Maxspect Gyre or Tunze Wavebox?

[BIg Whisky]

I have a standard 75 gal reef tank with a corner overflow box. (48"x21"x18"). I want to get a wavemaking system for it.

I've narrowed it down to the Maxspect Gyre 130 or the Tunze Wavebox.

Having no experience with either of these systems, I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light?

Thanks.

 

[Mike_J]

I have the Maxspect Gyre 150 on my 126g and I love it! Powerful piece of equipment and I recommend it and have had zero issues.

 

[reefes pieces]

I've had both. Really depends on the needs of your setup. Waveboxes can be supplemental to flow but do not create sufficient flow on their own. If all you want is to create waves without the need of random water movement, then a wavebox is great as it does an excellent job of "rocking" the water back and forth. However, if you also need the pump to create circulation throughout the aquarium then the gyre would achieve that.

 

[ReeferNoob77]

I have both in my tank at the moment, the wave box and two gyre 250. I purchased the wavebox first thinking it would help with my cyano issue and give overall better tank flow than my $15 on/off powerheads. The box helped a little gave me something that looked like flow through out the tank but no streams, nothing to carry food around the tank so I purchased the gyre.

The gyre moves water great and would recommend it hands down. I am planning on removing the wavebox and moving the gyres, one on either side, next year some time.

 

[BIg Whisky]

I've had both. Really depends on the needs of your setup. Waveboxes can be supplemental to flow but do not create sufficient flow on their own. If all you want is to create waves without the need of random water movement, then a wavebox is great as it does an excellent job of "rocking" the water back and forth. However, if you also need the pump to create circulation throughout the aquarium then the gyre would achieve that.

Great info, thanks!

I am hoping to use just the one unit for circulation, without having to use additional powerheads. Sounds like the Gyre is what I'm looking for.

 

[FLSharkvictim]

Since I have owned a pair of the XF130's and a pair of TUNZE's, I would 1000% go with the TUNZE's PUMPS!! They are way better pumps due to a few different reasons... 1st, they are built way better then the Gyres. 2nd - when you go to clean them every 2 months or so, it's an absolute NIGHTMARE to get them back togerther and assembled the proper way. 3rd - On the Tunze pumps you can point them in what ever direction you want them to push water vs the Gyres you can't. Also, TUNZE have a lot better warranty then the Maxspect Gyres.. Actually I just got rid of my Gyres and got the new TUNZE Turbelle Nanstream 6055'S controllable and I am so glad I did...Night and day. I have never seen pumps push so much water in my 25 years that i HAVE been in this hobby.. Since your tank is a lot smaller then mine you probably would want to go with the TUNZE 6025's which still push out 740gph... Also, you will be able to control your Tunze pumps a lot easier if you have an APEX.. The Gyres you have to but extra ICECAP controller before you can run them on the Apex .. One last think my TUNZE pumps are dead SILENT... You can't tell they are even running... Dont get me wrong the Gyres are quite but not as silent as the TUNZE's will be.

TANK INFO:
120 Mixed Reef
Apex Classic Controller w/ ALD & 3 probes
Ecotech M1 pump
Skimz 163 DC Montzer Series skimmer
Custom sump / Refuge
2 TUNZE Turbelle Nanostream 6055's
2 AI Hydra TwentySix HD LED Fixtures
Celestial C35W Maxspect Refuge Spotlight
Aqua UV Ultraviolet Sterilizer 25w
BRS Dual Media reactor
Eshoops IV Master & Slave Doser
Tunze 3155 Auto Top Off

 

[ebushrow]

There is also a significant difference in the room they take up....Tunze are nice, but take up a lot of room on the sides....gyres on the other hand, less room overall than a powerhead IMO....had both, gyres move a lot of water without a lot of lost real estate.

 

[Coronus]

MP 40 QD not an option? I have had my mp 40 for about 9 years. Might be from the first batch ever made. Was in service the whole time. Never had to fix the dry side, got 1 new wet side in 9 years. Just retired it to my closet for back up. Got a new on for xmas. Nice pumps.

 

[BIg Whisky]

MP 40 QD not an option? I have had my mp 40 for about 9 years. Might be from the first batch ever made. Was in service the whole time. Never had to fix the dry side, got 1 new wet side in 9 years. Just retired it to my closet for back up. Got a new on for xmas. Nice pumps.

Would just one unit be enough for my tank, or would I need 2? More?

 

[polyps707]

I have both gyre and tunze pointed at each other, 110 tall tank. Gyre is set on random and pushes a lot of water! The flow is a curtain of water. The fish love it! When the gyre is on low the tunze push the other direction. They're both very silent! It is my plan to add another gyre where the tunze pumps are just to see how they work together the second pump is the cost of just the pump not the controller cause it piggy backs the first (you may know this already though
2 tunze 6095
1 gyre 280

 

[Coronus]

1 mp40 moves over 4000 gph. Depending on placement and what corals you keep it def could be enough for a 75 gl. My 125 is 99% SPS I have 1 mp40, 1 TUNZE 6105, 2 TUNZE 6095. That's a lot flow.

 

[Cory]

Ive had both the gyre and wavebox

The wavebox is cool, and has a quality pump. It just rocks the tanks water but doesnt move any particles.

The gyre, while it works good im very dissatisfied with. In 3 months of having it this happened:

The propellers all broke. I then purchased the upgraded ones.

The cable that attaches to the motor developed a slit, that exsposed my tank to copper.

Then my water level dropped below rhe pump causing it to be exposed to air. Under normal circumstances, the pump would detect it and shut off, however it did not. This caused the magnet to heat up the motor blocks plastic causing it to swell and now it wont turn at all. point of sale. now it will cost me shipping cost for the canadian warranty to replace it.

Just because of its price by the chinese knock of gyre.

 

[GoVols]

I got a XF130 last spring. Got lucky they had just upgraded it with the better (thicker) blades. Been running like a champ on my 110.
I saw some reviews about tearing it down was a nightmare so I just soak it in vinegar.
Been very happy with it but I did see a lot of mixed reviews on it at the time.

 

[radiata]

I have to say I don't trust the Gyre enough to buy one. I also don't think the MPs have evolved to the point where they've gained my trust. I've owned many Tunze products, including a Wavebox, and I consider Tunze's products to be almost bulletproof.

That said, if you're on a budget, you might consider a single Jebao Wave Maker. I have an SW-15 in a 135g stock tank, as the only power head, and the water literally sloshes. I also have one, as the only power head, in a 120g, and the water there also sloshes. My LFS put one, only, on a 90g SPS tank, and it was all they needed.

Hope whatever you get works for you...

 

[GoVols]

Gyre

I like the niche is that the Gyre pushes the entire top water to the other side back across the mid and bottom and back to the pump but it's not made to the quality of an MP or bullet proof as a Tunze.

If the Gyre didn't have that special niche I would have gone with the Apex Wav's and hitched them up to my controller.

 

[BIg Whisky]

All good info. Thanks, folks.