EcoTech Marine VorTech MP40 Release Information

[King-Kong]

My 2 additional vortechs came in (and my BB!).

The changes are very nice, especially compared to my older model. The new models are more forgiving on alignment and dont come close to spinning away or making any noise.

That said, I had to move my old model and decided to clean it. Now it wont stop spinning and rattling, so it's time to contact support. One thing I noticed is that my "old" model feels weaker compared to the "new" ones. That is to say, when I put the two halves together (glass inbetween) on the new models, they are strong and difficult to move. Thats not the case with my old model. It feels very weak.

Also, im running all 3 at 100%! (9000gph in a 90g!). Having all 3 a long the back glass, however; it LOOKS incredible because i have nothing hanging, no wires, no nothing. Just black on black and TONS of flow. Really makes my tank feel larger and more open.

 

[phishlet]

Interesting... you have all three mounted on the back wall of the tank facing forward?

 

[King-Kong]

yup -- it is wasteful, I know (the deflection is costing me power), but so far (only been at it a couple of hours) I havent been able to find another configuration that will get the current onto the bottom of my tank (running BB) and not destroy my SPS corals.

 

[phishlet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8954320#post8954320 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by King-Kong
I havent been able to find another configuration that will get the current onto the bottom of my tank (running BB) and not destroy my SPS corals.

Well... 3 Vortechs at full speed in a 90 gallon... I can see why.

 

[jnarowe]

:lol: that's too funny. But what is NOT funny is that the newer ones are stronger than the older ones...I should have just delayed my entire project until '07!

 

[phishlet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8954353#post8954353 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
:lol: that's too funny. But what is NOT funny is that the newer ones are stronger than the older ones...I should have just delayed my entire project until '07!

Nah... you can just say you were a first generation user. There's some clout with that.

I'm a first generation too.

 

[IceCap Service]

Just a little tip that can possibly explain why the new ones actually feel stronger. The first generation pumps had a thin clear nylon washer behind the magnet on the wet side. A thick black washer was supplied for glass 3/4 inch thick. There was a lot of confusion from users on when to use it and when not to. So now all pumps are manufactured with the thicker washer behind the wet side magnet. All it does is provide extra clamping force and makes it feel stronger. This will apply to all glass thickness less than 3/4 inch. For 3/4 inch glass you will see no difference.

 

[ReefWaters]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8954435#post8954435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IceCap Service
Just a little tip that can possibly explain why the new ones actually feel stronger. The first generation pumps had a thin clear nylon washer behind the magnet on the wet side. A thick black washer was supplied for glass 3/4 inch thick. There was a lot of confusion from users on when to use it and when not to. So now all pumps are manufactured with the thicker washer behind the wet side magnet. All it does is provide extra clamping force and makes it feel stronger. This will apply to all glass thickness less than 3/4 inch. For 3/4 inch glass you will see no difference.

So you ARE saying that there is nothing different with the dry side of the pump correct? So those of us "first generation" users who have replaced 90% of the wet side with the new parts have the SAME exact pump as the new ones right?

Would changing the pin spacer to a large glass size setting do the same thing as replacing the small clear washer with the 3/4" glass washer? For those of us with thinner glass of course.

 

[EcoTech Marine]

We've never changed anything on the dry side of the pump. All changes were made to the wet side of the pump so you're good to go!

Regarding your second question- going up to a thicker glass setting on the pin spacer would more likely be the equivalent of adding two or even three of those washers (which wouldn't fit anyway). In some cases we recommend it, but rarely.

-Tim

 

[davidh202]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8953919#post8953919 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by King-Kong
My 2 additional vortechs came in (and my BB!).


Also, im running all 3 at 100%! (9000gph in a 90g!). Having all 3 a long the back glass, however; it LOOKS incredible because i have nothing hanging, no wires, no nothing. Just black on black and TONS of flow.Really makes my tank feel larger and more open!

Maybe thats because you just blew the glass off the front :eek2:
I have read alot over the past couple of years about the necessity for good flow, but I think that is absolutely nuts.
No offense

 

[agent007]

ALRIGHT!!! So I'm moving along and stocking my tank with coral.
Softies mostly and a few LPS and one SPS. I want more but I need flow. So I've got to get off the fence and buy a pump.

I'm still concerned about the continuing issues that come up with the Vortechs - case in point brother mott768. I believe this was a recent purchase? Meaning, it has all the new mods right?
Hey mott768, any joy yet?

Please don't send me any flames but I finally started reading up on the Tunze Stream pumps. Besides the broadness of flow, low profile in tank and savings in heat transfer, the Tunzes Streams seem compariable and (depending on pump model ) can be slightly cheeper than the Vortechs.

