean the propeller, I have to unplug the pump (and the cord is wound through my tank over to the equipment cabinet under my display refugium). Kind of a pain.

 

[Forsaken77]

The wet side/dry side is a big advantage to vortechs for cleaning, in my opinion. You can take the entire part of the powerhead that is submersed out without having to unplug anything. The one downside to my Tunze is that I can only take off the cover to clean. If I want to clean the propeller, I have to unplug the pump (and the cord is wound through my tank over to the equipment cabinet under my display refugium). Kind of a pain.

Were you the one with the mp60 you wanted to get rid of?

 

[Husker]

Were you the one with the mp60 you wanted to get rid of?

Yep, as it is currently more than I need on my 55 gallon display refugium. It is pending, though. They tend to sell fast.

 

[mcarroll]

If I want to clean the propeller, I have to unplug the pump (and the cord is wound through my tank over to the equipment cabinet under my display refugium). Kind of a pain.

The cable connects to the motor block.

The propellor and propellor housing (the front with the nozzle) can both be removed from the motor block and cleaned without having to remove the motor block from the tank. A lot of times this is all the cleaning they'll need, but of course this can depend on local conditions.

As long as there have been no alkalinity precipitation events (nobody keeps high alk very much these days so shouldn't be a big concern for most folks most of the time) the inside of the motor block should stay pretty clean. You can get a mild brush to help with cleaning the impeller well if you get detritus accumulation or something.

Tunze even sells an assortment of cheap brushes and kits that might help with cleaning if you're in a "more intensive" circumstance:

1/4" Brush

4.02 USD



1/8" Brush

6.58 USD


3/4" Brush

4.77 USD



Bottle brush

6.28 USD




Bristle brush

3.01 USD



Brush Set
Five-part brush set with towel for pumps and skimmers.... mehr

16.78 USD

Cleaning Set
Complete cleaning set for aquarium pumps, filters and skimmers in a plastic container. Contents: Sp... mehr

68.07 USD


So you shouldn't have to deinstall the motor blocks just to clean the rest of the pump. But I get that this may still be complicating on some installs due to access issues though. At least you don't have to cut the connectors off the cables to get them through a small opening like in the old days.

 

[Forsaken77]

To an extent that video already exists: Video - Flow vs. Turbulence

But I'd like to see a @Forsaken77 update to it!!!

That Flow vs Turbulence video comes up as an error. I'd like to see it if it's still available.

 

[Newb73]

Vortechs MP40s 15% off.... MP60s are %20 off

 

[wcharon]

Hummmmm. hard to beat. I think my decision is already up.

 

[Forsaken77]

Vortechs MP40s 15% off.... MP60s are %20 off

Definitely a great deal. Now if they would only get the Vectra L1 back in stock, I can setup my tank. Been waiting on that for months being backordered while they work on that S1 pump.

 

[tazzxx]

Hey all... I have a dilemma. A few online spots have 20% off Maxspect products this weekend and I still need powerheads for my 180 I'm in the process of.

I already have an Icecap Gyre on my 93 cube. But for the FOWLR 180, would it be better to go with 2 Maxspect XF250's (1 on each side), an MP40 on each side, or a single Maxspect XF280?

I have fine grain sand, the Arag-Alive Pink stuff, and 180 pounds of CaribSea Life Rock that I'll try to keep as open of a scape as possible. Don't want sand flying around, but want detritus suspended.

Just wanted some opinions. No corals at all except I may throw in a Pulsing Xenia for nutrient export.

If I get the Maxspects it'll be now while they're 20% off. So help a brother out.... QUICKLY. Thanks

I run 2 gyre 250s on my fully stocked mix reef . I placed them mid level w 1 facing up and 1 down. it creates a true gyre of the whole water column.

 

[LJLKRL05]

I won a gyre xf250 at macna. Love it in my 210. No dead spots at all

 

[AcanthurusRex]

I have 2 mp40s and a XF250 in a 5 ft tank. I initially only had the mp40s, I have them mounted on the back due to aesthetics. When turned up to produce the flow I want they removed all the sand from the front of the tank. The solution I settled on was the Gyre XF250 mounted on the tank next to the wall. Also I am avoiding Ecotech purchases since they are not supporting Apex integration of the Vectra.
I don't think a single XF250 would work in a 5ft tank. The flow would be very strong near the pump to do anything useful at the far end. Two would work well. I think the Vortech is technically superior but the flow from Gyres at both ends would probably be better, I never put the mp40s on the ends so really based on the XF250s performance.
Vortech
positives;
No heat transfer, putting the motor external is a really good design.
Very quiet after a few days of use.
Easy to maintain, I purchased a additional wet side and simple pop one off and put a clean one on. No wet wires, no unhooking from controller.
Many flow modes.
Controller works well. Initially I used them in master/slave mode and after adding a Neptune WXM module I control them with the Apex. Both work well but the Neptune solution is very good.
Quality is good so far.
negatives;
Flow is directional.
No detachable cable so you must place the controller where ecotech thinks it's best.
At about 5 inches depth they would create a vortex and suck air when they were set at 65%
Will kill anything that gets though the rather large front grill, such as a clownfish.

