EcoTech Marine VorTech MP40 Release Information
- Thread starter EcoTech Marine
- Start date
ReefWaters
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7766761#post7766761 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Tim has just informed me that they are sending me a new type of gasket/magnet cover that is very slippery and durable. I will post the results when I get them. He also says that they will manufacture a rigid cover that will essentially stop all these gasket related problems.
I've got these on the way too. I had suggested a piece of hard plastic between the wet gasket and the wet magnet a day or so ago but they obviously beat me to the idea!
:lol: Im thinking/hoping this will be the last upgrade they have to make for our sake and EcoTech's.sherm71tank
Premium Member
I would enjoy that! Though I only have 55 but you're welcome to see it. I'll pm you for details.
niko5
New member
I received my 2 Vortech's yesterday and they dont have that new mod EcoTech was sending out to people having problems HOWEVER I installed them and they are running great!!!! Very quite and great watermovement.
Now all I need is a wireless controller
I move that EcoTech give us a sneak peak at the controller here!!!! Anyone else think they should too?
Now all I need is a wireless controller
I move that EcoTech give us a sneak peak at the controller here!!!! Anyone else think they should too?
EcoTech Marine
.Registered Member
Hey guys,
Unfortunately I can't even give a sneak peak. We're working on some cool stuff and we're being very secretive about it this time. We figure everyone got plenty of warning when we came out with the VorTech, so the accessories will be more behind the scenes.
-Tim
Unfortunately I can't even give a sneak peak. We're working on some cool stuff and we're being very secretive about it this time. We figure everyone got plenty of warning when we came out with the VorTech, so the accessories will be more behind the scenes.
-Tim
EcoTech Marine
.Registered Member
We plan to demonstrate the controllability at MACNA but most likely won't be showing any sneak peaks of the device. The controller will likely be within a black box so to speak.
-Tim
-Tim
jnarowe
New member
OK guys! So I got my replacement gasket sets and have one set up right now. The set consists of a new bumpy soft gasket somewhat like neoprene and a thin plastic sticker. The sticker gets stuck to the wet side magnet and then you install it in the normal way.
The new gasket is very soft and definitely makes contact with the plastic sticker on the magnet.
Net result is the pump was still noisy. As I made this alteration, I noticed that the shaft/propellor assembly is fairly loose in the wet frame so I tried to snug it up a bit. This seemed to work and cut about 50% of the rattle. I then messed around with alignment and got it to operate with only about 10-20% of the noise previously experienced.
I think Eco-Tech is on the right track and I would only encourage them to build the next genration with solid plastic backs rather than the having the magnet float on the gasket. In fact I think it would be beneficial if the gasket could be applied to the solid back just like this interim plastic sticker.
I will post a picture of one of my wet gaskets when my camera gets charged up!
Thanks Tim for the quick response and customer care. I really appreciate it! Please let me know if I should not have snugged up the propellor assembly.
The new gasket is very soft and definitely makes contact with the plastic sticker on the magnet.
Net result is the pump was still noisy. As I made this alteration, I noticed that the shaft/propellor assembly is fairly loose in the wet frame so I tried to snug it up a bit. This seemed to work and cut about 50% of the rattle. I then messed around with alignment and got it to operate with only about 10-20% of the noise previously experienced.
I think Eco-Tech is on the right track and I would only encourage them to build the next genration with solid plastic backs rather than the having the magnet float on the gasket. In fact I think it would be beneficial if the gasket could be applied to the solid back just like this interim plastic sticker.
I will post a picture of one of my wet gaskets when my camera gets charged up!
Thanks Tim for the quick response and customer care. I really appreciate it! Please let me know if I should not have snugged up the propellor assembly.
jnarowe
New member
Quick Update:
Quick Update:
So I have had the new gasket assembly in use now for over 3 hours of moderate use and it has become very quiet. I can still hear it but only if I put my ear right up to the glass and I can hear a faint hum. This is what I was expecting in terms of performance and I am happy to have it.
I will install the other 3 tomorrow and see how they do but so far I think this gasket/plastic sticker comb is much better than the original gasket. I also installed a new ceramic shaft so it is hard to tell which item is contributing the most to the drop in vibration and noise. So when I do the install tomorrow I will leave the original shaft in two of them and then I can compare the difference.
Quick Update:
So I have had the new gasket assembly in use now for over 3 hours of moderate use and it has become very quiet. I can still hear it but only if I put my ear right up to the glass and I can hear a faint hum. This is what I was expecting in terms of performance and I am happy to have it.
I will install the other 3 tomorrow and see how they do but so far I think this gasket/plastic sticker comb is much better than the original gasket. I also installed a new ceramic shaft so it is hard to tell which item is contributing the most to the drop in vibration and noise. So when I do the install tomorrow I will leave the original shaft in two of them and then I can compare the difference.
EcoTech Marine
.Registered Member
Jnarowe
Glad everything is working for you. There's no need to worry about over tightening anything (just don't ever use a screw driver! no need for that at all, only hand tight). The geometry of the shaft is what keeps all the parts the correct distance from one another and allows it to spin in the bearing. Tightening the screw simply holds the different components of the rotating driveshaft together.
Just for clarification, Jon has some prototype driveshafts that he's agreed to test for us.
-Tim
Glad everything is working for you. There's no need to worry about over tightening anything (just don't ever use a screw driver! no need for that at all, only hand tight). The geometry of the shaft is what keeps all the parts the correct distance from one another and allows it to spin in the bearing. Tightening the screw simply holds the different components of the rotating driveshaft together.
