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Buyer beware! By Kadee on 8/3/2017
Kadee wouldn't recommend this product to a friendBought the XF230 on 6/21/17 and installed on 7/27/17. Unit is still very noisy after running for 8 days. Do not have OGC capability and have been informed by CoralVue that I must update my firmware. To do this, I must purchase a 32g micro sd and an adapter to be able to download the update onto the sd from the CoralVue site and then update the firmware of the XF230. I am pretty po'd about this as this is not only added expense for an already expensive pump but the pump IS NOISY. Do not trust this pump to run quietly in an area where you would want quiet. This pump is the loudest piece of equipment in my system. I have read that over time the pump will quiet. If it does, I will update this review. I am giving it three stars right now because I am hoping it will improve after update and over time. -
Amazing flow, pretty silent By MD on 7/20/2017
MD would recommend this product to a friendWow, the flow with this thing is amazing. I've had it running on lunar and OGC presets going up to 60% and can barely hear it, anything above 60% is too much for my reefer 350. I think a larger sized pump may make sense for those who want more flow so you don't have to go above 50-60%. It does get louder above 50-60%, although after about 2 weeks of use I can't hear it on 60% anymore, perhaps that's the breakin period or I was lucky. Still debating whether I'd need another on the opposite side...definitely wouldn't think of running them both simultaneously. -
Great for what it does! By Sean on 7/19/2017
Sean would recommend this product to a friendIt moves a lot of water. It took me a few days of messing with settings and position to get the perfect balance. Watched a ton of videos and so far its the best water mover I have ever owned. It was loud to start with and then after about two months became fairly quiet. Still hear it when it goes above 60% but its so little. Cannot wait to get the add-on for the other side! -
LOTS OF FLOW!! By Billy on 7/18/2017
Billy would recommend this product to a friendI finally got around to replacing a cheap powerhead that I've had on my new 90 gallon tank with one these XF230's. I was worried about the other reviews that talking about it being noisy. Here's the thing...yes, it's about noisy but I love this thing. From the moment i turned this thing on it started stirring up detritus from behind my rocks, underneath my rocks, hell i think even some crap inside my rocks came out. but guess what, no sand was kicked up. This pump just produces such a wide flow that it won't stir up the sand. I even have mine topping out at 100% on random. I have been so please with this single pump, that I have a second one on the way so that I can utilize the dual pump features.
If you're contemplating getting one of these, get it! Sure, it isn't as quiet as some other pumps, but those other pumps don't make this much water motion either! -
great product By cbsaint01 on 6/27/2017
cbsaint01 would recommend this product to a friendafter reading a lot of reviews. I was concerned about if I should get this product. Last weekend I was in Orlando Florida. I stopped at livingreef aquarium store. they had 99 percent of their tanks running one or two maxspect, and they were dead quiet some were running at 100 percent speed. He told me he replaced all the ecotechs with these pumps. He even showed me the old version still running with no issues. So I don't understand how so many people are having so many problems with their new pump. Is their something you new owners are not doing?. Because I want to get one also. -
Love it By Dave on 5/6/2017
Dave would recommend this product to a friendPut it in my 55 to replace 3 Aqueon pumps and wow! Currently have it set to random 10-20% because otherwise it starts shifting sand. Fish are playing in the current, anemones are happier, and I'm happier. Was so impressed that I ordered an additional pump an hour after installing this one.(and I'm currently upgrading to a 280 and will need it) There is some noise I noticed while playing with it at higher settings, though not nearly as loud as others make it out to be. A lot quieter than the ocean we're trying to replicate... Just sayin -
I can live with the noise! By Dave on 4/5/2017
Dave would recommend this product to a friendI have two of these on a 75 gallon reef tank. No dead spots anywhere in the tank. I use the pre-programmed OGC cycle and it's amazing. Only issue is noise above 40%. Very loud for an internal pump. Maybe it will get quieter as it breaks in but in any case the even spread of the flow is worth a little noise to me! You won't get better flow from an ecotech. -
Loud pump, pushes a lot of water! By Jason on 4/4/2017
Jason would recommend this product to a friendPulled the MP40wQD off my Red Sea Reefer 250 and replaced it with the gyre 230. Gyre works better in my tank, but it is loud. Opened a ticket with coralvue and they said "it needs to break in and give it time for bacteria to form on the pump". It's been well over a month now and still the loudest part of my system. Lookup Pelphrey on YouTube, did a full video comparing the gyre 230 to the mp40wqd. -
Very powerful By Mike C. on 3/30/2017
Mike C. would recommend this product to a friendVery happy with this product so far, Circulation is great!! It has replaced 4 power heads that I had in my 65G. I will be purchasing another to utilize the A & B pump feature to get more out of the systems custom programming. I have had no noise issues with the pump itself, just with the amount of surface water noise because of the power of the pump. I have dialed it in and made some adjustments and now its good. -
Moves water but loud By Zack on 2/8/2017
Zack wouldn't recommend this product to a friendMoves a lot of water but definitely the loudest thing in my tank. Spend the extra and get the mp40. -
Realy moves some water! By GEORGE on 1/20/2017
GEORGE would recommend this product to a friendI replaced two powerheads that were blowing sand away no matter where they were aimed with this. I'm amazed at the water this moves in my 75g display without disturbing anything on the bottom, at only 50 percent power in pulse mode. I don't know if I got a good one but, my pump can hardly be heard up close with no break in. So far really happy with it. It spreads out the water movement without concentrating it one spot. -
Powerful By Gyre on 12/19/2016
Gyre would recommend this product to a friendVery powerful. Haven't had it on for a long time but like it so far. Let's see how long it lasts. So far, so good.
