Orbit 2 — Gyre 25W Bluetooth Reef Cross-Flow Pump - AquaIllumination

The AI Orbit 2 doesn't do the same job as an ordinary powerhead. Instead of firing a jet in one direction, it makes the whole water mass rotate around the tank. AquaIllumination describes this cross-flow current as simulating the tidal flow experienced on ocean reefs, and an excellent mechanism for lifting excess nutrients from the bottom of the aquarium for removal by filtration.

25W max, for tanks from 20 to 88+ gallons.

Cross-Flow vs Directional Flow

A Nero pushes water in a straight line: powerful, precise, you aim it where you want. An Orbit does something else — it sets the water mass spinning. The result is a current that circles the tank instead of hitting the back wall and bouncing back.

That's useful for two reasons. First, circular flow reaches the dead spots a direct jet misses — corners, behind the rockwork. Second, it keeps detritus in suspension instead of letting it settle into the sand, which sends it to your filtration rather than leaving it to break down in the tank.

The 4 Modes

• Constant Speed: a constant stream of flow at the intensity of your choosing
• Pulse: uniform high and low levels
• Random: simulates a high-energy reef environment
• Reverse: reverse the flow

Reverse Mode — What Most People Miss

AquaIllumination devotes a whole section to it, and it's probably the Orbit's most underused function. According to the manufacturer, reverse operation does three things:

• Augments your custom flow patterns and programs
• Creates turbulent flow, which helps remove detritus
• Lets multiple pumps run in opposite directions to augment gyre or circular flow

That last point is the game-changer on a big tank: two Orbits spinning against each other create a rotation nothing else reproduces.

Ecosystem of Flow — Orbit + Nero

AquaIllumination is explicit about this: it's not one type of flow that makes a reef thrive. The manufacturer writes that combining the Orbit with the directional and random flow patterns of the Nero line achieves a true recreation of ocean flow — powerful, directional, systematic, and chaotic.

In practice: the Orbit spins the water mass, the Nero hits the specific spots where your SPS want more. Both program in the same app.

Control

• Mobius: free iOS and Android app
• myAI: also compatible
• Neptune Apex: through Apex Fusion with the MXM module

The driver is integrated into the pump — no separate box to find room for under the tank.

Technical Specifications

• Maximum glass thickness: 0.59in. (15mm)
• Recommended tank size: 20 to 88+ gallons
• Power consumption: variable, 25W max
• Input: 100–240VAC, 50-60Hz, 2A
• Width: 8.78in. (223mm)
• Height: 2.83in. (71.9mm)
• Depth: 1.5in. (38.1mm)

Check your glass thickness. The 15mm max is a limit of the magnet mount, not a suggestion — past that, it won't hold. If your tank has thicker glass, the Orbit 4 is what you need: it goes to 20mm.

AquaIllumination doesn't publish a GPH flow rate for the Orbit pumps. We're not going to invent one: send us your tank dimensions and we'll tell you straight whether one Orbit 2 covers it.

What's in the Box

• 1 x AI Orbit 2 Pump with Integrated Driver
• 1 x Mounting Magnet
• 1 x Power Adapter with Universal Plug Adapter Set
• 1 x Quick Start Guide

Why Choose ReefSolution

Authorized AquaIllumination dealer in Canada with technical support in French. Flow is the most misunderstood question in reefkeeping — describe your tank and what you keep in it, and we'll tell you what pump combination makes sense. Shipping across Canada.

Complementary products:

• AI Orbit 4 — the big sister: 45W, glass up to 20mm, tanks from 50 to 120+ gallons
• AI Nero 5 — the directional pump to pair it with: this is exactly the combination AquaIllumination recommends
• AI Nero 7 — the most powerful directional, for big tanks
• AI Nero 3 — the compact directional, same Mobius app

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between an Orbit and a Nero?

The type of flow. The Nero is directional: it pushes water in a straight line, wherever you aim it. The Orbit is cross-flow: it spins the water mass around the tank. AquaIllumination recommends combining both — the manufacturer writes that pairing the Orbit's cross-flow with the directional and random patterns of the Nero line achieves a true recreation of ocean flow.

Is the Orbit 2 right for my aquarium?

AquaIllumination recommends the Orbit 2 for tanks from 20 to 88+ gallons, with glass up to 0.59in. (15mm). Beyond that, move to the Orbit 4 (50 to 120+ gallons, glass up to 20mm). Check your glass thickness before ordering: that's the magnet mount's limit.

What is the Orbit's Reverse mode for?

According to AquaIllumination, three things: augmenting your custom flow patterns, creating turbulent flow that helps remove detritus, and running multiple pumps in opposite directions to augment the gyre. It's the line's most underused function.

What GPH does the Orbit 2 put out?

AquaIllumination doesn't publish a flow rate for its Orbit pumps, unlike the Nero line. If you see a number circulating elsewhere, it didn't come from the manufacturer. What AI does publish is the recommendation by tank size: 20 to 88+ gallons for the Orbit 2.