MP40QD combo or Apex Gyre 150?

R6REEFER · Jan 12, 2016

Hey guys,

Im having a hard time deciding between the two. I have the opportunity to go with the Apex w/lab grade bundle along with a Gyre 150 and the Icecap module, or, 2 MP40QD's and a reeflink.

I already have a Vectra so keep that in mind. I have a 160 gallon setup, my ultimate goal is to be able to control most everything from a computer. My lights are 3 Hydra 52's on a director. It will be predominantly a chalice/LPS tank with a small ammount of SPS.

From personal expierence, give me some opinions and benefits of the 2 choices and what you think would be best for my tank.

rayn · Jan 12, 2016

Why not the apex and the mp40? The control of those two together is nice.

R6REEFER · Jan 13, 2016

Rayn do you have personal experience?

rayn · Jan 13, 2016

I do from my old tank. The apex with the fusion control controlled everything. Lights, pumps, mp40s.

My new build is going the same route. I sold my apex, but ended up buying another. I have two mp40 ready to be hooked up again. There is control alone with the units, but paired with the apex they are better.

I can only still imagine, as I haven't gotten one yet, but the vectra being ecotech is probably easily controlled by the apex as well.

I have no reference point on the gyre. I haven't had one, but the reports of them being hard to clean without breaking and quoting issues has steered me clear of them. That said, they are supposed to move tons of water.

My lfs has a 100 mixed reef he had a gyre on. He switched it back to mp also.

ithk21620 · Jan 17, 2016

I run two MP40's and an apex. Easy programming with fusion on the web. You will have to buy the WXM module so it can talk to the MP's. If you go that route you get the benefit of having the apex for all your other needs. Monitor PH, Temp, email / text alerts and so on.

The apex however can not control your vectra. I am not sure why Ecotech made the decision to exclude it from the WXM module but I'm sure if has to do with selling the reeflink.

So in the end if you don't care about the other functions of the apex I would go with MP's and reeflink or go with that now so you can control all your Ecotech stuff and buy a apex down the road for the rest.

As for the Gyre, I wouldn't go that direction. I have done a lot of research on them and I just don't think they are as durable and have had lots of other issues. Ecotech is awesome at warranty work and will send you a new one out first and then you send the bad one back vs you sending it to them and having to wait for your replacement. US made is > China made any day!

Jimbo662 · Jan 17, 2016

What are the dimensions of your tank? In the past I ran an apex w/ 2 MP40s on my 75g tank. Currently running the gyre 150 on my 175g 6ft tank. It really moves the water...if it's set too high it pushes the sand at the opposite end of the tank to the point where it's bare bottom. I've been considering adding something to the other end to get more random flows.

ithk21620 · Jan 17, 2016

Jimbo662 said:
What are the dimensions of your tank? In the past I ran an apex w/ 2 MP40s on my 75g tank. Currently running the gyre 150 on my 175g 6ft tank. It really moves the water...if it's set too high it pushes the sand at the opposite end of the tank to the point where it's bare bottom. I've been considering adding something to the other end to get more random flows.

I have a 75 as well. SPS heavy so I want lots of flow.

I will agree that the gyre puts out a lot of flow since I have a couple friends with them but I am not convinced that they will last as long as a MP from what I have seen and read.

It all depends on what a person wants to spend really, gyre is cheaper than two MP's by a lot and will give you great flow but probably won't last as long. The first ones had a bunch of issues with the props on them breaking, also from what my friends told me they are a bit loud unless you buy the upgraded bracket for it. Which if you didn't buy the new QD MP's you would have also unless you upgraded the controller to the new QD controller.

B22 · Jan 17, 2016

I like the vortec because I run the radion lights. But even if I didn't have radions I have been super happy with the vortec and would still get the mp40

MAXreefer · Jan 17, 2016

I run a combo of both on my tank (Elos System120).
Have 2 Gyres with Icecap on each end of the tank and a MP40 at the back in the middle. All controlled with the Apex.
Really like to use the advantages both pumps have and to combine them for various flow patterns.