-
FAQ #19: How much water flow do I need in my reef aquarium? | 52 FAQ
Today on BRStv, we have another episode of BRS 52 ...
More -
FAQ #32: Where should I direct my pumps flow - the tank's rock work, or the surface of the water?
Today on BRStv, we have another episode of BRS 52 ...
More -
BRStv Investigates: Can any pump create a Gyre in a reef tank, or is Maxspect still king?
Product Questions
Everybody's favourite question: Is it Apex Compatible??
Question by: Mike Nicosia on Dec 2, 2016 9:11:00 AM
Great question! Unfortunately, at this time this is not compatible with the Neptune Apex, however it is possible they will allow for connection in the future. :-)
Answer by: Randy (Admin) on Dec 2, 2016 9:19:00 AM
Hi BRS,
I'm having trouble getting the best balance of flow in my 60 gallon (2'x2'x2') cube. Would this pump be too much horsepower for my size of tank?
I'm having trouble getting the best balance of flow in my 60 gallon (2'x2'x2') cube. Would this pump be too much horsepower for my size of tank?
Question by: Tanner on Jun 6, 2017 6:57:00 AM
I would actually say this pump would likely be a good fit for your tank. Your rockwork may affect the type of flow patterns you get, but generally with the controllability of this pump, you should be able to get good movement.
Happy reefing!
Happy reefing!
Answer by: Zack (Admin) on Jun 13, 2017 3:33:00 PM
How long is the cord from the controller and from the controller to the plug?
Question by: Brian Vinson on Jun 19, 2017 8:58:00 AM
Hey There,
Thanks for reaching out to us. The pump cord to the controller measures 10ft. and 5ft. from the controller to the wall.
Thanks for reaching out to us. The pump cord to the controller measures 10ft. and 5ft. from the controller to the wall.
Answer by: Jason Smith (Admin) on Jun 21, 2017 5:45:00 PM
Does the cord go in the water? A big thick ugly cord inside the tank would not be very attractive.
Question by: Robert Rainey on Jan 15, 2017 1:39:00 PM
Great question! Yes, there is a cord that connects the pump to the controller. It is going to be submerged and directly connected to the pump head. :-)
Answer by: Randy (Admin) on Jan 16, 2017 12:08:00 PM
Would this work on a FOWLR 210 Gallon Tank 72x24x30? Thinking of getting 2?
Question by: Frank Adamo on Dec 7, 2016 10:33:00 AM
Hey there! I would recommend doubling up on these pumps for your size of tank. That will help eliminate dead spots throughout the tank and give you varying laminar flows. :-)
Answer by: Randy (Admin) on Dec 20, 2016 4:36:00 PM
What back-up battery can I use for this product? Can I control it wirelessly?
Question by: Timothy on Jan 9, 2017 11:59:00 AM
Great question! The IceCap Battery Backup will work with these pumps, however there is no wireless connectivity. :-)
Answer by: Randy (Admin) on Jan 10, 2017 11:47:00 AM
In most cases when choosing a powerhead, you will look into a bulky and intrusive propeller style powerhead that leaves dead spots in corners and makes you limited in coral placement due to the sheer force of the flow they need to produce. The Gyre pumps use crossflow technology to help evenly distribute the current throughout the tank without creating a single concentrated point of flow. Since the sheet of water that it produces makes a "gyre" flow pattern that is very efficient and gentle giving you more coral placement and aquascaping options. The design of the Gyre body and silent suspension mounting system keeps the entire package very low profile and super quiet.
