Want to know how the products on sale really perform? We put them through their paces so you can sort the good from the bad...
Maxspect Jump Gyre MJGF4K
Tester: Gabor Horvath
Test duration: 4 weeks
RRP: £199.99
More info: https://maxspect.co.uk
Where does the Gyre differ from other pumps on the market? ‘Regular’ wave pumps consist of a propeller driven by an electric motor, enclosed in a circular housing. These hairdryer look-alikes suck water in through grills on their sides and blow a concentrated jet of water out at the front.
The flow pattern of such pumps is similar to the light pattern of a torch: strong in the middle but fading as you approach the edges, or further from the source. It means that in your tank you may have areas with very strong currents and dead-spots with no water flow at all. Using more units could help, but cross-flow circulation pumps would give you a more even flow.
The Maxspect MJ-GF pumps provide uniform flow across the entire tank. The flat currents bounce-back from the opposite end of the tank, creating a gyre-flow above the substrate and sweeping back to the pump, closing a full circle and ensuring that the currents will get to every part of your reef.
There is an ongoing debate whether a steady flow or alternating currents with periods of turbulent flow is better for the corals, but the MJ-GF pumps will allow you to adopt whichever method you prefer.
They are available in two sizes.
The smaller MJGF2K churns out a maximum of 7500lph flow using 25W power, while the larger MJGF4K is rated at 15000lph, consuming 45W in the process.
The pumps come with orange rotors fitted, but the box also contains a spare black set in case orange is too wild for you. As opposed to their bigger brother Maxspect Gyre 300 pumps, the MJ-GFs are only supplied in a single pump pack with a controller, which offers no WiFi connectivity.
Nevertheless it’s still capable of running 24 hour programmable cycles over multiple flow patterns, including Pulsing Mode, Gradual Pulsing Mode, Random Mode and Alternating Gyre Mode.
The flow is regulated electronically using a Sine Wave Technology, which increases and decreases the power gradually instead of just switching on and off the pump.
It makes the operation much smoother and, all the more importantly, much quieter.
I have tested the MJGF4K model and it followed the programmed instructions silently. Attaching the pumps to the tank was easy, as they come with a powerful magnetic mount (watch your fingers), which can firmly hold the pump through glass or acrylic up to 20mm thick.
Verdict
Overall the MJ-GF pumps bring gyre-flow technology closer to the aquarist by offering it at a more affordable price than the 300 Series. In the process it sacrifices some of the features, but still keeps the advantages of the cross-flow and the silent Sine Wave Technology. The Maxspect MJGF4K is a great choice for those wanting to upgrade their existing pumps without breaking the bank.
