Better a smaller pump run at 40% - or a larger pump run at 20%?

Muffin87

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I have a tank similar to a 2ft cube.
I wanna buy a couple of Maxspect gyres. Either the 330s or 350s.

At first glance, the 350 gyres would seem the more attractive option:
  • The 350s are longer than the 330s - which means the flow is distributed over a wider area.
  • The 350s offer the same flow rate as the 330s but at a lower speed - which means they can be more silent.
But my concern is that, if I run the bigger 350 gyres at a low speed, for example 10% or 20%, the flow will have so little kick that it'll be dispersed, rather than laminar and focussed.
I do need more kick. I already have an AI Nero V for "dispersed flow" with little kick.

Anyone can comment on this issue?

Thanks a lot for the help.
 

FangsAndGames

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I have a tank similar to a 2ft cube.
I wanna buy a couple of Maxspect gyres. Either the 330s or 350s.

At first glance, the 350 gyres would seem the more attractive option:
  • The 350s are longer than the 330s - which means the flow is distributed over a wider area.
  • The 350s offer the same flow rate as the 330s but at a lower speed - which means they can be more silent.
But my concern is that, if I run the bigger 350 gyres at a low speed, for example 10% or 20%, the flow will have so little kick that it'll be dispersed, rather than laminar and focussed.
I do need more kick. I already have an AI Nero V for "dispersed flow" with little kick.

Anyone can comment on this issue?

Thanks a lot for the help.
If cost isn’t a problem you should be good with the 350’s. Could only need one too.
 
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Muffin87

Muffin87

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If cost isn’t a problem you should be good with the 350’s. Could only need one too.

Cost isn't the issue here, I'm more concerned that if I get the 350s, the flow rate will be adequate at 10%, but the flow won't get to the other end of the tank.

While - I'd imagine - the 330s would have more kick at double the speed for the same flow rate. But I'm really quite unsure.
 

K7BMG

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You are talking about a 2 foot cube here, one 330 will be over the top IMO.
I have to 100% agree with Potatohead.

I have one 350 in my 6 foot long tank, on half speed I get flow all the way across it.
 

cvrle1

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Save your money and get 1 XF130 or 230 and call it a day (only difference between the 2 is advanced controller that comes with 230). As mentioned absolutely zero need for 2 330 or 350. You will have tsunami waves coming out of your tank with those guys lol
 
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Muffin87

Muffin87

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Save your money and get 1 XF130 or 230 and call it a day . As mentioned absolutely zero need for 2 330 or 350. You will have tsunami waves coming out of your tank with those guys lol

Is the 330 more powerful than the 130 and the 230?
I thought they were all more or less the same in terms of flow rate / force of flow.
 

K7BMG

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Is the 330 more powerful than the 130 and the 230?
I thought they were all more or less the same in terms of flow rate / force of flow.

You will have to check the specs at Maxspect's website.
I have both the 200 and the 300 series.
The 200 series IMO is far stronger than the 300.
 

cvrle1

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Is the 330 more powerful than the 130 and the 230?
I thought they were all more or less the same in terms of flow rate / force of flow.

XF130: Max Flow 2300gph | 35~8 watts | 25-100+ gallons
XF330: Max Flow 2377gph | 35~5 watts | 26-132 gallons
 

Water Dog

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No, you do not want to buy the larger pump. Most DC pumps/powerheads have a minimum flow rate, 20 to 30 percent. So when you set up a random mode and set your maximum flow rate at 50%, the flow will randomly switch between 20 to 50 percent. If your maximum flow rate is 20%, your random mode will be switching between 20 to 20 percent... essentially constant speed.
 
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