The new Advanced Gyre Controller now lets you couple up to two Gyre pumps together off a single power supply. The two connected pumps can run in sync, anti-sync, or a couple of other modes giving you more control over the output. It now also lets you set a full 24-hour flow cycle without the need to connect to a third party controller.
If you choose not to set your own custom flow cycle, Maxspect also expertly programmed a couple of 24-hour cycles, like Lunar Tidal Cycle (LTC) or the Oceanic Gyre Cycle (OGC). On top of all of that Maxspect added new flow patterns too, like Random and Gradual Pulsing mode in addition to the traditional Constant, Pulse, and Alternating Gyre modes.
Gyre XF230 Specifications:
- Dimension - 10" L x 2.95" W x 1.57" H
- Weight - 1.4 lbs
- Flow Rate - up to 2300 GPH
- Power Consumption - 8w - 35w
- Cable Length - 10 ft (controller to pump) 5 ft (power supply to controller)
- Min Aquarium Volume - 20 Gallons
- Max Aquarium Volume - 100+ Gallons*
Power Supply Specifications:
- Model - GM85-360200-F
- Input Voltage - 100/240vAC 50/60Hz
- Output Voltage - 24vDC 3A
- Weight - 0.7 lbs
What's Included
1x XF230 Gyre pump
1x Magnetic mount
1x Advanced Controller
1x Controller mount
1x Power supply
1x Set of spare rotors
1x Set of directional cages
1x Set of snail screens
1x End Cap
Maxspect Controller/Pump Compatibility Chart
| Name | XF-230 Controller | XF-250 Controller | XF-280 Controller |
| XF-130 Gyre Pump | Yes | No | No |
| XF-230 Gyre Pump | Yes | No | No |
| XF-150 Gyre Pump | No | Yes | No |
| XF-250 Gyre Pump | No | Yes | No |
| XF-180 Gyre Pump | No | No | Yes |
| XF-280 Gyre Pump | No | No | Yes |
*Maximum aquarium volume may require multiple Gyre pumps to create desired flow rate. In most cases, it is best to install multiple smaller powerheads over a single larger to create flow in various directions and patterns.
Related Products
Ask a question
Product Questions
Everybody's favourite question: Is it Apex Compatible??
Question by: Mike Nicosia on Dec 2, 2016 9:11:00 AM
Great question! Unfortunately, at this time this is not compatible with the Neptune Apex, however it is possible they will allow for connection in the future. :-)
Answer by: Randy (Admin) on Dec 2, 2016 9:19:00 AM
Hi BRS,
I'm having trouble getting the best balance of flow in my 60 gallon (2'x2'x2') cube. Would this pump be too much horsepower for my size of tank?
I'm having trouble getting the best balance of flow in my 60 gallon (2'x2'x2') cube. Would this pump be too much horsepower for my size of tank?
Question by: Tanner on Jun 6, 2017 6:57:00 AM
I would actually say this pump would likely be a good fit for your tank. Your rockwork may affect the type of flow patterns you get, but generally with the controllability of this pump, you should be able to get good movement.
Happy reefing!
Happy reefing!
Answer by: Zack (Admin) on Jun 13, 2017 3:33:00 PM
How long is the cord from the controller and from the controller to the plug?
Question by: Brian Vinson on Jun 19, 2017 8:58:00 AM
Hey There,
Thanks for reaching out to us. The pump cord to the controller measures 10ft. and 5ft. from the controller to the wall.
Thanks for reaching out to us. The pump cord to the controller measures 10ft. and 5ft. from the controller to the wall.
Answer by: Jason Smith (Admin) on Jun 21, 2017 5:45:00 PM
Does the cord go in the water? A big thick ugly cord inside the tank would not be very attractive.
Question by: Robert Rainey on Jan 15, 2017 1:39:00 PM
Great question! Yes, there is a cord that connects the pump to the controller. It is going to be submerged and directly connected to the pump head. :-)
Answer by: Randy (Admin) on Jan 16, 2017 12:08:00 PM
Would this work on a FOWLR 210 Gallon Tank 72x24x30? Thinking of getting 2?
Question by: Frank Adamo on Dec 7, 2016 10:33:00 AM
Hey there! I would recommend doubling up on these pumps for your size of tank. That will help eliminate dead spots throughout the tank and give you varying laminar flows. :-)
Answer by: Randy (Admin) on Dec 20, 2016 4:36:00 PM
What back-up battery can I use for this product? Can I control it wirelessly?
