And today we're gonna be taking a look at Icecaps,
Gyre Pumps.
If you're looking for one of the best bang
for your buck options in a Gyre Pump
and want all of the benefits of Gyre technology
along with Wi-Fi controllability, apex, hydros
and other Aquarian controller compatibility
through zero to 10 volt single-sided operation
for nano tanks or tight spaces, spare rotors,
mesh flow guards and the ability to add a second Gyre Pump
to the same controller to really stack on those savings,
then I think the Gyre Pumps from Icecap
are gonna be a great option.
Gyre Pumps have become a popular option for reefers
that wanna move large amounts of water
from one end of the tank to the other end back
to help prevent detritus buildup on the substrate
while also creating lots of indirect
and random flow patterns in and around their corals.
Gyre Pumps are also DC controllable, quiet
and uniquely able to direct flow in two places
at the same time and can be placed closer to the surface
of the water without creating vortexes and blowing bubbles.
And as a result have less cord in the tank a slimmer profile
and can be easier on the eyes.
Icecaps, 2K and 4k pumps
bring that unique Gyre flow technology
at a fantastic price point, including Wi-Fi app control
and zero to 10 volt control redundancy
with optional battery backup along with extras
like a set of black rotors, bushings, mesh flow guards
and an end cap for single-sided operation.
Plus, if you wanna stack on those savings
you can get a second bare pump
and add it to the existing controller with your first pump.
Doesn't even matter if they're the same model,
you can mix 2K and 4k and they play nice.
In the box, you'll find the Icecap Gyre Pump
with the magnetic mount, the Wi-Fi controller
for up to two pumps, a Parts Pack that includes
a black propeller set, an end cap for single-sided operation
mesh flow guards and some spare parts and the Power Supply.
The Icecap Gyre Pumps are available in two models.
The 2K and the 4k pushing 2000 and 4,000 gallons per hour,
respectively.
The 2K comes in at under nine inches long
and three inches wide with a 1.5 inch height
and a flow rate of 739 to 2000 gallons per hour
rated for aquariums as small as 20 gallons up to
and over a 100 gallons with a magnetic mount
that will attach to panels up to half an inch thick.
The 4k is larger at 12 inches by three inches
by 1.7 inches high, with a flow rate between 1286
to 1400 gallons per hour
and as suitable for aquariums as small as 25 gallons
to well over 150 gallons and can attach to a aquarium panels
up to 5/8 of an inch thick.
The Icecap Gyres are of course licensed
and have a similar form factor to the newest generation
of Gyre Pumps, including a centralized magnetic mount
and free floating rotor covers for a sleeker
and less bulky profile inside of the tank.
And while most reefers are probably gonna take advantage
of the Gyre ability to be placed very close
to the surface of the water,
you do have a number of mounting options
including vertical placement and placement in the corners
of the tank or near the bottom of the aquarium.
You can also opt for the single-sided operation,
if you need to sneak the Gyre into a particularly tight spot
or for use in smaller nano reef aquariums.
The Icecap Gyres come
with their new dual pump Wi-Fi controller.
The first thing you're gonna notice
is that there aren't any onboard controls
and you will need to connect it to your iOS
or Android device in order to set it up.
When you take a look at the face of the controller,
you'll see four LEDs, one for the status,
one for the mode and one for each of the pumps
that's currently connected to the controller.
So you can see what's going on at a glance.
Like I mentioned, the controllers also capable
of running two pumps using a single power supply.
So if you wanted to run a pair of Gyres,
you can get a second stand-alone pump
and hook it up to the controller and power supply included
with your first pump, which adds even more affordability.
You can also mix and match 2K and 4K models
on the same controller and power supply,
which is great for those who want that added flexibility
and to save some space on their controller board
and PowerBar.
The controllers are also backwards compatible,
so if you already have a 1K or 3K Gyre Pumps from Icecap
and you wanted to upgrade you can just attach them
to the existing controller and power supply
with no issues at all.
Then your older generation pump is gonna function
just like your newer generation pump.
The hydros app that the new control runs on
is quite thorough and gives you a wide range of adjustments.
It provides four different flow modes
including constant random sine wave and square wave
as well as feeding water change and night modes.
You can also specify the minimum and maximum flow range
of the pump for both regular flow
and reverse flow independently.
You can also specify if the pumps are on the same side
of the aquarium or opposing sides
which we'll have them work in sync or anti-sync.
The app also allows you to toggle the ability for the pump
to run in reverse on or off and even gives you the ability
to run the pump only in reverse,
if that's something you're interested in doing.
You can also build your own schedule
using any of the four preset flow modes,
adjust the minimum, maximum and the duration of that mode,
and then when that mode will trigger and for how long.
You can also mix and match presets throughout the day
to create some interesting and complex flow patterns.
The hydros app that these pumps run on,
it gives you a ton of flexibility
and you can do some really cool
and interesting things with it from a flow perspective.
If you take the time to get to know the app,
I will be honest, it is not the most intuitive app
that I've ever used but it is one of the most,
if not the most, thorough app that I've ever used
for a flow pump, there is so many cool things
you can do with it.
You got all the options, (indistinct).
The Icecap Gyre controller
also offers a zero to 10 volt port for compatibility
with external controllers like apex, prophylax or hydros.
So if you prefer to access and control your pumps
through your existing aquarium controller
you've got the option.
And like I touched on earlier,
they're also battery backup ready is really nice.
And they can be paired up with the Icecap battery backup
to automatically give your reef tank up to 35 hours
of critical circulation and oxygenation in the event
your tank experience as a power failure
whether it's just a tripped GFCI or a city-wide outage.
When it comes to maintenance, the Icecaps come apart easily
for cleaning and offer color-coded parts.
So you always know which parts belong
on which side of the pump when you're reassembling.
Gyre Pumps are a bit more involved
than standard propeller style pumps
when it comes to maintenance,
they essentially have two impellers
and some extra components but if you clean the monthly
using a gentle acid battery remove any built-up coraline
or precipitate, you'll cut down on how often
they need to be fully disassembled.
Now, if you're already full up on high-tech pumps
in your reef tank but you would like
to be able to get the pumps you already have
closer to the surface of the water,
you can check out this video right here
on the urchin flow guards from Neat Aquatics.
They are awesome, not only can you get them
really close to the surface of the water,
they reduce the velocity of the water entering the pump
without impeding the flow.
So it's safer for your anemones and your snails.
And also they come in a wide angle model.
So you can get them even closer
to your corals if you need to, so check it out.
I'm a big fan of Neat Aquatics.
I'm kind of just blown away by what they produce.
It is so well thought out.
(upbeat music)