POLL: VorTech vs. Gyre! Which one do you prefer.

Newb73 · Nov 24, 2015

Update III.

Took my gyre apart for the first time.

1) It's not nearly the "nightmare " people claim it is It actually seems pretty modular which should make replacing parts easy which bodes well for long term cost.
2) For some reason my shaft wasn't engaging the bushing on just one side (please hold the jokes..) it was an easy fix.

My vortech has this far been more user friendly and had better controls but gyre has better flow. I also have a pair of neptune wavs

naso tang · Nov 24, 2015

I love my gyre 150. I have an mp40 still just cause i like the feed mode better. You do need to clean the gyre though and that's not trivial. I ripped one of my seals the first time i tried to take it apart. But they give you backup materials too, a whole extra set of rollers. Now i just soak the whole assembly in hydrogen peroxide and water for a few minutes, rinse it and put it back in operation.

We'll see how long this approach lasts. It definitely slows down when there is buildup, like any pump.

shoelaceike · Nov 24, 2015

I too just took my XF150 apart for the first time.....it was much more difficult to pull out the magnet holders then the video showed.....also after I set it back up, only one side worked. I had to fool around for a while to get both sides to work......no idea what happened.

Still love the flow although I feel its not as strong as when I first bought it. I used to have it on 40% now I have it at 100% and not seeing much difference.

Still picking the gyre as it simply moves way more water. Nothing against Ecotech, have 3 radions and love them.

The backup battery from Ecotech is also a huge plus.....I may get a vortech just so I can have flow if the power goes out.

naso tang · Nov 24, 2015

shoelaceike said:
I too just took my XF150 apart for the first time.....it was much more difficult to pull out the magnet holders then the video showed.....also after I set it back up, only one side worked. I had to fool around for a while to get both sides to work......no idea what happened.

Still love the flow although I feel its not as strong as when I first bought it. I used to have it on 40% now I have it at 100% and not seeing much difference.

Still picking the gyre as it simply moves way more water. Nothing against Ecotech, have 3 radions and love them.

The backup battery from Ecotech is also a huge plus.....I may get a vortech just so I can have flow if the power goes out.

Good point, another reason why i keep my mp40 around, it's on battery backup. Also have an rw15 in this system too. Two gyres might be kinda cool if i kicked out the other two pumps.

shoelaceike · Nov 24, 2015

Also, the maxspect sould not cost $300. Its a simple underwater fan......the vortech at least is high end quality and a ton of technology.

They likely only charge that to make it seem high end......then again a lot of things are overpriced in our hobby.

Newb73 · Nov 24, 2015

shoelaceike said:
I too just took my XF150 apart for the first time.....it was much more difficult to pull out the magnet holders then the video showed.....also after I set it back up, only one side worked. I had to fool around for a while to get both sides to work......no idea what happened.

Still love the flow although I feel its not as strong as when I first bought it. I used to have it on 40% now I have it at 100% and not seeing much difference.

Still picking the gyre as it simply moves way more water. Nothing against Ecotech, have 3 radions and love them.

The backup battery from Ecotech is also a huge plus.....I may get a vortech just so I can have flow if the power goes out.

8

Unless you get the cages back on the correct side and in the correct oruentation, the blades facing the correct direction etc, you'll lose flow.

I had the same problem and it was a simple fix to get it back to factory new performance

shoelaceike · Nov 24, 2015

Newb73 said:
8

Unless you get the cages back on the correct side and in the correct oruentation, the blades facing the correct direction etc, you'll lose flow.

I had the same problem and it was a simple fix to get it back to factory new performance

Yup. I put them on correctly.

1stNoel · Nov 29, 2015

Paul Carpenter said:
I have an Mp 60 Vortech and two gyre 150's in my 8ft X3ft X 3 ft peninsula tank. I like both pumps but voted for Gyre because in my particular application the dry side magnets are flat and only protrude half an inch. Vortech (with motor) protrudes 4 inches and are heavy can fall off easier if bumped into.. Water flow is definitely greater on Gyre too. All 3 pumps running about a year and no problems. Vortech probably has less heat since motor is on dry side. It also seems heavier and seems built and engineered better so it might last more years but too early to tell.
Cleaning takes longer on Gyre I guess but I haven't cleaned either yet. Yeah I know, inexcusable. Lastly, one mp60 costs the same as two Gyre 150's

I'm working on a 300 gallon barebottom build (96" x 30" x 24" tall) and have one MaxSpect Gyre150. From your note it seems like this isn't enough for a tank this size. If I were to get a 2nd one, where would you recommend placing them for optimal flow? I envisioned placing one at the top left and one at the bottom right...to help complete the loop.

jt17 · Nov 29, 2015

Vortechs. Better controllability and much more reliable. In 3 years I've never had a problem. I've had 2 gyres fail on me in the past year. With vortechs you don't have to undo your cable management to clean the wet side. Gyre may move more water but wont last nearly as long as the vortechs.

VelasCorals · Nov 29, 2015

We like the Gyre more but we have already had several impellers explode in all the ones we use in the store. Seems tiny hermits or rocks can get sucked in and the impellers shred up. The units come with extras but its annoying. We also have one unit that wont turn on anymore. Still like the Gyres more because they push such a massive amounts of water.

shoelaceike · Nov 29, 2015

If only Ecotech can make something similar then we'd have the best of both worlds.

jsker · Nov 29, 2015

dallas reefer said:
How wide are the 130s? Same as 150?

Smaller, I have a 72 bow front and the 130 fits perfect. 10 Inches

dallas reefer · Nov 29, 2015

jsker said:
Smaller, I have a 72 bow front and the 130 fits perfect. 10 Inches

Well I hope that's correct, my 175 bow, overflows are at the ends. Thanks man

jsker · Nov 29, 2015

dallas reefer said:
Well I hope that's correct, my 175 bow, overflows are at the ends. Thanks man

I measured it.

Your welcome. I have two gyre 130's and a quite drive mp40 in mine, and I really have some water movement.

NanaReefer · Nov 30, 2015

Been running my Gyre XF-130 since March, not one issue thus far. Love having/needing only one pump in my 40B. If I were to run anything else I'd need at least 2-4 pumps to get the flow pattern I get from 1 Gyre. I'm sure we'll see improvements soon. All in all not a bad PH at all for a first run.

Quick · Nov 30, 2015

Can anyone help with a measurement on the 130? Is it exactly 10"? Some sites show 9.5" and some show 9.8". I have a limited space between my corner overflow and glass. Also, anyone tried one of the back glass in a 3' tank? I know it's not the intended placement, just curious if it would work out okay.

Quick · Dec 1, 2015

Well, I placed an order for the xf130 yesterday. I couldn't pass up the deal that BRS was having on it. Lowest I had seen since it came out. If it doesn't fit, I'll return it. If it does, I'll decide if I like it better than my MP10.