Question by: Timothy on Jan 9, 2017 11:59:00 AM
Great question! The IceCap Battery Backup will work with these pumps, however there is no wireless connectivity. :-)
Answer by: Randy (Admin) on Jan 10, 2017 11:47:00 AM
Full Details
In most cases when choosing a powerhead, you will look into a bulky and intrusive propeller style powerhead that leaves dead spots in corners and makes you limited in coral placement due to the sheer force of the flow they need to produce. The Gyre pumps use crossflow technology to help evenly distribute the current throughout the tank without creating a single concentrated point of flow. Since the sheet of water that it produces makes a "gyre" flow pattern that is very efficient and gentle giving you more coral placement and aquascaping options. The design of the Gyre body and silent suspension mounting system keeps the entire package very low profile and super quiet.
The new Advanced Gyre Controller now lets you couple up to two Gyre pumps together off a single power supply. The two connected pumps can run in sync, anti-sync, or a couple of other modes giving you more control over the output. It now also lets you set a full 24-hour flow cycle without the need to connect to a third party controller.
If you choose not to set your own custom flow cycle, Maxspect also expertly programmed a couple of 24-hour cycles, like Lunar Tidal Cycle (LTC) or the Oceanic Gyre Cycle (OGC). On top of all of that Maxspect added new flow patterns too, like Random and Gradual Pulsing mode in addition to the traditional Constant, Pulse, and Alternating Gyre modes.
Gyre XF230 Specifications:
- Dimension - 10" L x 2.95" W x 1.57" H
- Weight - 1.4 lbs
- Flow Rate - up to 2300 GPH
- Power Consumption - 8w - 35w
- Cable Length - 10 ft (controller to pump) 5 ft (power supply to controller)
- Min Aquarium Volume - 20 Gallons
- Max Aquarium Volume - 100+ Gallons*
Power Supply Specifications:
- Model - GM85-360200-F
- Input Voltage - 100/240vAC 50/60Hz
- Output Voltage - 24vDC 3A
- Weight - 0.7 lbs
What's Included
1x XF230 Gyre pump
1x Magnetic mount
1x Advanced Controller
1x Controller mount
1x Power supply
1x Set of spare rotors
1x Set of directional cages
1x Set of snail screens
1x End Cap
Maxspect Controller/Pump Compatibility Chart
| Name | XF-230 Controller | XF-250 Controller | XF-280 Controller |
| XF-130 Gyre Pump | Yes | No | No |
| XF-230 Gyre Pump | Yes | No | No |
| XF-150 Gyre Pump | No | Yes | No |
| XF-250 Gyre Pump | No | Yes | No |
| XF-180 Gyre Pump | No | No | Yes |
| XF-280 Gyre Pump | No | No | Yes |
*Maximum aquarium volume may require multiple Gyre pumps to create desired flow rate. In most cases, it is best to install multiple smaller powerheads over a single larger to create flow in various directions and patterns.
Videos
-
FAQ #19: How much water flow do I need in my reef aquarium? | 52 FAQ
Today on BRStv, we have another episode of BRS 52 ...
More -
FAQ #32: Where should I direct my pumps flow - the tank's rock work, or the surface of the water?
Today on BRStv, we have another episode of BRS 52 ...
More -
BRStv Investigates: Can any pump create a Gyre in a reef tank, or is Maxspect still king?