Just for clarification, Jon has some prototype driveshafts that he's agreed to test for us.
-Tim
jnarowe
New member
Looking good today so I permanently mounted a couple of drivers. Not time to put in all the new gaskets since I am going to a PSAS meeting and ferrying a Regal to bskiba about 50 miles away. It is a lot of work in a deep tank to change things out because I have to go up on a ladder, make an adjustment, then go down and check the alignment.
I can say that I certainly understand why you guys used those old gaskets since they really are slippery when wet. It does make sense and I feel that a solid back would perform even better.
Right now I am running the pumps two at 5 min ON, 1 min OFF, and two at 3 minute ON, 1 min OFF, on a random cycle generated by the ACIII Pro. I think this will really put the Vortechs to the test. And they chop food nicely too. :lol:
I am guessing that most users will orient the solid side of the wet frame toward the top to lower the instance of cavitation, but I have installed mine in various positions and am getting a nice surface stir. I guess there could be a debate about doing that and how it affects skimming and gas exchange, but I am just trying to see how I can get the most out of these pumps.
:lol: You would have to have incredible coordination to use a screw driver on these!
I can say that I certainly understand why you guys used those old gaskets since they really are slippery when wet. It does make sense and I feel that a solid back would perform even better.
Right now I am running the pumps two at 5 min ON, 1 min OFF, and two at 3 minute ON, 1 min OFF, on a random cycle generated by the ACIII Pro. I think this will really put the Vortechs to the test. And they chop food nicely too. :lol:
I am guessing that most users will orient the solid side of the wet frame toward the top to lower the instance of cavitation, but I have installed mine in various positions and am getting a nice surface stir. I guess there could be a debate about doing that and how it affects skimming and gas exchange, but I am just trying to see how I can get the most out of these pumps.
:lol: You would have to have incredible coordination to use a screw driver on these!
jnarowe
New member
Another update:
I finally got all the new gaskets on today and fine tuned the pumps so they are virtually silent. It does take some effort to get it right and I think that three of my units originally arrived with loose shaft nuts.
One of the old wet gaskets had heated up so much that it fused to the tank wall and I had to scrape off a thin layer of rubber. I also "cheated" a bit with the new gaskets in that I superglued them to the wet frame. The new gaskets are slightly smaller than the wet frame and for me, quite difficult to line up. I just put 8 - 10 drops of superglue around the rim of the wet frame so there would be room for air to escape but the gasket would stay firmly in place while I was mounting it. I feel like this really helped me get them lined up much quicker and will probably help deter spin off should that come about in the future.
So far today they have remained silent and I am really happy that Tim sent out the new gaskets. I am also pleased with the new shafts just from the standpoint that I think their slightly different design will help greatly to prolong the life of the assembly. They are working well.
Thanks Tim!!
I finally got all the new gaskets on today and fine tuned the pumps so they are virtually silent. It does take some effort to get it right and I think that three of my units originally arrived with loose shaft nuts.
One of the old wet gaskets had heated up so much that it fused to the tank wall and I had to scrape off a thin layer of rubber. I also "cheated" a bit with the new gaskets in that I superglued them to the wet frame. The new gaskets are slightly smaller than the wet frame and for me, quite difficult to line up. I just put 8 - 10 drops of superglue around the rim of the wet frame so there would be room for air to escape but the gasket would stay firmly in place while I was mounting it. I feel like this really helped me get them lined up much quicker and will probably help deter spin off should that come about in the future.
So far today they have remained silent and I am really happy that Tim sent out the new gaskets. I am also pleased with the new shafts just from the standpoint that I think their slightly different design will help greatly to prolong the life of the assembly. They are working well.
Thanks Tim!!
ReefWaters
Premium Member
I
I installed my new gaskets with the thin plastic sticker a few hours ago. Ill let you know how it works out. But I already had one pump give me a red error light.
I have to agree with jnarowe above (and I've been saying the same thing for a while) that the magnet needs to be completely enclosed on the wet side. The loose gaskets are becoming a little bit of a PITA in my opinion. I think if the entire wet housing was one piece (when assembled) with the gasket physically attached to the housing, that the pump would be a lot more user friendly and less prone to problems.
I will note, and I've told EcoTech this as well, that I'm running these pumps on a small tank right now. So I have to keep them throttled all the way down. This may cause a few of my issues but I would expect that the pumps should be able to be run at 20% or 100% either way without problems.
As for the noise, I cant hear much of any standing next to the tank. I really never have. But I have noticed that if I put my ear to the glass, there is a TON of underwater noise and vibration within the tank. It sounds like a large helicopter hovering in the tank. I just hope this does not affect the fish or corals in any adverse way.
I will say that I'm still very impressed with the pumps and their overall design and performance but I do hope to get these few small gasket, shaft, and noise problems under control ASAP. I know that EcoTech is doing all they can.
i have this pump 1 month already and i didn't run it 1 week proper i am still waiting for gasket and i hope it will be the end . at the last time when i have the error led i take out the propeller i found out the bearing burn the base where it's sit on and the frame was crack again , my gasket get like pita to and everything spin together , again i shut off everything and waiting for part i hope it will be good at this time.
jeffreylam1132
New member
Why are these pumps having so many problems? I was thinking about getting one, but looks like I should probably wait. For a pump that costs over $300, IMO it should work flawlessly.
smoknreefrs
In Memoriam
You're absolutely right!
But just to be fair, Tim over at ecotech is doing his best in regards to trying to help eliminate the problem...if ecotech can get the bugs worked out it is a revolutionary pump.
When the pump works like it is supposed to, it certainly pushs a lot of water.
