Quality of Vortech

[Rouselb]

I purchased the MP-40 2 yrs ago. It was fairly new to the market, i needed a battery backup solution, and this seemed to fit the bill. However, Quality of this unit is not yet there in my opinion. After only 1 month in service, i had the bearing replaced due to stalling. I have always had a stalling issue. Usually once a month i remove the unit, clean it and get it going again. I have also experienced the wet side rotating in the tank and excessive vibrating from time to time until i realign the wetside. During the last few months i have noticed pits in the magnet, plastic coating pealing off the magnet, rust on the magnet, excessive wearing/grooves on the frame cover. Cleaning is performed every 2 months by soaking in vinegar for most of the day, followed by brushing with a toothbrush. The unit has its pros, its small, produces great water flow, it just needs to be more reliable. I wrote EcoTech service and attached pictures to inquire about my options for repair. The reply was this: "Basically you have 2 options. One is you can purchase an entire wet side assembly for $65 plus shipping. The other option is to send the wet side to us for rebuild. There will be a charge for parts frequired. Normally the better deal is to get an entire wet side. Being the pump is 2 years old an estimate would be Magnet $15, Frame $10, Bearing $15, Drive Shaft $10. Wet side components will last any where from 12 - 18 months. Replacing components every 2 years is considered normal." I have Tunze streams running in the same tank with no issues. The cost of the unit are very similar for the same flow ratings. I would like to see EcoTech stand behind their product more. I do not consider replacing a wetside assembly every 12-18 months as normal maintenance. There are many reefers trying to figure out what's the best solution for water movement. Ecotech is definitely an option, but quality and reliability is a big part of the decision.

 

[chaffey]

I agreed, I would like to see ecotech marine step up to the plate and offer free service, refund shipping cost or free part replacement during during the warranty period.

 

[RichT]

Re: Quality of Vortech

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11650150#post11650150 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rouselb
.............Bearing $15, Drive Shaft $10. Wet side components will last any where from 12 - 18 months. Replacing components every 2 years is considered normal." ..................................... I would like to see EcoTech stand behind their product more. I do not consider replacing a wetside assembly every 12-18 months as normal maintenance. There are many reefers trying to figure out what's the best solution for water movement. Ecotech is definitely an option, but quality and reliability is a big part of the decision.

I've just went through the same situation and agree with your sentiment.

How long ago did you get the quote for the Bearing and Drive Shaft? I just paid $20 and $20 :furious: I was offered the wet side at $65 but had a hard time spending even a nickle more then I needed to get the pump running again. The majority of my checks are in the Pro column, but this is one check in the Con column.

 

[EcoTech Marine]

Rouselb-

I sincerely appreciate your feedback.

The VorTech pump is unlike anything else on the market. Because of its unique design there were several aspects of our design that are unique when compared to more conventional powerheads. Basically this boils down to our wearing components: the drive shaft, and the magnet itself.

As a result of our magnetic couple, the drive shaft of our pump is exposed to much higher loading than any other kind of pump out there. This is why this component wears. With the introduction of our latest drive shaft roughly one year ago, which is an all polymer design coupled with a ceramic bearing, we have seen excellent wear rates in the field and in testing (which has been going on for two years). At this time, we recommend replacement of the drive shaft approximately every 18 months two two years, although this will depend on use. A pump which is run slowly will probably not need a replacement drive shaft ever. A pump which is run fast will. We have priced the replacement drive shaft to be easy on the wallet.

The second replacement component is our magnet. Our magnet is encapsulated with a transparent medical grade plastic coating which prevents oxidation. However, over time oxygen will diffuse through this coating and result in oxidation below the coating itself. This is normal and the result is small hair like discolorations which have no negative effect on operation. In some cases, more excessive oxidation can occur if the coating is damaged in some areas. We have found that the magnets also typically need replacement around the 18 to 24 month mark, depending on how well they were cleaned during use and if they have been scratched or damaged. Naturally, a scratched magnet will corrode more heavily after this damage occurs.

Steps for the future:

EcoTech Marine is and has been actively researching materials and designs that will extend the life of our product and make for as maintenance free of an experience with our pump as absolutely possible. This includes improved drive shafts and magnets. We truly appreciate your concern and consider it one of our top most priorities to improve our product in every way possible. In the mean time, we feel that 18-24 months of operation without any considerable maintenance required is pretty good for a pump that offers the benefits which our technology does. We have also recently lowered the price of our replacement components because we have realized that the right thing to do is forward these along at minimal cost until more long-term technological solutions exist.

Also, the stalling problem you have described is an artifact of our old drivers: they simply weren't as reliable as the new Wireless Wave Driver. The new driver offers much more functionality and is considerably more reliable than the old driver, with no code corruption or stalling issues.

-Tim

 

[chaffey]

I think ecotech marine / icecap will stand behind their product 100%, if any issue within the warranty period they will take care of it.

I have been keeping tracking of all the reviews and comments about vortech; I mean tunze had it up and down too, so I think you guys should give vortech a try, don't keep 1-2 bad reviews keeping you from making your decision. I am thinking of getting a few vortech pumps for my tank.

I agreed that ecotech marine should step up and fix the quality and reliabilty issue.

