Long term gyre reviews?

[azbigjohn]

I have almost pulled the trigger on the Gyre 150 for my 6 foot 165 bow front, but I keep hearing little issues, then Maxspect fixes them. Others, especially a local guy I trust, said ultimately he liked the Vortech movement better.

I'm finally getting ready to upgrade my flow, so I'm looking for opinions.

I have corner overflows, so I would probably have to put it on the back wall.

My question is, those of you who have had them, do you still like them? Are they a lot more work to maintain? Would you buy it again, knowing what you know?

 

[Waboss]

I bought 1 (xf130) when they first came out. I liked it alot but had to clean it monthly to not lose flow. After many months I decided to try other options and got rid of it. After playing around with other PH's (MP10/Tunze/RW8's/WAV) I went back to the Gyre and kept it on for a few months. Loved the flow at first, and if I had a longer, bigger tank instead of a cube-like tank, I might still have it. I didn't have to clean it as much and the newer models are more solid than the first ones were. Went back to the RW4's so I could put them on the back glass and keep the sides "clean".

For me, yes, they're more work to maintain, but if you like the flow and your tank is happy, it might be worth it.

 

[bubbaque]

I really like my gyres. I have the 150 and the 130 but I do not really care for the controller at all. It does not hold the time very if you are trying to sync two gyres. They are coming out with a separate controller you can buy that will have difference wave modes. I would buy them again.

 

[Salty1962]

I've had my 130 for over a year and really like it. I purchased the new 4 blade barrels and their quitter and push more water.

 

[trmiv]

Interested in this as well. I know there were a lot of early problems, but it seems with a few revisions they have cleared a lot of that stuff up? How often are people needing to clean the 150 to keep the flow up?

 

[Smite]

I have a gyre 150 in my 100g, along with 2 mp40qd.

Pros (when compared to mp40qd)
- moves a huge amount of water! Feels like two Mp40s side by aide. If I could only have 1 source of in-tank flow the Gyre would be it
- it comes with a second guard and impeller. You'll hear about needing to clean the unit more frequently. This is made easy (unless you have serious algae issues and need to clean the mount) with the "back-up" set.
- great surface agitation and functional flow.


Cons (when compared to Mp40qd)
- lack of control! I don't care for the controller that comes with the Gyre. I have an Apex. Vortech will sync right up and has presets that are easy to use and customize. I purchased IceCap's apex controller for the Gyre. While it gave me more control of the unit it's much harder to customize and is an additional cost. That being said after much tweaking I have great flow.
- Cleaning. It's made much easier with the "backup" kit but if you fail to clean it in a algae heavy tank your performance with be cut in half. I'm battling GHA at the moment and have to swap out the components bi-weekly. The vortech just doesnt seem to attract the GHA like the Gyre. I've also noticed the bushing/bearings have worn a bit over the last year.
- not quite as silent as the mp40qd.
- you'll want to leave plenty of open water up top/shorter scape

If I could only run one "make" in my tank the side walls would be packed with mp40qds. Super quiet and easy to control and sync right out of the box. Great customer service and spare parts, like a extra wide side for maintanice, at reasonable prices.

Edit:
Got carried away thinking about comparisons to my other pumps.

Short answer to : "Would I buy it again?" Yes - with the ice cap controlled by apex. Alone? Probably not on a system my size.

 

[Sir Chris]

My lfs has 2 in 2 diff tanks. 1s a cube and other like a 65 long and does well on long but the 50g cube has 4 inch hair algae in dead zones so if ur a cube ehhh. If long and side mounted yes. I wouldn't buy 1 as of right now from the cube tank and they moved the core rock bunch 2 allow it 2 flow better but still on the 3rd corner by the back has a dead spot and they had 2 put a power head there 2 push flow back 2 gyre. There's a Red Sea sponsored store in my town and they don't use em just 1 powerhead on wave mode

 

[trmiv]

Yea I had a 130 on a cube for like a month and was not happy with it. Loved the pump but the cube was just too short lengthwise to take advantage. With my 120g upgrade I'm seriously considering a 150. I think combined with my return to give some turbulence it should be able to handle my mixed reef alone and then some. Still torn though between the Gyre, MP40QD and Tunze 6105.

