Ecotech quiet drive disappointing - product and service

[shifty51008]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

Oh, so user error. User used wrong spacer for particular glass thickness. Gotcha.

So because someone had issues that was user error on a regular qd and not an upgrade makes the other 3 people in this thread with the upgrades and have this issue user error also?

Im guessing before the qd's came out that loud mp's were user error also, oh wait thats the reason they made the qd's even after they kept stateing it was user error and most likely it was wrong spacer or wasnt aligned properly.

Sorry but not everything is user error

[Griff500]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

Oh, so user error. User used wrong spacer for particular glass thickness. Gotcha.

No, you didn't get me.

I used the correct spacer for the size of glass - the same size spacer on both MP40s. One of them wouldn't stay in place when using the spacer. The other one has never moved.

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by Griff500

No, you didn't get me.

I used the correct spacer for the size of glass - the same size spacer on both MP40s. One of them wouldn't stay in place when using the spacer. The other one has never moved.

hmmm... I have four MP-10's and one likes to fall off. It was with the old driver and the new Quiet Driver diver.

[Griff500]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

hmmm... I have four MP-10's and one likes to fall off. It was with the old driver and the new Quiet Driver diver.

That would make me think that the issue is with the occasional wet side. Does the one that likes to fall off do it with all of the motors or only one?

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by Griff500

That would make me think that the issue is with the occasional wet side. Does the one that likes to fall off do it with all of the motors or only one?

I have all four of my MP-10's synced up wirelessly.

[Griff500]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

I have all four of my MP-10's synced up wirelessly.

Have you tried the wet side that falls off on a different motor? Swap the wetsides over and see if the dodgy wetside still falls off?

[Settings]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

I have all four of my MP-10's synced up wirelessly.

You add nothing of value!

I have two 40 QD's, one experienced this "decoupling" and the other did not. It also did it in in nutrient mode.

I took them both out of nutrient mode and ran them in reef crest at no higher than 35% for a few weeks. For some reason I moved them back to nutrient mode and have not had the issue since. I did not reach out to EM, because I have experienced their CS as the OP has stated. Bunch of question (understandably) but then nothing. Finally they just ask you to send the items back so they can do additional testing at your cost.

I bought them because the long waited WAV had not been released yet. I bought them knowing that they would have their faults. But I also knew that once I was able to (starting new build now) that I would offer them up for sale and move on.

[uwish]

Originally Posted by zzz111

No the upgrade kits are just drivers (the box with lights and nob), the new black ones, to replace the old white ones, and supposedly by selling these upgrade kits they imply they should work with the old wet side/dryside you bought with the old white controller to be replaced. My original mp10s were bought in 2011, old, but i don't see anywhere ecotech ever mentioned mp10s older than which year are not compatible with these upgrade kits. and they never said that during our weeks long email conversation, so i guess it's double confirmation they should work, supposedly.

as to why they decouple, I'm a bit slow but i still came to the conclusion that they are simply not compatible, they didn't test enough with all models they're supposed to support before they began to sell the upgrade kits. that's ok, you can never test enough, what's not ok, is the way they handle this. first they don't tell you pulsing mode is most prone to wet side drop off after login into my account looking at my program seeing 4 or 5 sections of those in my schedule, then when i found it out myself, they tell you there're only "a couple" units ever seen that problem but they won't replace that couple units they prefer to see these couple bad boys continue to torture their customers. and the worst is, knowing that I was going out for a 2-week trip, they told me with pulsing mode removed there's no reason they shall fall again. Given their track record on not remembering pulsing mode cause decoupling until i discover it myself, I'm not sure if they knew the wet side could still fall even with other more smooth transition modes. these guys just don't care about your full tank loads of life, i have problem with people don't care about life, that's wrong, especially not in this business, they might do perfectly well in the defense industry, good business good money too. right?

I upgraded my mp40's to Qd with the kit no issues with decoupling....

[zzz111]

Hey thanks guys for participation here, now i understand more about the exposure of this issue, it's definitely more than "a couple" as I had guessed. The noisy drives worked fine and I'm just back from a 2 week road trip in the states, not having to worry about pumps falling off was a big plus. Waiting for a real quiet pump that works ...

