Well folks, I got off the fence and made my mind up to try the Votech.
First I had to determine if I could even get the Votech to work with my tank setup. So a few emails to EcoTech and Icecap helped explain the length of the power cord between the motor, driver, power supply and the A/C plug. Even after sending them my crude diagram, I was not certain if the pump power cord configuration would work for me:
(Tim/Andy I still think a schematic of the entire pump layout would be handy)
-------------======================
-------------{ ####### canopy ########}
--------------======================
------------- |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|{motor}
------------- |~~~~~~~~ TANK ~~~~~~~~~|
------------- |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
-------------======================
-------------======================
-------------======== cabinet =========
{A/C }
-----======================
{outlet}
----======================
-------------|<------------- 4' ----------------->|
Andy from Icecap, convinced me to give it a try. Worst case, I just return the pump.
I got the pump about a week ago. I could not set it up until after Valentines' day - for obvious reasons. I finally got my chance this past weekend. The setup was a breeze. I spent more time reading the instructions than I did setting up and aligning the pump. I thought alignment would have been the most anoying task but just nudged it left,right,up,down until the noise reduced to its lowest level and let the baby run on high. At 100% the pump was a little noisey but my skimmer makes more noise than that. I cut the output down to 50% and I could bearly hear the outside motor. I am currently running the pump at 75%.
How's the flow? Schweet! Even with my rockscape in the center of the tank, I still get a good flow above and around the islands. I'm wondering if it might be too much for the fish.
My biggest concern with getting this pump was having to deal with some of the bugs mentioned on this thread. Three days and counting - no issues.
I have only anchored the power cord above the pump, as recommended. I'll anchor the rest of the cord and driver after it has been up for a couple of weeks without issues.
Here are some pictures of the pump. Now I'm ready to add some more Coral to my tank:
The AquaClear pump on the left will be going. I have it in there to help filter out debris for the time being.
Pump from outside - makes less noise than my skimmer
It really does give the tank a nice clean look
Vortech vortex.