 

[Mike_J]

I got my Gyre XF150 upon initial release and still love it to this day. It's an incredibly powerful piece of equipment. To be honest, I've only cleaned it once when I had to replace the motor due to the widespread issue with the initial units having the cords cracking and exposing the wires. No other issues since. The only real drawback for me is the cord in the tank. This is the one thing that my MP40QD has over my gyre.

 

[Waters]

Like Mike_J, I have not had any issues with my XF150 other than the cord cracking at the base of the motor. Fortunately it was an easy process to have another motor shipped to me under warranty. The replacement motor was also built much better. I actually have two units and swap them out every 6 months or so so that the other can be cleaned. The process of cleaning is no more difficult than any other water mover.

 

[trmiv]

Are people using a Gyre as their only form of circulation? Aside from their return I mean. I'm considering making one my only flow in my 120.

Also is the current lack of controlability without the Icecap module (I don't have an apex) a problem?

 

[Mike_J]

Are people using a Gyre as their only form of circulation? Aside from their return I mean. I'm considering making one my only flow in my 120.

Also is the current lack of controlability without the Icecap module (I don't have an apex) a problem?

My Elos 120XL is 126g and the dimensions are 47.24X31.5X34.5. The gyre XF150 I have is more than powerful enough to be the only source of flow. I only supplement with an MP40QD because I've created a large central valley with my rocks that has limited flow because of my scaping. I don't have issues with the controllability with the standard controller but a lot of people dislike the lack thereof. I keep mine on constant mode.

 

[shoelaceike]

I use one on my 180. Flow is very good.....I only use one return and no other power heads.

 

[trmiv]

Great looking tank! I guess my only concern about it being my only flow was getting that swept to one side look with some of my softies/lps that get the undertow on the bottom. Doesn't appear you have that issue though.

 

[pciscott]

I have original pump hanging from Euro brace on my Peninsula tank it is on 10 seconds off 10 seconds and has been running strong ever since installed when they first came out. Had to replace motor block once because of cracked cord because of UV problem with original batch, and upgraded to the suspension mounts that come on new pumps. This made the pump very quiet in comparison to original mounts.

Pump moves more water than a MP60 and I never take apart. I do pull out and put in tray of vinegar water mixture every 6 months, I use a drywall mud tray from HD and this kills any growth that starts to grow on anything in the tank. I like this pump so much I bought a pair for my new 125 office build and the 2 pumps will be the only flow. Best pumps I have ever owned for moving massive amounts of water. With that said I do have a MP60 on the Peninsula as well and it never has problems either and I clean once a year. I run some tunze pumps on my frag system. I was a little concerned that the Gyre would not last as long as these top shelf pumps I have been used to, but they have been just as good in my experience.

If you do take apart which I do not other than vinegar water bath every 6 months. Mark everything with a scribe so you put back together the exact same as you take apart. It is easy to mix up and get things put together wrong and this is where it can get frustrating and a lesson I learned when replacing my motor block.

A+ the customer service was great replaced motor block within a week. Awesome Flow!

 

[Salty1962]

I use one on my 180. Flow is very good.....I only use one return and no other power heads.

Very nice tank!

 

[shoelaceike]

Great looking tank! I guess my only concern about it being my only flow was getting that swept to one side look with some of my softies/lps that get the undertow on the bottom. Doesn't appear you have that issue though.

Thanks.....you can always do pulse mode and it will then sway back and forth.

 

[azbigjohn]

I know I haven't been back in a while, summer is a crazy time for me picking up side jobs while school is out...

Do any of you have the Gyre on the back wall of a long tank? Everyone I have seen (including the beautiful shot in this thread) have the gyre mounted vertically on the side like a peninsula style. Mine will go on the back wall horizontally (I think.. Seems to make more sense than vertically)

 

[Sir Chris]

Great looking tank! I guess my only concern about it being my only flow was getting that swept to one side look with some of my softies/lps that get the undertow on the bottom. Doesn't appear you have that issue though.

They actually make almost like a wave maker flow set on constant. Awesome for longs. Not so for cubes

 

[Myreef55]

I have a 4' 90 gallon and was not that impressed until I mounted under the top center brace and went to the alternating gyre. Now I love the flow I am getting. Also all three sides are open to view. You don't even notice it up under the center brace.