Maxspect Gyre XF350 CE underwhelming flow

[rbkl]

Hi reefers,

I just setup my first reef tank. A Peninsula P700. I did install 2 maxspect Gyre xf350 ce vertically on both side of the overflow.
However the flow is really underwlming.i did configure them 100% linear flow but not impressive at all. I notice the power consumption is only 26W when 100% while the specs list 50W each so I should have something like 100W. But no. All new and cleaned.
Does anyone has this experience as well?
Cheers

 

[14 foot reef]

Take apart, check the bushings all all good and inserted correctly, if they are dragging (Binding) they probably would not pull the full wattage and would cause the lower flow. I love mine, but they are maintenance hogs.

 

[rbkl]

I disassembled both gyre 100% and cleaned with a toothbrush but I can't get more than 15W per gyre. Any idea how much yours are pulling? @14 foot reef

 

[rbkl]

I would expect 96W pulled with this setting

 

[14 foot reef]

Mine are 94 watts. Nice guess !!!!

 

[Reefering1]

Are the propellers on the wrong sides? Try going reverse and see if it moves more water

 

[Cool tangs]

I have a peninsula, so I might be able to give some helpful feedback.

First I've used maxspect in the past and I think there gyres are garbage! Personally I'm a big jebao fan. I currently use 2x jabao 180's. That's there biggest gyres style pumps they offer. My tank is 7 ft and it surprisingly pumps more then enough flow around the tank mounted vertically as well under the return pumps. I use them in classic crossflow mode on the longest pulse possible. In crossflow one pump will turn on at a time in big pulses and then alternate. I find this to be the most effective way to get flow to move from one side to the other, pushing the water back the other way to the overflow. This also helps to get rid of the slick at the end of the tank from surface water not getting pulled down the overflow. I find when both pumps are on, they cancel each other's flow out and become less effective then alternating the pumps. They are running at 90% and it's more then enough to get flow through the entire tank. I think the secrets source is alternate the pumps and big pulses

 

[14 foot reef]

I have a peninsula, so I might be able to give some helpful feedback.

First I've used maxspect in the past and I think there gyres are garbage! Personally I'm a big jebao fan. I currently use 2x jabao 180's. That's there biggest gyres style pumps they offer. My tank is 7 ft and it surprisingly pumps more then enough flow around the tank mounted vertically as well under the return pumps. I use them in classic crossflow mode on the longest pulse possible. In crossflow one pump will turn on at a time in big pulses and then alternate. I find this to be the most effective way to get flow to move from one side to the other, pushing the water back the other way to the overflow. This also helps to get rid of the slick at the end of the tank from surface water not getting pulled down the overflow. I find when both pumps are on, they cancel each other's flow out and become less effective then alternating the pumps. They are running at 90% and it's more then enough to get flow through the entire tank. I think the secrets source is alternate the pumps and big pulses

Are these truly WAY better ? I absolutely HATE the Gyre's except for the laminar sheet flow across the surface.
When I say HATE, I really do. This would be great

 

[rbkl]

Are the propellers on the wrong sides? Try going reverse and see if it moves more water

Tried reverse 100% the flow direction changed but still weak, still same wattage. How can I check if the propeller is inversed?

 

[Cool tangs]

Are these truly WAY better ? I absolutely HATE the Gyre's except for the laminar sheet flow across the surface.
When I say HATE, I really do. This would be great

Honestly I only had the small maxspect on a old smaller tank and I just hated the controls and flow it produces. And I found them extremely noisy. Since giving the jebaos a go, I'm honestly surprised at how effective they are. They are cheap as well so really if your not on a tight budget it's not a lot to spend to try. I am personally very happy with them and they produce a lot of flow! And I mean a lot!!!

 

[Reefering1]

Tried reverse 100% the flow direction changed but still weak, still same wattage. How can I check if the propeller is inversed?

You can tell by looking at which direction the blades are facing, the manual should explain...
But I would expect more flow in reverse, if this was your problem...

 

[rbkl]

Honestly I only had the small maxspect on a old smaller tank and I just hated the controls and flow it produces. And I found them extremely noisy. Since giving the jebaos a go, I'm honestly surprised at how effective they are. They are cheap as well so really if your not on a tight budget it's not a lot to spend to try. I am personally very happy with them and they produce a lot of flow! And I mean a lot!!!

Can you share a pick of your jebao model? Are these the MCP180 purple?

 

[Cool tangs]

Can you share a pick of your jebao model? Are these the MCP180 purple?

Here you go

They say rated for 180cm long tanks or under, but they are extremely underrated. I was going to get 4 and group them 2x2 in classic crossflow. But even on my 7ft it's currently a lot of flow with just 2

 

[rbkl]

Here you go

They say rated for 180cm long tanks or under, but they are extremely underrated. I was going to get 4 and group them 2x2 in classic crossflow. But even on my 7ft it's currently a lot of flow with just 2

I'll still try to fix my maxspect first, but if not successful I'll give it a try

 

[Sdbuehler1]

I am running 2 XF350s on opposite ends of a 6 ft 180 gallon tank and they are really powerful. At 75% the fish are literally being blown around. I am using a hydros wave engine to control them though.

 

[rbkl]

I am running 2 XF350s on opposite ends of a 6 ft 180 gallon tank and they are really powerful. At 75% the fish are literally being blown around. I am using a hydros wave engine to control them though.

I might have some faulty unit then :( let's see what maxspect support tells me. So far not a good experience with those guys...

 

[14 foot reef]

Here you go

They say rated for 180cm long tanks or under, but they are extremely underrated. I was going to get 4 and group them 2x2 in classic crossflow. But even on my 7ft it's currently a lot of flow with just 2

Do these have the same High Maintenance clean regiment or they significantly slow down ?

 

[rbkl]

You can tell by looking at which direction the blades are facing, the manual should explain...
But I would expect more flow in reverse, if this was your problem...

Yes actually color coded, red on red green on green so not the issue unfortunately

 

[Reefering1]

Any chance you plugged the power supply into battery backup connector? Not sure they are the same on that one, but if it is- the controller will automatically reduce output to about 20%

 

[rbkl]

Any chance you plugged the power supply into battery backup connector? Not sure they are the same on that one, but if it is- the controller will automatically reduce output to about 20%

I don't have the battery backup connector. I also tried with another 24V power supply (Jebao MDP10K) but same results. I'll wait the Chinese new year celebration ends and the Maxspect support back online. Thanks for the suggestions