 

[mpdharley]

Well, to add my two cents. Certainly, the Vortech pumps are quite different and do have to worry about some things that other pumps that are fully enclosed to not have to worry about.

However, perhaps that then doesn't warrant an initial cost that is comparable to products that, generally (manufacturing issues aside), do not require an additional cost of $75+ every 18 - 24 months. Over a 6 year period, that brings the total cost of a single pump to (using $420 as the initial price) $645 to $720.

This also assumes that the pumps (Vortech and others) are designed to last 6 years, which at this price, they should be (my opinion).

All in all it may simply be another thing to add to the purchase consideration when evaluating the different pumps.

 

[EcoTech Marine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11651474#post11651474 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpdharley

However, perhaps that then doesn't warrant an initial cost that is comparable to products that, generally (manufacturing issues aside), do not require an additional cost of $75+ every 18 - 24 months. Over a 6 year period, that brings the total cost of a single pump to (using $420 as the initial price) $645 to $720.

The only components that won't last six years are the two components which I specified in my earlier post. At a price of $10 for the drive shaft and $15 for the magnet, the total cost is closer to $25 every two years, not $75. Also, like anything it will depend on how well you maintain the product. You would be very surprised how many motors and drivers we get back from customers that have been water damaged through drips or spills. Protecting your investment is the best thing you can do to ensure it lasts for its entire expected life.

-Tim

 

[mpdharley]

Thanks for the correction! So that would bring the total cost range to $495 - $520 for a 6 year period.

Edit: Recalc'd the prices instead of just saying "thanks for the correction"

 

[mpdharley]

Not to hijack the thread, but speaking of maintenance, what is the recommended way to clean the wet side?

I've seen posts of people soaking them in Vinegar for a day, a few hours, etc. Should the Vinegar be at full strength, diluted, etc or is there a better way.

 

[Rouselb]

Tim, i understand some parts will wear and need to be replaced. I agree that $25 every 2 yrs is acceptable. In my particular case, i was informed "Normally the better deal is to get an entire wet side" for the $65. I did arranged this through service. Had i been told that all i really needed to replace was the driveshaft and the magnet for a total cost of $25 i would have found that much easier to do. In my particular case i did need to replace the frame cover too. I dont need a programmable controller, but i would like to prevent the stalling, could you tell me if the wireless controller will do this, and is this my only option? Thanks for the feedback.

mpdharley, i soak the wetside in vinegar for the day, usually 8 hrs or so. I use pure vinegar, but i have watered it down at times, the pure seems to work better if you have alot of growth on it, also depends on how long its been since the last time you cleaned it.

 

[EcoTech Marine]

Hi Rouselb-

The wireless driver is definitely the best way to avoid the stalling issue. We chased our tail over and over again with that stalling issue on the old driver and ultimately decided that a platform shift was the best way around it. The wireless wave driver is only $75 (until Feb 1, then it goes up to $100) and offers other benefits beyond just the controllability such as a feed mode and the fact that it is definitely much more reliable than the old driver. The choice is definitely up to you but I sincerely believe you would not look back if you were to pick up a wireless driver.

-Tim

 

[cato]

Sweet! A 33% price hike already. Gotta love it. You guys want my original drivers back in a couple weeks. I will have no use for them. Hell, maybe just toss em in the trash. Almost reminds me of another company called Microsoft. Every time something new comes out, the prices go up and the older stuff is worthless.

 

[metalManiac]

comment retracted in light of upcomming news

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11651784#post11651784 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EcoTech Marine
The only components that won't last six years are the two components which I specified in my earlier post. At a price of $10 for the drive shaft and $15 for the magnet, the total cost is closer to $25 every two years, not $75. Also, like anything it will depend on how well you maintain the product. You would be very surprised how many motors and drivers we get back from customers that have been water damaged through drips or spills. Protecting your investment is the best thing you can do to ensure it lasts for its entire expected life.

-Tim

Can these things (magnet and drive shaft replacement) be done at home, or do you need to have the pump shipped to you?

 

[EcoTech Marine]

These can easily be done from home. No tools or skills are required.

-Tim

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11685931#post11685931 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EcoTech Marine
These can easily be done from home. No tools or skills are required.

-Tim

Well that's a BIG plus! Very nice.

 

[Rouselb]

I received the new wetside assembly and things are up and running. No vibration or stalling right now. Ill repost in a week or so.

 

[Rouselb]

Tim, I have the new wet assembly in the tank. Its running with no vibration or stalling issues, however, it is not pushing the same amount of water as the old one. I verified this by turning my other PH's off, and running air into the vortech. I did this with the original vortech when i set it up. I even tried to change the spacer to get more flow. Can you give me some idea of what to do? Is there a reason why it wouldnt push the same flow??

 

[EcoTech Marine]

Rouselb-

The flow of the pump is software determined so unless there is an intake or output restriction I don't see exactly how you could see a decrease in flow. Unfortunately, measuring flow by injecting air into the pump really isn't an effective qualitative method.

I recommend you let things run in and see if that changes the situation. Sometimes a brand new wet side will take a few days of continuous running to 'run-in,' during that time the software may cut the speed a bit to avoid overheating issues.

-Tim

 

[Rouselb]

Tim, The pump does not seem to be pushing the same amount of water. Can you advise what steps i should take?