Help with flow question? MP40 or Nero 5?

[Grahamstyle77]

Hey all,

So here is my current mental debate. Current tank is a 50G cube, 24x24x20, mixed reef that's being transitioned to an SPS dominant tank. Also currently in the budget, is an upgrade (6 months time) to an 80 gallon SCA tank, 32x24x24, which is the exact space I have available. Several months ago I built a steel stand to hold a tank of those dimensions since it's the largest I can fit in my home.

All equipment has been slowly purchased with the upgrade in mind. Current tank has sand, new tank will be bare bottom since I want to try that.

I can't seem to decide between the tried & true MP40 or the nero 5. Not sure how happy my corals would be with me using an MP40 on the 50G, that's a lot of water movement, even dialed down it bottoms out around 1000G per hour. But in the back of the upgrade tank it would disappear nicely.

Or do I try a Nero 5, similarly controllable but less flow total, so not as great of a chance to rip flesh off the corals, but should still provide adequate water movement. Somewhat directional, but less proven success since its brand new. And shows a cord in the tank.

The Nero 5 is 300, current MP40 black Friday sale puts the MP40 close enough to that price so make the difference in cost negligible.

Any advice? Thoughts? Anyone use an MP 40 on a cube with good results? Anyone using a Nero 5 yet? These are really the only 2 options I'm interested in. I don't like the gyres at all, not in a small tank like mine at least, too obtrusive so those aren't even considered. Thanks for any input offered all!

 

[CODE3EMT]

Well heres my take. IMO, an MP40 may be too much on a cube tank unless dialed down very low or you plan on bare bottom, perhaps an MP10? Ecotech's are tried and true....... and Yes, the Nero is a new comer on the market and reviews are few if any at all.

I think both pumps have the capacity to "rip flesh" off corals as you put it, but this will depend greatly on your placement in the tank. As far as obtrusive goes......I sold both my MP40's for 2 Gyres, and I'm very happy. IMO the Gyre's are far less obtrusive than the "Mickey Ears" on both sides of the tank. To be honest, you may like the smallest Gyre...the XF230 on your cube. You would only need 1, and believe me........they move a butt load of water. You could also go with the ICECAP version of the Gyre's which is essentially a clone of the Maxspect Gyre's. The ICECAPS are also priced very nicely. You will also need the Ecotech Reeflink or the Apex WXM module to get the maximum controllability out of your Vortech, The Nero uses an App installed on your phone, and the Gyre uses the Advanced Control Module. You really can't go wrong with either of the 3 pumps. If I had to pick either the Vortech or the Nero................................I'd go with the Nero.

 

[Grahamstyle77]

Code3emt, thanks for the suggestion. Definitely not an easy choice. The gyres you have, are they very noisy compared to other pumps you've tried like the mp40s?

 

[CODE3EMT]

Nope. My Gyres are very quiet to be exact. I'm using 2 XF250's on a Red Sea Reefer 450. I have them 3 inches from the water line at opposing ends of the tank. Plenty of flow and surface movement. The MP40's were also very quiet and performed awesome, but I found them to be goofy lookin, and your water current will blast in one narrow cone direction. The Gyre is more of a 12 inch wide sheet of water. Keep in mind , my experience is with the Maxspect brand of Gyre pumps, I've never used ICECAP brand. I think for a cube tank I would lean more with the NERO for a 24x24x20. But if you plan on upgrading to a bigger cube...........the Gyre may fit the bill nicely. Little bit of a PITA to clean but not too bad once you get the hang of it.

 

[Grahamstyle77]

Thanks for the advice, I might have to give that a bit more consideration. I would probably go with the maxspect also anyway for the controls. I was already planning on spending a fair bit of money anyway for good quality so I'd rather not skimp out and regret it in 6 months or a year.

 

[CODE3EMT]

I hear ya, The Maxspect can be programmed to 10% 20%,30%,40%,50%,60%,70%,80%,90%,100%. You can also do continuous flow, ramp up, ramp down, pulse (wave), reverse....which is kinda worthless to be honest, sync, anti sync, It does quite a bit as far as flow. Just to give you an idea of how powerful these suckers are. I'm running both of mine at 20%! Any more than that........ and its Christmas blizzard in my tank with sand everywhere! Reefer 450 is 59 inches long. I have mostly LPS and 1 Green Slimer Acro SPS. I get good polyp extension and growth.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

I have a 240 gallon tank that is 72 long 24 deep and 34 tall. I use one of the icecap 3k in the center and four current 2100 gph wave makers. Even those will rip the flesh off of sps at 50%. The icecap and maxspect start quiet and as the bushing wear they get a nice hum to them. As the nero Ecotech and current are dead quiet even years to come.

I personally think the mp40 is too much money even on sale and would be too much for that size of tank. You I have stripped my sps with my currents at 60%. Those are rated for 2100 gph and are amazing and only like 120, and have a better warranty.

 

[adams901]

I have 2 neros on my 525, and think they are great pumps.

I run my Nero's at a max of 75%, i used to run my mp40s at about 60%.

Do you think you would have the need to run either the mp40 or the Nero at its full speed? If the answer is no the speed difference between the 2 isn't an issue.

The lowest setting on the Nero is 1%, this puts out 950 gph.

The Nero's are less noticeable than the 40s when setup, and have the added bonus of being able to angle slightly

 

[Grahamstyle77]

Thanks adams901, no I seriously doubt they would need 100% so I agree the difference is negligible, and since the Neros can be dropped to a less minimum output than the mp40s that is also a bonus.

I started to look at the gyres too, their flow seems awesome but just hearing the nightmare stories of how to clean them seem like a real PITA. And comparing that to how simple it looks to clean the Neros, was definitely brownie points to the Nero.

So, Nero 5 it is. And since it's so new I will definitely be giving a review of it to help others out, especially after it's been running awhile.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[adams901]

Gyres are ok, I had 2 of the xf250s, they do lose performance quite quickly once they start getting dirty.

I stuck up a couple of vids of my Nero's in another thread.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/whos-got-a-ai-nero-5-powerhead.465822/

Having used all 3 pumps I personally don't think you will regret choosing the neros

 

[Millimylilly]

So do you like the Nero??

 

[adams901]

So do you like the Nero??

Out of all the wavemakers I've owned, I prefer the neros

 

[Yatish]

I just tested Nero 5 on my Waterbox 79.3 (24”x24”x20”) mixed reef tank with Acroporas on ‘top shelf’. It’s overpowered for a tank this size even when it’s dialled down to 20%. In short, 2 x Nero 3s are probably your best bet. I am using Tunze 6040 Nanostream and at 100% they felt ‘weak’ and I was getting detritus in back and side corners.

I am still playing around with settings, positioning etc.

I put it on back wall and it’s too way obvious .. it’s form factor is ‘small’ only when it’s placed on side walls but aesthetically imhocube tanks shouldn’t have anything on side walls

Short answer, don’t buy Nero 5 for a 24” cube.
Gyre sounds like an interesting option. I didn’t buy it because I read it’s hard to clean. Honestly, Tunze is also hard to clean and it doesn’t have a protective cover and it’s made mince meat of 2 shrimps and a clown Gish so far.