IceCap 3K Gyre Pump: Assembly, Installation & Operation

Most propeller pumps out on the market are based on Propeller nozzle style flow technology, which produces flow from a single point.   This is great for speedboats and water skiing but not for the delicate creatures in our tanks.

Single point water flow pumps create a hot zone… an area of fast and abrasive flow that will damage anything in its path rendering the valued tank space unusable as any corals in the immediate vicinity of the pump will get stripped of all flesh and die.

Crossflow Pumps on the other hand spread the energy over a large horizontal area. This allows the pump to push massive amounts of water but still be gentle to our corals even when placed near the pump.

The IceCap 3K is a great pump that uses the latest in crossflow technology at a reasonable price. It is durable and features a very efficient motor consuming a mere 8-40 watts (depending on the intensity of the flow) with a maximum flow of 3000 gallons per hour. A single 3K pump is suitable for tanks up to 100 gallons and multiple 3K pumps can easily handle larger systems.

 We can mount the 3K pump horizontally near the water surface. So water is pushed across the surface and returns in the familiar Gyre flow pattern.

Or, we can choose to set the pump vertically on the rear glass and push water across the back or side of the aquarium.

On very long or wide aquariums the Gyre can be placed vertically on the back wall and cycle to the front of the aquarium and back.

Once we have selected the optimal spot for the 3K, it is time to install the pump. First, ensure that the glass thickness is no more than ½ inch.  Then, using a simple razor, we must clean the selected area to remove any algae from the surface.

Separate the pump from its magnet bracket and install it in your desired location. These magnets are very strong so PLEASE be careful not to pinch your fingers or have the magnet slip out of your hands as it may damage the glass or acrylic.  

Affix the rear-mounting frame to a flat surface such as the wall or outside your aquarium stand. Please, be sure that the cable reaches the pump and the cable connections have proper drip loops to prevent any components from getting wet.

Connect the cable from the controller to the 3K pump and then, connect the cable from the power supply to the controller. Finally, connect the pump to the power outlet and run the pump for the first time.

The power/setup button, allows you to turn the controller and pumps ON and OFF, engage FEED mode as well as set the controller’s internal clock.

The Switch Mode button allows you to switch between each of the available options while, the control dial lets you toggle between the different flow speed and pulse frequency.

The controller features 5 different flow modes:

• Constant Speed Mode
• Pulsing Mode
• Gradual Pulsing Mode
• Random Mode
• And Alternating Gyre Mode

We suggest you start with Constant Speed Mode to configure your pumps flow pattern, water flow speed, positioning and direction of the flow cages.

The second available flow mode is Pulsing. Here you can set the pump to automatically switch on and off at different preset times to recreate a surging effect.  

Gradual pulsing mode is similar to pulse mode as the pump will turn ON and OFF at a set frequency. The difference is that each time the pump turns ON and OFF, it will increase the speed until it reaches the maximum speed we specified. Then, it will gradually slow down and start the cycle again.

In Random Mode you set the max speed and the controller will randomly select and run different modes to create an unpredictable flow pattern within your aquarium.

The fifth and last water flow mode is the Alternating Gyre. Running in reverse is one of this pump’s most unique features. In this mode and in stock configuration, the pump is capable of pushing water forward and then when running in reverse, create a turbulent flow.

To setup manual mode, press and hold the power button for 4 seconds to turn the controller ON. Now press and hold the Switch Mode Button for 4 seconds until the controller displays an M letter. If the controller displays an A letter instead, then press and hold the Switch Mode button again until the letter A switches to M.

Now press and release the Switch Mode button once again to enter the setup screen. The screen will flash a gear icon indicating that the controller is in setup mode.

The controller will now let you set up the pump. Rotate the dial clockwise to select the desired flow mode. Once the controller flashes the desired flow icon, press the center dial once to save and continue to the next available option.

To select automatic mode, press and hold the Switch Mode button for 4 seconds until you see an A icon on the right side of the display screen.

Now, press and release both power and switch mode buttons at the same time. This will allow you to set the controllers internal clock. Rotate the dial to the correct hour and press the dial in to set up minutes. When done, press and release the switch mode button to save.

Press and release the switch mode button once again to enter setup mode. The display will now flash a gear icon.

As you enter setup mode, you will see the left side of the display flash a number 1. Next to the number one you will also see a time stamp set to zero.   The number 1 indicates a set point in the scheduling. The controller can have up to 24 different set points. The time stamp indicates the STARTING point of such set point.

You will need to set the first number to 1 with a time stamp of 08:00. Then, proceed to set the pump up the same way we set them up in manual mode. After setting up all the variables for point one and you have pressed the center dial to return to the flashing number 1.

Carefully turn the dial clockwise until the number one changes to number 2.

Set up point 2 to 14:00 and following the same sequence as before, create point 3 with a starting time of 22:00.

Once you have created all the desired set points, go ahead and press the Switch Mode button once to return to the main screen. The left side of the display will confirm the new program and the gear icon will fade away.