[EllisJuan]

Originally Posted by zzz111

Hey thanks guys for participation here, now i understand more about the exposure of this issue, it's definitely more than "a couple" as I had guessed. The noisy drives worked fine and I'm just back from a 2 week road trip in the states, not having to worry about pumps falling off was a big plus. Waiting for a real quiet pump that works ...

Sorry for your luck. I guess I am just a member of the fortunate majority that have not had issues and love their QD pumps.

[zzz111]

Originally Posted by EllisJuan

Sorry for your luck. I guess I am just a member of the fortunate majority that have not had issues and love their QD pumps.

Thanks. I don't have problem or experience with their QD pumps sold as a set.

The problem was with their QD upgrade kits sold without any compatibility statement, while knowing would cause serious problems. And even worse, their support staffs knowingly provide false information, and dangerous guidance, like "there's no reason for the pumps to fall now with pulsing mode removed".

[n2585722]

I solved my decoupling issues. I had to get a new wetside. Now everything is working as it should. Not sure why the old wetsides would work with the old drivers and not the new drivers.

[hassohammer]

I'm also very disappointed
I bought 2 MP40Qd 2 months ago and after one month, one of the the shaft or the base of the propeller broke and one month later the second one
I must say that ecotech customer service just asked me to send a picture and in a couple of days they sent me a new wet side
I would have to do the same thing with the other one
Thanks god I still have 2 Jebao in hand which I used to use before the MP40's
After 2 years no major problems

[davocean]

Well you can now add me to the list of people dissapointed w/ the new MP40QD's, and the service I'm getting from ecotech.

I have 2 of these, the first one I bought is flawless, absolutely silent, no more tinkering w/ lining them up just right like the older MP40's, I GOT WHAT I PAID FOR ON THE FIRST MP40QD.

So, being so happy I bought a second one, NOTHING BUT PROBELMS.
As soon as I put the two halves together they decoupled the second I turned it on.
I also noticed the screen on the wet side barely clips on, the slightest touch and it pops right off.
After a few tries and holding them before they kicked on they did hold and spin eventually, but it was really loud.
So I returned this wet side after going through their procedure(asking how often I maintain them and have I cleaned it w/ vinegar and soaked it yet, try different spacers, as 2 may work on half inch glass....I told them it was brand new, why is maintenance an issue, but anyway, I did what they asked)

So finally a week later they send a new wet side(and on the same day an email asking why they have not received my old wet side yet, well, was waiting for the replacement and the UPS label and box to send back as I was told to do!)

So now, I get this new wet side replacement, same issue w/ the wet screen popping off easy, AND IT'S REALLY LOUD!

So I contact them, and say it may be possible there was a bad batch of these or something, and this is what they say:

"WE REQUIRE A 2 WEEK BREAK IN PERIOD BEFORE WE CAN DO ANYTHING FOR YOU, TURN IT TO THE LOWEST SETTING, CHECK BACK AFTER 2 WEEKS"

So I'm sitting here w/ my tank on minimal flow, listening to that annoying screaming wet side, and it's been a week so far w/ no change at all.
I call them just now, and say hey, this is driving me nuts, I hear this thing in my sleep, I can't watch TV w/out staring at that thing making the most annoying buzz, do I really have to go another week of this?

This is their response:

"YES, WE CAN DO NOTHING FOR YOU AT THIS TIME, AND IT IS UNUSUAL TO GET 2 BAD ONES IN A ROW, SO WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE IT APART, PHOTOGRAPH IT, SEND US PHOTOS, ALSO WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO VIDEO IT, SEND THAT, CLEAN IT AGAIN, CHECK BACK IN A WEEK"

I'm sorry but this is ridiculous, for what I spent on this pump I should get exactly what I got on the first one, click together and turn it on and hear little or no sound, at the most a slight adjustment.

If you buy a TV and the screen is bad do they make you take the back off and photo and video that and wait 2 weeks before addressing the issue?
Heck no!

