Trying to Emulate a Gyre Flow

mluntz

mluntz

New member
I have read numerous articles and posts on gyre flows, and I would like to try this in my tank. I don't have a big tank (46g bow front) and I would like to try to use 2 Koralia 1050 pumps, placed on opposite sides of the tank utilizing a Hydor Smartwave controller to alternate the pumps at let's say 1 hour intervals.

I believe the pumps need to be aimed at the surface slightly to create the circular motion required.

Do you think I have enough pump to try this or am I wasting my time? I would love to hear your feedback on this topic.

Thanks!
 
calore, probably to alternate direction of the gyre.

mluntz, that would probably give you some effect. I would think not enough though. You would certainly have dead spots with no flow. Now if you had two pumps on each end, either in a push push configuration at the top, or, placed top and bottom in a push pull configuration. Then that would probably be enough for your intentions.

I did see a wand shaped powerhead posted about here recently that would be perfect for your purposes. Don't remember the brand though.
 
ca1ore said:
Wouldn't you want to have both pumps on the same end?
Click to expand...

I am trying to alternate the direction once an hour at this point.

rioshilo said:
calore, probably to alternate direction of the gyre.

mluntz, that would probably give you some effect. I would think not enough though. You would certainly have dead spots with no flow. Now if you had two pumps on each end, either in a push push configuration at the top, or, placed top and bottom in a push pull configuration. Then that would probably be enough for your intentions.

I did see a wand shaped powerhead posted about here recently that would be perfect for your purposes. Don't remember the brand though.
Click to expand...

I am confused about the configurations you are referring to.

Should I just put my wp-25 back in there and be done with it or what? How could I utilize the wp-25 and the 2 Koralias to achieve better flow?
 
mluntz said:
I am trying to alternate the direction once an hour at this point.



I am confused about the configurations you are referring to.

Should I just put my wp-25 back in there and be done with it or what? How could I utilize the wp-25 and the 2 Koralias to achieve better flow?
Click to expand...

The flow would need to stretch across the top like a sheet. Look at that youtube video posted by ElmoC. You want a wand setup like that, or maybe two powerheads one each wall to simulate that laminar flow. Then two one the other wall to alternate with so you can reverse flow.

Or, one on the top of the side wall with it's counter part on the bottom of the opposing wall facing back to it to help that current flow all the way back to the first wall. But, this flow would not be as laminar

It could also be done with external pumps that are pushing through pvc on each end of the tank with either slits or holes that direct the flow across the top of the tank.

I think you would want to be careful with aquascaping and with the final flow setup to ensure that you had no dead spots. I think it would work best with a bare bottom setup and very minimal rockwork.
 
So the idea is a circular motion from top to bottom? Vertical and Horizontal? I had in my mind just a horizontal flow around the tank. No vertical aspect for the most part.
 
Circular. Across the top, down the other side, back across the bottom, up the original side back to the starting point.
 
Do you think it would be better served to put both powerheads on the same side to create more flow going in one direction and forget the reversal part or bag the idea at this point all together?
 
The main problem that I think you would have with a gyre flow tank would be dead spots where detritus would collect. I think that reversing that flow would help out a lot
 
I have a Gyre type setup in my small office tank 28"x14". Have 2 MP-10s, one on each end pane of the tank close to the back wall. Only one runs at a time and I get a horizontal circular flow. I looks like flushing a toilet! Tried the anti-sync mode but it didn't work near as well as having one off, it introduced too much turbulence near the slow speed pump and reduced the circular motion. Mine switch every 6 hours (like the tide) from spinning clockwise to counter-clockwise. MP are dialed back to 45% or the flow is just too much for my size tank.

IMO..the whole trick is to have a central island type aquascape, with plenty of room around all sides and ends. NOT the rock wall against the back. Otherwise I don't think it works near as well, if at all.
 
My rock work is centralized in the middle of the tank so that I can get to all the glass, but I don't think my pumps are powerful enough to get the job done correctly. I only have 2 Koralia 1050's, so 1 on each side might not be enough to get the desired flow.
 
This is what I do in my 120. 4 wp40s, two on each long side at the top. Every 6 hours flip sides. Kicks up a lot of crap out of the rocks. Mines a peninsular so I have two bommies with nothing closer than 4" from the glass. Also scaped so the bommies are open enough for plenty of flow through them. Hopefully it works well in the long run. Main problem is finding areas with low enough flow for LPS.
 
I have two mp40s doing my entire 360g in a gyre. Circular rotation.

Put them both always on. opposite corners facing down the front and back pane.

Don't worry about switching flow direction just yet. If it works with just one pump use the other to switch directions. If you need both buy additional pumps to switch directions.
 
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