Maxspect Gyre Discussion (1 Viewer)

[Bodegus]

My gyre got wet yesterday and I thought it was a good enough topic to start a thread on.

75 gallon tank

Pros -
There is a TON of flow. I am running it at 50% in pulse mode and it definitely beats my WP40/WP25 pair in total water movement, I would compare it to the WP-60. Alternative mode is less impressive, I like pulse mode more.

The large spread of flow truly eliminate dead spots, it picked up and removed the brown zeovit slime that grows in my "lower flow" zones without blowing sand everywhere.

The "reef crest" potential for nutrient export is huge, turning it on full blast is almost as effective as turkey basting the rock, without having sand blow everywhere.

Cons -
This thing is way nosier than advertised, I would compare it to the MP-40 in noise level. running at 50-60% it is not very noticeable (same as an MP-40) but at 100% in pulse mode it might as well be an MP-40 in 100% pulse mode. Might get better as it breaks in.

The gyre motion requires at least 50% power in my tank or there is too much collision no lament flow to stimulate the gyre, 40% generates turbulence but no nice returning flow along the bottom.

The vertical back wall placement did not work well for me, It does not start a gyre but I only an 18" depth back to front. I am going to play around with it some more before I give a final verdict but the horizontal orientation seems to be the best bet.

First thoughts
If this thing gets an apex controller and lasts for years it can be the next best thing.

 

[SSPReefer]

As of right now is it worth the money?

 

[Chuckytt]

Word is BRS has them in stock right now.

 

[Travis Dragan]

Fragtasticreef has them in stock too!

 

[Otolith]

I have one at home just waiting for to get some time to set it up.

 

[David Grigor]

The one con for my personal situation: Difficult to retro fit into existing tank. Only place I could put one without having to reaquascape and reposition corals would be vertical in the back. I don't have any flow issues in the back to worry about. Mounted vertical on the front ends the top portion of the gyre would be fine but the bottom half where all my fluffy stuff doesn't need anymore flow and would probably do more harm than good.

I can see this if you have pretty low lying aquascape and corals are not nearing the top of the water line or designing a new tank from the ground up.

My tank has been built around the more traditional propeller flow and to rearrange would be too much.

 

[Bodegus]

I spent several hours playing with mine this weekend.

It gets much quieter after 50-100 hours of run time! Definitely improved.

I have pretty tall aqua scape and still get a good flow across the top. There seems to be a very hard sweet spot to get horizontal flow to gyre without blowing sand, for me that is 50%, at 60% I move sand and at 40% I don't get a full gyre across the bottom.

There are a few dead spots where a rock or coral share a section from flow, this goes away if I turn it up, but I get too much flow and sand moves. Definitely a great way to deal with zeovit brown sand issues.

Vertical orientations is not that great in my smaller tank. It acts a lot more like a prop style (straight with lots of turbulence). I could not get a gyre across the opposite side no matter what I tried. It also has too much flow at the first wall it hits.

 

[farnzi]

Would it be possible for one of these to attach to a rounded surface? Like a reef ready overflow or something similar?

 

[Bodegus]

I doubt it can attach to a round surface, magnets are strong, just not forgiving with any torque.

 

[infinityends]

I really want to try one of these out, but I think I'm going to wait until it can at least be controlled with an apex to some extent

 

[Adam G]

Got mine today and it has been running for a couple of hours. Played with some different settings. Have it at 60% and that seems to be about as strong as I dare go on my 30 wide by 48 long by 30 tall peninsula. The gyre is on the overflow on the short side of the peninsula blowing the 48" way.

I was hoping to do the reverse flow but I do not seem to get a reverse gyre. I just get a lot of turbulence at the surface. I am going to have to play with it some more. Right now I am running about 6" below the surface as I was pulling some air down from the top when I got it any closer.

I removed my 2 wp-40's. Don't need those any more. Have way more flow at 60% with this thing than the 2 wp-40's. There is definite hum at anything over 50% but from all I have read here and on the other threads that goes away after break in.

I will feed a bit later and see where the water take the food to get a better idea of flow but from what I see there are no dead spots and I have some tall island structures. So far so good. If I can get this dialed in I am done making changes for a while. Flow has been a tough one with the peninsula.

 

[Bodegus]

2 votes for 50% on 48"!

I can't get a good gyre with anti sync mode, pulse gets a nice one rotating.

 

[Jonty]

I set one up today, Like Dave G the Aquascape doesn't lend itself to the Gyre generator I did play with it and let her rip @ 100% for a couple of hours and stirred things up a bit . I will try the vertical mounting at some point.

 

[Fragtastic Reef]

Ya the longer your run them the more quiet they will be, there is a break in period for them just like a skimmer almost...

I have them always in stock if anyone needs one. I will also have them at the Frag Swap.

 

[marty9876]

So what structure lends itself to a gyre type flow/pump?

 

[Jonty]

I think my setup is not typical with Several pinnacles through out the tank I ended up with great flow across the top, and returning on the back and front sides but the middle of the tank was a dead zone.

 

[cheezybuda]

I think my setup is not typical with Several pinnacles through out the tank I ended up with great flow across the top, and returning on the back and front sides but the middle of the tank was a dead zone.

Do you think a tank with a lot of negative space or low overall aquascape height would be the ideal?

 

[Jonty]

Do you think a tank with a lot of negative space or low overall aquascape height would be the ideal?

Yes ,I think most things typical aquaecapes will work.

 

[ChristopherKriens]

The rock wall would be perfect, just sayin'.

 

[Fragtastic Reef]

Well every tank is different and different formations of rock. There is always the possibility to supplement the Gyre pumps also just like you would with Vortechs or other powerheads..