I've been following this thread for some time but held back buying a pump because of chronic issues with new purchases. Reliablitly is important for me - especially if I'm going to fork out a few hundred bucks. :eek2: I want to buy it, install it and be able to forget about it until scheduled maintenance.

It seems EcoTech has addressed most if not all of the issues posted here overtime but I would really like to hear from those who purchased a pump in the past 2 months. To understand what the growing pains are. Then I'll have to decide if this is something I can deal with.

Also (yes I need more info) does anyone have pictures of their Vortech setups? I want to see how I can set it up for my tank. (viewable from 3 sides. Overflow is on one short side of the tank). I can't quite visualize how I can run the electric cord with the diagnostic box from one side of my tank to the other. Pictures and measurements would be nice if you've got them.

Sorry this might seem a little long winded but I need flow (soon)!

Thanks

 

[jnarowe]

I popped a Nano Stream into my fuge and I really like it because it can be adjusted to point in virtually any direction. But as far as it goes in the display, I wouldn't use a Tunze because they are just too visibly distracting to me.

 

[King-Kong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8998572#post8998572 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davidh202
Maybe thats because you just blew the glass off the front :eek2:
I have read alot over the past couple of years about the necessity for good flow, but I think that is absolutely nuts.
No offense

None taken; if you saw the tank, you'd see that it results in great polyp movement, and a bare bottom that has very strong flow to keep poop lifted in the water column and ready for my skimmer to remove. You'll also see great surface agitation for aeration and gas exchange.

Oh, also, it gives my fish a lot of exercise!

 

[davidh202]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9012943#post9012943 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by King-Kong
None taken; if you saw the tank, you'd see that it results in great polyp movement, and a bare bottom that has very strong flow to keep poop lifted in the water column and ready for my skimmer to remove. You'll also see great surface agitation for aeration and gas exchange.

Oh, also, it gives my fish a lot of exercise!

How about some pics
Do you slow them down at night and let the poor fishies rest?

 

[jay24k]

I've had mine about 3 months maybe. I'm going to buy one. A couple times my light went red and it stopped but I think it was an alignment issue as I moved it a couple days before. Other then that, I've had no issues. Whenever I move it, I hear it for an hour while it reseats I guess. Other then that, I like it very nicely. When people look at my tank, they notice the seio's bulkiness. No one notices the vortech at first. When they do look at it, they think it is pretty cool.

For me aethestics is #1 priority. No offense to anyone but I hate the look of heaters, pumps, etc in a tank. Seeing tanks with 4 tunzes just draws my eye from what is most important. If they could come out with a directional, they would probably be the best out there.

 

[mgny]

I have had mine on my 180 for almost a year. I had a problem with the wet end spinning after a week of purchase. Their customer service was as good as it gets sending me new parts immediately. The pump improved the overall condition of the tank quite a bit. I agree with King and jay.on their points. I dont see the need for closed loops anymore with these pumps. Just plug it in , no plumbing needed. I use icecaps ballasts since the tank was set up in 1996. Their eqiupment has been extremely reliable and customer service is excellent. When i noticed they were working together with ecotech from the beginning i knew they were gonna have a great product and would provide excellent customer service so i went with it. The battery back up is an awesome feature as well.

 

[Bax]

I have a very early release modle. It may have been a Beta tester as I got it off of a Club President on the sellers forum way back, any way, after about nine months in my service, The bearing just went. The prop shaft is all wobbly now.

Do I have to send it back or can I just order the parts from EcoTech?

I know I have the original box (I keep all original boxes for some neurotic reason) but I can't find it.

Thanks

 

[ASH]

Bax - Send Dave an e-mail with shipping information, your serial number for our records and a phone number if needed.
service@icecapinc.com

No original box! We'll let that slide this time. You don't need to ship us anything most likely anyway.

Andy

 

[jnarowe]

Just received a replacement driver. Hope to install it today. It is a refurb unit but at this point, I'll take what I can get!

I am no longer going to turn mine on and off except for a nighttime OFF on a couple units to calm the reef down. I just can't take the risk of blowing another driver.

And I know it has been said before, but coming from me there is some added weight, IceCap and Eco-Tech are really doing their best to ensure customer satisfaction. I think they got blind-sided by all the variables inherent in dealing with so many different types of tanks and customers. It's unfortunate there have been so many problems but I do see a strong effort to correct and move on.

I really want to get these drivers out of my system so I hope there is some formal notification process when we can upgrade. Thanks to Andy, Tim, et al for sending me a 5th driver.

 

[Bax]

"No original box! We'll let that slide this time. You don't need to ship us anything most likely anyway.

Andy"

Thanks I'll do that!