I am extremely unhappy w/ ecotech and their service at this time, and if I had to guess this may be a quality control issue, not user error as someone keeps mentioning, it is all too common we see products that have quality control issues, possibly bad batches of parts, and I totally understand this, I do not judge a company for this type of issue, however, I DO JUDGE A COMPANY IN HOW THEY ADDRESS THESE TYPES OF ISSUES, ecotech needs to step up on their customer service issues.

I have had numerous vorts over the years, in fact this MP40QD replaced a very old MP20 I've had forever, wish I did not sell that old MP20 to offset the price of this new one, because that old MP20 was much much quieter than this thing.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by n2585722

I solved my decoupling issues. I had to get a new wetside. Now everything is working as it should. Not sure why the old wetsides would work with the old drivers and not the new drivers.

I know this is an old post .... but had the same issue. The older MP10 wetsides had a stainless spindle that tended to wobble a bit. The new wetsides have a ceramic spindle with much tighter tolerance and no wobble. Just lay-speculation, but perhaps the QD driver affect the dryside such that the old wetsides just don't cut it.

[asonitez]

Jeeze guys - I just ordered 4 Vortech Mp40QD's and was about to put my Tunzes up for sale. Yall really got my hesitant to do that right now.

[vitodog]

Originally Posted by asonitez

Jeeze guys - I just ordered 4 Vortech Mp40QD's and was about to put my Tunzes up for sale. Yall really got my hesitant to do that right now.

Well, for every complaint regarding the MP40QD, there are hundreds of satisfied owners of this pump, me being one of them. I have had mine (2) running since they first became available without a single problem. I can't say much for the customer service though. Ecotech Marine used to own the best customer service in the hobby. IMO, this is no longer true. Just my 2 cents.

[ca1ore]

My experiences with the vortechs have been universally good. Only time I had an issue was in buying one used that had clearly been abused by the prior owner. I don't buy them used anymore. Certainly one can get a bad unit, but I always assume user error first.

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by vitodog

Ecotech Marine used to own the best customer service in the hobby. IMO, this is no longer true. Just my 2 cents.

When they started up they definitely would go the extra mile for their customers. I know they did for me. I still see them doing the same. Personally I haven't needed to use their customer service in many years but when I did it was 2nd to none.

Recently I have seen a handful of folks making a stink thinking they were wronged over stuff no manufacturer would touch. Could it be that many people are buying used equipment and expecting ecotech to warranty equipment that is 4+ years old with transfer of ownership? Obviously this isn't always the case and there will always be issues and people that fall through the cracks.

The reality is Ecotech sells a ton of product world wide with a ton of happy customers. The sheer numbers of end users is going to increase the number of issues we see on a public forum but the percentages of people who have an issue are likely far less than in the beginning.

[vitodog]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

When they started up they definitely would go the extra mile for their customers. I know they did for me. I still see them doing the same. Personally I haven't needed to use their customer service in many years but when I did it was 2nd to none.

Recently I have seen a handful of folks making a stink thinking they were wronged over stuff no manufacturer would touch. Could it be that many people are buying used equipment and expecting ecotech to warranty equipment that is 4+ years old with transfer of ownership? Obviously this isn't always the case and there will always be issues and people that fall through the cracks.

The reality is Ecotech sells a ton of product world wide with a ton of happy customers. The sheer numbers of end users is going to increase the number of issues we see on a public forum but the percentages of people who have an issue are likely far less than in the beginning.

Well, I stand by what I said. A few years ago I also considered Ecotech to be "second to none" in customer service, however, based on my own recent experiences I just don't think that is the case these days. Also, I don't fall into any of the categories you mention above. I only buy new and have not expected anything from a manufacturer after the warranty has expired.

[tkeracer619]

I wasn't being specific to you, just in general. But like I said all of my ecotech stuff has been running for many years without an issue so I haven't needed any cs.

[vitodog]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

I wasn't being specific to you, just in general. But like I said all of my ecotech stuff has been running for many years without an issue so I haven't needed any cs.

No problem, understood.