Echotech Return Pump Yay or Nay?

[RobbyG]

Mine is submerged but I wouldn't worry about it being external. Ecotech has a great service department so if there is an issue I'm sure they would take care of you. I'd get the L2 and not look back.

It won't flow as much as a dart. You'll want to minimize any flow restrictions you can. What exactly are you using it on? The return for the 90gal? A dart is a lot of pump for that!

Yeah I have to cut about 30% of the Darts flow, it is not working nearly as fast because the electricity here is 115V 50HZ. The 50HZ really slows down the pump by 20% so I figure the Ecotech L2 would work fine since a DC pump should not be effected by the line voltage frequency.

It's kind of interesting that no one runs an Ecotech dry! I have not seen one person say they are running one dry, that makes me very worried that it is probably not a good idea to run one dry.


73s
Rob

 

[RobbyG]

Just get an Iwaki pump. It was designed to be used as a chemical pump.

Saltwater is nothing for that pump. it will last 10-20 years.

I am trying to keep the power consumption of the whole system very low. If power was not an issue I would most certainly be using an Iwaki.

 

[luisagos]

I am trying to keep the power consumption of the whole system very low. If power was not an issue I would most certainly be using an Iwaki.

The problem is a pump that is low power have a very tight tolerance.
That tolerance makes the pump not last as long.

Two things you could do with the Iwaki pump.

1) Oversize it just a notch and put a valve on the output. Using a watt meter, close the valve till you get the lowest watts. What you are doing its matching the pump curve with your system pipes. When you do that, the pump uses less power.

2) Buy a 3 phase Iwaki pump and use a VFD. That what I have done with my skimmer and I am running very low watts compare to a normal skimmer pump.

If you want more information just tell me, and I post what I have done.
This setup will beat any DC pump out there even with the dragon pumps.
0-100% Speed with high-pressure output, the dragon pumps cannot even touch the pressure. It is also cheaper than those pumps.

 

[brody83]

I have a Varios pump. It works great and has no noise.

 

[tkeracer619]

It's kind of interesting that no one runs an Ecotech dry! I have not seen one person say they are running one dry, that makes me very worried that it is probably not a good idea to run one dry.


73s
Rob

I needed the heat or I would have gone external

 

[biecacka]

Alton said his is external.


Corey

 

[RobbyG]

The problem is a pump that is low power have a very tight tolerance.
That tolerance makes the pump not last as long.

Two things you could do with the Iwaki pump.

1) Oversize it just a notch and put a valve on the output. Using a watt meter, close the valve till you get the lowest watts. What you are doing its matching the pump curve with your system pipes. When you do that, the pump uses less power.

2) Buy a 3 phase Iwaki pump and use a VFD. That what I have done with my skimmer and I am running very low watts compare to a normal skimmer pump.

If you want more information just tell me, and I post what I have done.
This setup will beat any DC pump out there even with the dragon pumps.
0-100% Speed with high-pressure output, the dragon pumps cannot even touch the pressure. It is also cheaper than those pumps.

Thanks, I will get in touch if I decide to go in that direction. For right now I am still weighing all the options. One thing that really turned me off from the Ecotech was the statement that they should be cleaned every six months. I probably clean my Reeflow Dart about once every two years! The last thing I need is more maintenance.

 

[RobbyG]

Alton said his is external.


Corey

Okay thanks Corey

Rob

 

[RobbyG]

I run a M2 on my 180 at about 70% and it is mounted externally. Runs very cool.

Thanks Alton. How often do you clean them? Cleaning the pump for me is not an easy task due to the way things are setup.

Rob

 

[alton]

I have never cleaned this pump

 

[alton]

This is a replacement for the first one I purchased which started a whine just under one year. This replacement pump has worked flawlessly for two years. I installed two ball valve unions from BRS so replacement was easy.

 

[RobbyG]

This is a replacement for the first one I purchased which started a whine just under one year. This replacement pump has worked flawlessly for two years. I installed two ball valve unions from BRS so replacement was easy.

Thanks, this is very positive new to hear. I really want the pump but I have to be 100% sure its going to be low maintenance and last long.

Rob

 

[RobbyG]

Its kind of interesting that a Reeflo Dart puts out 3700 GPH and uses about 160 Watts both in Specs and measured on my system. While a Vectra L2 puts out 3100 GPH and uses 150W according to the info on Bulkreef.

I am confused, I thought that the Vectra's used very little power? Anybody measure the power consumption of their Vectra?

Rob

 

[Antics]

I had a launch L1 and ran it internally for 3 years. Eventually is overheated or seized and the impellar was fused inside the pump. Ecotech warrantied it even at 3 years. I have always used their products and I think their customer service is always fantastic. I would definitely buy/use vectra again.

 

[RobbyG]

I had a launch L1 and ran it internally for 3 years. Eventually is overheated or seized and the impellar was fused inside the pump. Ecotech warrantied it even at 3 years. I have always used their products and I think their customer service is always fantastic. I would definitely buy/use vectra again.

Sounds about right. I have scoured the Net for reports and from what I have found it seems like most people get about 18 Months on average before either the Pump or the power supply dies. Almost all the people are running it submerged.

Great Support from Ecotech is not going to help me if my pump dies at 1am on Saturday morning. I would need a second pump and these pumps are not cheap. Don't get me wrong, I commend their great customer support but when it comes to the Literal Heart of the Tank dying I am not willing to take the chance on a Pump that has so many people reporting that they are on their second or third pump in 2 years. The Red Dragon sounds great but the price is too steep for me since I would need something bigger than there 50W version. The Abyzz is even nicer but is priced for millionaires.


Rob

 

[Antics]

Yeah I feel you but it seems to.only be the early L1 with the issues no? Ecotech made some revisions in the L1 before it became the L2, seems to have really improved the reliability.

 

[RobbyG]

Yeah I feel you but it seems to.only be the early L1 with the issues no? Ecotech made some revisions in the L1 before it became the L2, seems to have really improved the reliability.

Yeah I have been looking at that. On one hand in an interview video they said the only thing that has been changed are the fittings. When I called and talked to a CSR he said that many other little changes have been made. When I asked for examples he said he could not give me any because he did not know off hand.

At this point who knows! We wont know anything until at least two years have passed with the second Gen. I am now looking at another Reeflo Dart and am once again reminded why I wanted to move away from them. No Sales or Support number on their website. When I did find one on the web I got an answering machine. Reeflo makes great pumps but the support is not great. I will probably still buy the Dart pump but I really wish the Ecotech had a better track record with the Vectra.


Rob

 

[Antics]

I definitely see where you are coming from. Even as a huge Ecotech fan I'm still partial to the red dragon pumps.