Gyre
positives;
Unique flow pattern.
Many flow modes.
Moves a lot of water. Gyre stirred up more detritus than I knew was in the tank.
Power consumption is good, about 13W average for a random flow set to 50%.
Quieter than expected. You must go over next to it to hear the noise. The 2nd generation may be better in this regard.
One controller for 2 pumps with detachable fairly long cables.
negatives;
Heats the water, 13W is dissipated in the water.
Make more noise than the Vortechs and the noise is "ugly" not the more or less white noise the Vortechs make. I think the fish are going deaf.
More difficult to maintain. You must pull the unit from the water. Fairly easy to service once out of the tank. No worse than any other non-Vortech solutions.
Controller is tedious to the point of annoyance, and this is the new improved controller. No Apex integration at all. Worst aspect of the pump.
Quality is good so far.

 

[mcarroll]

That Flow vs Turbulence video comes up as an error. I'd like to see it if it's still available.

Sorry about that!!!

 

[Forsaken77]

I have 2 mp40s and a XF250 in a 5 ft tank. I initially only had the mp40s, I have them mounted on the back due to aesthetics. When turned up to produce the flow I want they removed all the sand from the front of the tank. The solution I settled on was the Gyre XF250 mounted on the tank next to the wall. Also I am avoiding Ecotech purchases since they are not supporting Apex integration of the Vectra.
I don't think a single XF250 would work in a 5ft tank. The flow would be very strong near the pump to do anything useful at the far end. Two would work well. I think the Vortech is technically superior but the flow from Gyres at both ends would probably be better, I never put the mp40s on the ends so really based on the XF250s performance.
Vortech
positives;
No heat transfer, putting the motor external is a really good design.
Very quiet after a few days of use.
Easy to maintain, I purchased a additional wet side and simple pop one off and put a clean one on. No wet wires, no unhooking from controller.
Many flow modes.
Controller works well. Initially I used them in master/slave mode and after adding a Neptune WXM module I control them with the Apex. Both work well but the Neptune solution is very good.
Quality is good so far.
negatives;
Flow is directional.
No detachable cable so you must place the controller where ecotech thinks it's best.
At about 5 inches depth they would create a vortex and suck air when they were set at 65%
Will kill anything that gets though the rather large front grill, such as a clownfish.

Gyre
positives;
Unique flow pattern.
Many flow modes.
Moves a lot of water. Gyre stirred up more detritus than I knew was in the tank.
Power consumption is good, about 13W average for a random flow set to 50%.
Quieter than expected. You must go over next to it to hear the noise. The 2nd generation may be better in this regard.
One controller for 2 pumps with detachable fairly long cables.
negatives;
Heats the water, 13W is dissipated in the water.
Make more noise than the Vortechs and the noise is "ugly" not the more or less white noise the Vortechs make. I think the fish are going deaf.
More difficult to maintain. You must pull the unit from the water. Fairly easy to service once out of the tank. No worse than any other non-Vortech solutions.
Controller is tedious to the point of annoyance, and this is the new improved controller. No Apex integration at all. Worst aspect of the pump.
Quality is good so far.

That's why I can't put the Vortechs on the back wall, because they will do the same with the sand.

So right now I have 2 xf250's and 2 mp40's.

I may try mounting the Maxspects vertically to go around the outside of the tank and the Vortechs mid-tank on the sides to cover the middle.

I do have the Icecap 3k gyre on a 93 cube with a bigger grain sand than I have for the 180, and I cannot for the life of me find a spot where it isn't either leaving a bare spot in the sand or pumping water over the edge of the rimless tank and I have to run it at 20-30% and it's only 3000gph at 100%. Plus the cord is so short on the Icecap. Doesn't reach to the other side of a cube tank.

 

[Forsaken77]

I run 2 gyre 250s on my fully stocked mix reef . I placed them mid level w 1 facing up and 1 down. it creates a true gyre of the whole water column.

You must have a bare bottom, right?

 

[Forsaken77]

Sorry about that!!!

Thanls!!! I'm sure you've watched this video, so I have a question. They show the 6105 that you recommended, and then they show a bigger model, but it has a wide nozzle. Is that bigger pump a different type from the 6105? Because they show the 6105 reach the other end, but the bigger pump looks like it disperses more. Again, I know nothing about Tunze pumps and appreciate the video link. I don't even remember how big the tank was they were using. Maybe a 120 or 150?

 

[Pete1968]

I have a 200 gallon 7 ft long reef tank , i had two mp 40s running full blast and i had many dead spots so i sold them and bought two gyres one on ea side of tank i only had to run them about 60 percent and had complete coverage

 

[AcanthurusRex]

That's why I can't put the Vortechs on the back wall, because they will do the same with the sand.

So right now I have 2 xf250's and 2 mp40's.

I may try mounting the Maxspects vertically to go around the outside of the tank and the Vortechs mid-tank on the sides to cover the middle.

I do have the Icecap 3k gyre on a 93 cube with a bigger grain sand than I have for the 180, and I cannot for the life of me find a spot where it isn't either leaving a bare spot in the sand or pumping water over the edge of the rimless tank and I have to run it at 20-30% and it's only 3000gph at 100%. Plus the cord is so short on the Icecap. Doesn't reach to the other side of a cube tank.

Kinda a matter of opinion...

 

[Forsaken77]

I have a 200 gallon 7 ft long reef tank , i had two mp 40s running full blast and i had many dead spots so i sold them and bought two gyres one on ea side of tank i only had to run them about 60 percent and had complete coverage

What size gyres? The 250 or 280? And is it a corner flow reef ready tank? Because my overflows are in the corners. I notice when I mount my gyre horizontally in my 93 cube that the detritus just keeps spinning around the tank and never makes it to the filter, also a corner flow. I have to position it vertically, but end up with sand mounds after it first bounces off the glass. I've tried every side and every position and can't get the sand and overflow to both play nice at the same time. It seems it's one or the other.