Powerheads, Powerheads, Powerheads

[jpas]

Yeah, it’s crazy that pumps and lights are a bigger investment than a large tank!

 

[Marco S]

I agree about the Gyres, they are excellent. I also very strongly disagree that they are poorly made. They are indeed a bit more involved, as far as cleaning goes, than most of the other options. But they provide a completely different kind of flow that nothing else can provide. You will like them. I don't hear mine until it's close to cleaning time, then they start to whine a little bit.

I think your strategy is good. Gyres and MP40's will provide the best of everything... except price. The MP40 price is stupid high. But if they're in your budget, it's a great approach.

It's good to hear the part about the quality not being poorly made because I have not read anything negative about the quality until JP posted about the poor quality in this thread. The vast majority of the reviews say it is a great quality product and BRS even went with them for a couple of their builds so I didn't anticipate a poor quality product and was really surprised to hear about his issue. I did anticipate the higher maintenance and difficulty cleaning since almost everyone brings this up and I am fine with it if it gives me the kind of performance I am expecting out of it.

As far as the "stupid high" price of the MP40's goes, I figure that it is just a fraction of the the overall cost I will be shelling out for this build and since this is my first Reef Tank I want to make sure I get the best quality products I can afford to minimize my chances of failures. While I do care about the overall cost, I care more about the quality, performance and reputation of the products I am buying then the money I could save.

 

[Marco S]

Yeah, it’s crazy that pumps and lights are a bigger investment than a large tank!

Someone told me early on that the cost of a tank will pale in comparison to the actual price of the entire system and I didn't really get it until I started putting together my equipment list. Lights and pumps are definitely expensive, but according to everything I have read they are the heart and soul of the entire system so I guess it makes sense that they are so expensive.

 

[WVNed]

I have never owned an MP 40. I have had 2 MP-10s for years. I consider them to be some of the best equipment you could buy. They were too weak for my 75 and you cant point them.

I am running 2 Maxspect Gyres now. I don't see me ever having a tank without them again. They move all the water in the tank just the way I want. Mine are silent. I have to clean them no more often than any other pump I have run. I can change the amount of flow dramatically with a bit of programming. They are nearly invisible in a vertical position on the black back of the tank. Once I put them there I have not had to move them ever again. No dead spots at all.

If they live half as long as the MP-10s I will be truly impressed.

 

[Marco S]

I have never owned an MP 40. I have had 2 MP-10s for years. I consider them to be some of the best equipment you could buy. They were too weak for my 75 and you cant point them.

I am running 2 Maxspect Gyres now. I don't see me ever having a tank without them again. They move all the water in the tank just the way I want. Mine are silent. I have to clean them no more often than any other pump I have run. I can change the amount of flow dramatically with a bit of programming. They are nearly invisible in a vertical position on the black back of the tank. Once I put them there I have not had to move them ever again. No dead spots at all.

If they live half as long as the MP-10s I will be truly impressed.

How long have you had them so far and how often do you clean them? I normally clean the pumps in my freshwater tanks every other month or so, but I am anticipating every month with saltwater. I also am new to powerheads as I don't run them in my planted tanks since they don't like too much flow so this will all be new to me.

 

[WVNed]

How long have you had them so far and how often do you clean them? I normally clean the pumps in my freshwater tanks every other month or so, but I am anticipating every month with saltwater. I also am new to powerheads as I don't run them in my planted tanks since they don't like too much flow so this will all be new to me.

I have cleaned 1 one the pumps in the 6 months I have run them. It went noisy but had a small snail in it. I didn't bother with the other once I took the first one apart. I did drop them in a bucket of vinegar 2-3 months ago and let them run for 10 minutes. It came apart and went back easily enough once I understood how it was made.

I generally clean my powerheads every 6 months unless I hear a noise. This stuff is plastic. If something is rubbing get it out before it gouges something.
I think the secret to the Gyre pumps is their ability to run in reverse. The first time I tried it they blew out a cloud of stuff from inside. Since them I have them reverse regularly just 10% but it keeps them clear inside.

 

[Marco S]

I have cleaned 1 one the pumps in the 6 months I have run them. It went noisy but had a small snail in it. I didn't bother with the other once I took the first one apart. I did drop them in a bucket of vinegar 2-3 months ago and let them run for 10 minutes. It came apart and went back easily enough once I understood how it was made.

I generally clean my powerheads every 6 months unless I hear a noise. This stuff is plastic. If something is rubbing get it out before it gouges something.
I think the secret to the Gyre pumps is their ability to run in reverse. The first time I tried it they blew out a cloud of stuff from inside. Since them I have them reverse regularly just 10% but it keeps them clear inside.

Wow, that's a lot less often then I thought. Thanks for the info!

 

[Special K]

I just picked up a gyre 230 for a 75 gal tank. that should be enough correct? i have a hydr as well

 

[WVNed]

I had one but got tired of having a constant current in one direction. Everything bent to the left all the time was not the look I was going for.

So I got another one.
The controller runs 2 so You just buy another pump.

