Gyre XF230 Or One MP10

[Nick30G]

I would appreciate your guy's help between picking out these two powerheads. I can either get one XF230, or one MP10, I cannot afford to get two MP10's as it is way too much. My tank is a 37 Gallon, essentially it is a 24' tall 29 gallon. If i have one MP10, I feel like i wont get much variable flow to avoid dead spots. On the other hand, the Gyre may be to powerful, although i have seen people run them on tanks as small as 20 gallons. Anyone want to tell me their two cents on this?

 

[hkgar]

I am more pleased having switched from Vortech to Gyre. Although the Gyre is powerful it can be dialed back.

 

[nanosteve309]

I think you kind of made your decision in your post, the Gyre.

The speed for both pumps you mentioned can be controlled. So worrying about too strong of a flow isnt a problem for either pump.

 

[TBell805]

I think either way you're going to be fine. Both pumps have some cool settings to prevent dead spots. I have a gyre 150 and love it. Never tried an MP10 or MP40 though so I am biased :frog:

 

[Dmorty217]

I have used both. I prefer the vortechs if for nothing else the customer service.

 

[blasterman789]

Have not used a Gyre...used a lot of MP10.

One significant unique aspect of the MP10 is they have a very wide angle dispersion. The Gyre looks more directional. Neither is better than the other, but directional pumps act way different in big tanks than an MP10.

For instance, even cranked to full blast an MP10 will barely move water more that 24" away because the kinetic force of the pump dissipates very rapidly. This is why the MP10 works so well in smaller / square tanks. Even a generic 250gps power head will push water further than an MP10 running at full blast, but the directional pump isn't moving nearly the same volume and water.

I tend to think of MP10's as 'proximity' pumps. Basically they move a lot of water evenly in their immediate vicinity. They cannot move water a significant distance.

 

[hkgar]

The Gyre creates -stop!, are you ready for this - a gyre. A vortech pushes water back and forth.

 

[Xandernfs]

From what I've seen, the gyre is going to move more water and possibly be more efficient/effective at it. On the other hand the MP10 is a lot cleaner looking and has a more quiet operation.

 

[hkgar]

I have 2 gyres in my tank and switched from MP40's. I find the "look" cleaner and less disruptive looking. Flatter.

But that is nothing more than my humble opinion. Others can and will like the look of the vortech better.

 

[[]V[]addog]

people may think i'm crazy but i ran a successful 125 gall reef tank with just two MP10's they are so impressive, the undertow, i never had to worry about it. it was a mixed reef, Im sticking with mp10s until they let me down

 

[homer1475]

Have not used a Gyre...used a lot of MP10.

One significant unique aspect of the MP10 is they have a very wide angle dispersion. The Gyre looks more directional. Neither is better than the other, but directional pumps act way different in big tanks than an MP10.

For instance, even cranked to full blast an MP10 will barely move water more that 24" away because the kinetic force of the pump dissipates very rapidly. This is why the MP10 works so well in smaller / square tanks. Even a generic 250gps power head will push water further than an MP10 running at full blast, but the directional pump isn't moving nearly the same volume and water.

I tend to think of MP10's as 'proximity' pumps. Basically they move a lot of water evenly in their immediate vicinity. They cannot move water a significant distance.

Really? Cause I can blow the flesh off my LPS's from the other side of a 32" tank if I crank up my MP10's. And an mp40 will push water all the way across a 6 foot tank.

 

[Nick30G]

Also i have another question. For my return pump i am eyeing a Reef Octopus Varios-2. Do any of you guys have the Varios pumps and do you recommend them. So far after reading a bunch of reviews they look like they are very nice DC return pumps.

 

[illest]

Really? Cause I can blow the flesh off my LPS's from the other side of a 32" tank if I crank up my MP10's.

Seriously I just got an MP-10 for my 24" long and I have it as low as it goes otherwise it blows everything around like crazy!