gyre or powerheads?

JohnnyHildo

Member
now that the maxspect gyre has been out for a little while now i was wondering if it's what i should go with for flow in a new reef set up?
 
I had Gyre 150 and it was ok, but I am in love with 2 MP40 on my 120. I feel like it's more mixed flow and not just one direction.
 
i have the gyre 150 on my 150 gallon...when it dies I'm going back to my mp's
simply based on cost i thought i might give one a try and convert over down the line if the gyre doesn't appear to be doing the job.
i'm impressed what this hobby costs in comparison to freshwater. after plunking all this cash down i feel like i'm going to have to make a compromise somewhere here lol.
 
gyre is junk. I had one, it didn't last year. Propellers kept breaking, never worked right, one side always moved way more water than the other. The wires were exposed where it went into the motor. Just junk.
 
interesting. after reading about them a little is seems that a lot of people bought in on version 1.0 and share the feeling that it wasn't what they'd hoped. a lot had to do with snails damaging the fins and shotty construction in general. while they do seem slightly improved it leads me to wonder if the same problems exist.
RC does have a thread about them but its convoluted with varying opinions and versions.
 
Wow too very similar threads next to one another. Gyre all the way. I have both mp40s and 150s.

i appreciate your input. as i mentioned earlier, the 85 or so pages of "the maxspect gyre thread" is completely convoluted and tough to discern whether or not people are enjoying it. my understanding is slight improvements have been made and i was hoping to get clear 2016 version answers from this.
 
i appreciate your input. as i mentioned earlier, the 85 or so pages of "the maxspect gyre thread" is completely convoluted and tough to discern whether or not people are enjoying it. my understanding is slight improvements have been made and i was hoping to get clear 2016 version answers from this.


I wasn't referring to the maxspect gyre thread. There is another thread recently started asking the same question.

Improvements are to the cable used (these had problems with failing in contact with SW oops) and the new rugged impeller. These are a major improvement and have solved the problem I had with snails stopping the pumps. They still climb in the gyre but get shot out much the same as happens in the mp40.
 
I wasn't referring to the maxspect gyre thread. There is another thread recently started asking the same question.
ahhh ok. i'm on here fairly regularly lately and didn't catch it. also, thank you for pointing out the improvements to the pump. i had seen a little on the updated rotor but nothing else.
 
I retired my MP-10 and just installed the Gyre. So far it's a big improvement for me. Much quieter and moves a grip more water. In fact I would have sold my MP-10, but my Midas Blenny moved into the unpowered wet side and I just don't have the heart to kick him out.
 
I really enjoy my Apex WAV powerheads. Limitless control. I have 6 different flow combinations programmed over 24hr period, feed modes, etc.
 
I retired my MP-10 and just installed the Gyre. So far it's a big improvement for me. Much quieter and moves a grip more water. In fact I would have sold my MP-10, but my Midas Blenny moved into the unpowered wet side and I just don't have the heart to kick him out.

Lol that's great
 
I think I have had my Gyre 150 for about a year now. I like it a lot. I have changed out the bushings on it once. They do require a bit of finesse to disassemble.

When I first got it I ran it solo in the tank for about 3 months. I then put two of my old Sicce voyager pumps, with their controller, on the back wall with the Gyre still on the end panel. I like the latter configuration better I seem to get good chaotic flow judging by how my gorgonoians wave in the current.
 
Have had vortec mp10's in my tank for over 3 years. Tried a gyre 130 and have to agree the gyre is garbage in every respect to the vortec pumps. Everything from the controllers to the actual pump. More problems with one gyre in 6 months then all my mp10(no problems). Would never recommend the gyres to anyone
 
gyre or powerheads?

So I had purchased a 1.0 150 soon after release. It ended up being a turd. Particularly getting the frayed wires where it goes into the motor. However before I discovered it being crappy, I had purchased a 2nd one and it is still fantastic to this day. I got rid of the first one I bought and now use the 2nd one on the end of my tank. It's a 120 gallon. I have it set to about 50% and everything flows well for my tank. So my thoughts are that with the updates made, it's worth a go. Just a shame for everyone who bought 1.0.

I will add that they are a bit of a pain to clean compared to an MP but not terrible.
 
Just a shame for everyone who bought 1.0.
this is exactly what i've kind of discovered from reading around. the theory was good but the finished product left room for improvements.
one interesting thing i noticed yesterday, i'm fortunate to have a really great lfs and when visiting them i discovered the 4 main frag tanks and display tank are all using them. tough to argue success!
i'm wondering of those who claim it to be junk bought a recent model or had a poor experience with the first wave of them....
 
gyre or powerheads?

When someone says "it is garbage in every respect" I'd take that with a grain of salt personally. As mentioned I have run mine since they were released. I've had vortechs for years as well.

Yes they have more parts than a Vortech and thus more things to break.

Yes they had some improvements to make from the 1.0. Do you think the first MP40 was exactly the same as the current model?

The most important part is that the flow they create is far superior to that from the Vortech. IMO 2 are needed. This way they can alternate. I have the alternations overlap every other change. This results in a downward current that "combs" from right to left picking up any detritus that has settled in difficult spots (for example in the cup of a monti).
 
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