Reviews
-
Buyer beware! By Kadee on 8/3/2017
Kadee wouldn't recommend this product to a friendBought the XF230 on 6/21/17 and installed on 7/27/17. Unit is still very noisy after running for 8 days. Do not have OGC capability and have been informed by CoralVue that I must update my firmware. To do this, I must purchase a 32g micro sd and an adapter to be able to download the update onto the sd from the CoralVue site and then update the firmware of the XF230. I am pretty po'd about this as this is not only added expense for an already expensive pump but the pump IS NOISY. Do not trust this pump to run quietly in an area where you would want quiet. This pump is the loudest piece of equipment in my system. I have read that over time the pump will quiet. If it does, I will update this review. I am giving it three stars right now because I am hoping it will improve after update and over time. -
Amazing flow, pretty silent By MD on 7/20/2017
MD would recommend this product to a friendWow, the flow with this thing is amazing. I've had it running on lunar and OGC presets going up to 60% and can barely hear it, anything above 60% is too much for my reefer 350. I think a larger sized pump may make sense for those who want more flow so you don't have to go above 50-60%. It does get louder above 50-60%, although after about 2 weeks of use I can't hear it on 60% anymore, perhaps that's the breakin period or I was lucky. Still debating whether I'd need another on the opposite side...definitely wouldn't think of running them both simultaneously. -
Great for what it does! By Sean on 7/19/2017
Sean would recommend this product to a friendIt moves a lot of water. It took me a few days of messing with settings and position to get the perfect balance. Watched a ton of videos and so far its the best water mover I have ever owned. It was loud to start with and then after about two months became fairly quiet. Still hear it when it goes above 60% but its so little. Cannot wait to get the add-on for the other side! -
LOTS OF FLOW!! By Billy on 7/18/2017
Billy would recommend this product to a friendI finally got around to replacing a cheap powerhead that I've had on my new 90 gallon tank with one these XF230's. I was worried about the other reviews that talking about it being noisy. Here's the thing...yes, it's about noisy but I love this thing. From the moment i turned this thing on it started stirring up detritus from behind my rocks, underneath my rocks, hell i think even some crap inside my rocks came out. but guess what, no sand was kicked up. This pump just produces such a wide flow that it won't stir up the sand. I even have mine topping out at 100% on random. I have been so please with this single pump, that I have a second one on the way so that I can utilize the dual pump features.
If you're contemplating getting one of these, get it! Sure, it isn't as quiet as some other pumps, but those other pumps don't make this much water motion either! -
great product By cbsaint01 on 6/27/2017
cbsaint01 would recommend this product to a friendafter reading a lot of reviews. I was concerned about if I should get this product. Last weekend I was in Orlando Florida. I stopped at livingreef aquarium store. they had 99 percent of their tanks running one or two maxspect, and they were dead quiet some were running at 100 percent speed. He told me he replaced all the ecotechs with these pumps. He even showed me the old version still running with no issues. So I don't understand how so many people are having so many problems with their new pump. Is their something you new owners are not doing?. Because I want to get one also. -
Love it By Dave on 5/6/2017
Dave would recommend this product to a friendPut it in my 55 to replace 3 Aqueon pumps and wow! Currently have it set to random 10-20% because otherwise it starts shifting sand. Fish are playing in the current, anemones are happier, and I'm happier. Was so impressed that I ordered an additional pump an hour after installing this one.(and I'm currently upgrading to a 280 and will need it) There is some noise I noticed while playing with it at higher settings, though not nearly as loud as others make it out to be. A lot quieter than the ocean we're trying to replicate... Just sayin -
I can live with the noise! By Dave on 4/5/2017
Dave would recommend this product to a friendI have two of these on a 75 gallon reef tank. No dead spots anywhere in the tank. I use the pre-programmed OGC cycle and it's amazing. Only issue is noise above 40%. Very loud for an internal pump. Maybe it will get quieter as it breaks in but in any case the even spread of the flow is worth a little noise to me! You won't get better flow from an ecotech. -
Loud pump, pushes a lot of water! By Jason on 4/4/2017
Jason would recommend this product to a friendPulled the MP40wQD off my Red Sea Reefer 250 and replaced it with the gyre 230. Gyre works better in my tank, but it is loud. Opened a ticket with coralvue and they said "it needs to break in and give it time for bacteria to form on the pump". It's been well over a month now and still the loudest part of my system. Lookup Pelphrey on YouTube, did a full video comparing the gyre 230 to the mp40wqd. -
Very powerful By Mike C. on 3/30/2017
Mike C. would recommend this product to a friendVery happy with this product so far, Circulation is great!! It has replaced 4 power heads that I had in my 65G. I will be purchasing another to utilize the A & B pump feature to get more out of the systems custom programming. I have had no noise issues with the pump itself, just with the amount of surface water noise because of the power of the pump. I have dialed it in and made some adjustments and now its good. -
Moves water but loud By Zack on 2/8/2017
Zack wouldn't recommend this product to a friendMoves a lot of water but definitely the loudest thing in my tank. Spend the extra and get the mp40. -
Realy moves some water! By GEORGE on 1/20/2017
GEORGE would recommend this product to a friendI replaced two powerheads that were blowing sand away no matter where they were aimed with this. I'm amazed at the water this moves in my 75g display without disturbing anything on the bottom, at only 50 percent power in pulse mode. I don't know if I got a good one but, my pump can hardly be heard up close with no break in. So far really happy with it. It spreads out the water movement without concentrating it one spot. -
Powerful By Gyre on 12/19/2016
Gyre would recommend this product to a friendVery powerful. Haven't had it on for a long time but like it so far. Let's see how long it lasts. So far, so good.