Let's try this
https://photos.smugmug.com/Fish-tank-stuff/i-82Tr3TD/0/78882c76/1280/IMG_0540[1]-1280.mp4
30 seconds of 2 gyres in a 75. Alternating gyre mode left is 70%- -10% right is 60%- -10% 6 second ramp, 15 seconds run

Bonus points for spotting Ned vaping and a cameo appearance by Bear

 

[Smprc]

I agree with WVNed, 2 gyres, one on each end is awesome. I have a peninsula, so this makes it more difficult because I don't want any pumps on the "open" end. So right now I have the everything going to one way effect. I placed my second gyre below my first one in an attempt to reverse the flow, but my rocks are in the way, I'm going to have to move that around. Part of the "fun" I guess. I'm just being stubborn and refuse to put pumps on the open end of the tank. And as far as cleaning them, I'm not sure why people are suggesting they are difficult. I took them out, soaked in 100% vinegar for 30 to 40 min, scrub with a toothbrush, soak in fresh RODI water, reassemble...bam...good to go!

 

[jrlg]

I am building a 200 gal tank and I decided on 2 of the 280 gyres for the ends, got them on the DB on Friday, I will have a sand bed so I'm not going crazy on the turn over. as for the power heads for the back glass I choose 2 tunze turbelle 6105, one was an open box at BRS and the second came with the gyres, I will let you know how they work out. The thing I liked about the tunze was the price point, cheaper than the mp60s and the fact the have full rotation for pointing the flow. I did have one issue, the 6105 doesn't recommend using the powerhead magnet on anything over .60 in thick so I did buy the upgrade magnets for them, (tank is .75 inch glass) figure the cost beats having an epic sand storm one morning down the road.

 

[PhreeByrd]

I just picked up a gyre 230 for a 75 gal tank. that should be enough correct? i have a hydr as well

I'm using 2 250's in a 75g, running at 60% max. You might be ok with what you have, depending on what corals you're keeping.

 

[Special K]

I'm using 2 250's in a 75g, running at 60% max. You might be ok with what you have, depending on what corals you're keeping.

Gonna grab another 230 pump I think

 

[SurfLife]

Gyres. I run a pair of 280's and wish I was aware of them before purchasing all the other options first. I just this week decided to give it a cleaning and check for any wear. Was extremely easy and fast. No wear. I only have one issue with this product. When trying to adjust the cages while IN the tank they are ridiculously difficult to adjust/turn. Take them out of water, easy to turn. Its like the water acts like a daym glue. No idea but only a minor issue. Also, quiet. Very quiet. Flow varies between 20% and 80%. All I hear is the sound of the water surface moving.

 

[SurfLife]

I am building a 200 gal tank and I decided on 2 of the 280 gyres for the ends, got them on the DB on Friday, I will have a sand bed so I'm not going crazy on the turn over. as for the power heads for the back glass I choose 2 tunze turbelle 6105, one was an open box at BRS and the second came with the gyres, I will let you know how they work out. The thing I liked about the tunze was the price point, cheaper than the mp60s and the fact the have full rotation for pointing the flow. I did have one issue, the 6105 doesn't recommend using the powerhead magnet on anything over .60 in thick so I did buy the upgrade magnets for them, (tank is .75 inch glass) figure the cost beats having an epic sand storm one morning down the road.

Just my opinion but if its a fine sand the 2 280's will be difficult to tune. In a larger tank with the 280's anything over 30% disturbed the sand bed no matter how I pointed them etc. I was not getting the flow I wanted for my corals but the sand bed was an issue. I ended up vacuuming out all of the sand(which was too deep anyway) and replaced with a fine crush coral. Now I can peak at 80% with no movement of bed. 100% is perfect if you want to simulate a typhoon.

 

[Marco S]

My Gyres came in on Friday and I set one up in my 45 gallon quarantine tank just to play around with it and I LOVE it! The advanced controller is easy to use and has plenty of different options for flow. I can't wait to see what both of them together will do. They are not that loud even a 100%, (well ,maybe a bit) and they are easy to take apart for cleaning. I am really glad I chose them and would highly recommend them.

 

[jrlg]

I got mine too, and took them out of the box, to look at, I'm still dry so I couldn't test them out but taking them apart was easy and I am looking forward to mine as well.

 

[FLSharkvictim]

It's time to order my pumps and powerheads and I need some advice from you experts. I have decided on going with the Reef Octopus VarioS-8 for the main return and will probably get two of them since they are on sale at BRS. The problem I have is that I have narrowed the powerheads down to three options that I just cannot decide on. Every video or review I watch or read just makes it harder since they are all great options, but I need to choose one. Please help by letting me know what you would choose and why.

This will be for either the Red Sea Reefer XXL 750 or the Waterbox 230.6 so the dimensions are 6 feet long by 26 inches wide by 2 feet Tall with 3/4 inch glass.

Here are my options:

Maxspect XF250 Gyre: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/xf250-gyre-pump-with-controller-5300-gph-maxspect.html

Reef Octopus Octo Pulse 4: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/octo-pulse-4-wave-pump-reef-octopus.html

Eco Tech Marine VorTech MP40: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vortech-mp40w-qd-propeller-pump-ecotech-marine.html

Please do not let price or brand name be a determining factor and thank you in advance for your advice.

Stay away from the Gyre pumps! From my experience they are nothing more then a royal pain in the #$#$#$.. I am currently setting up a SCA Rimless 150 and i have narrowed it down to either a pair of EcoTech Marine MP40QWD's or a pair of Reef Octo Pulse 4'S? I know they put out the same output as far as GPH = 4500. I am leaning towards the MP40'S b/c I run two of there Vectra return pumps.