Echotech Return Pump Yay or Nay? - Page 2

biecacka · 07/24/2019, 03:32 PM

Alton said his is external.

Corey

RobbyG · 07/24/2019, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luisagos

The problem is a pump that is low power have a very tight tolerance.
That tolerance makes the pump not last as long.

Two things you could do with the Iwaki pump.

1) Oversize it just a notch and put a valve on the output. Using a watt meter, close the valve till you get the lowest watts. What you are doing its matching the pump curve with your system pipes. When you do that, the pump uses less power.

2) Buy a 3 phase Iwaki pump and use a VFD. That what I have done with my skimmer and I am running very low watts compare to a normal skimmer pump.

If you want more information just tell me, and I post what I have done.
This setup will beat any DC pump out there even with the dragon pumps.
0-100% Speed with high-pressure output, the dragon pumps cannot even touch the pressure. It is also cheaper than those pumps.

Thanks, I will get in touch if I decide to go in that direction. For right now I am still weighing all the options. One thing that really turned me off from the Ecotech was the statement that they should be cleaned every six months. I probably clean my Reeflow Dart about once every two years! The last thing I need is more maintenance.

RobbyG · 07/24/2019, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biecacka

Alton said his is external.

Corey

Okay thanks Corey

Rob

RobbyG · 07/24/2019, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alton

I run a M2 on my 180 at about 70% and it is mounted externally. Runs very cool.

Thanks Alton. How often do you clean them? Cleaning the pump for me is not an easy task due to the way things are setup.

Rob

alton · 07/25/2019, 05:23 AM

I have never cleaned this pump

alton · 07/25/2019, 05:27 AM

This is a replacement for the first one I purchased which started a whine just under one year. This replacement pump has worked flawlessly for two years. I installed two ball valve unions from BRS so replacement was easy.

RobbyG · 07/25/2019, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alton

This is a replacement for the first one I purchased which started a whine just under one year. This replacement pump has worked flawlessly for two years. I installed two ball valve unions from BRS so replacement was easy.

Thanks, this is very positive new to hear. I really want the pump but I have to be 100% sure its going to be low maintenance and last long.

Rob

RobbyG · 07/27/2019, 10:10 PM

Its kind of interesting that a Reeflo Dart puts out 3700 GPH and uses about 160 Watts both in Specs and measured on my system. While a Vectra L2 puts out 3100 GPH and uses 150W according to the info on Bulkreef.

I am confused, I thought that the Vectra's used very little power? Anybody measure the power consumption of their Vectra?

Rob

Antics · 07/28/2019, 06:22 PM

I had a launch L1 and ran it internally for 3 years. Eventually is overheated or seized and the impellar was fused inside the pump. Ecotech warrantied it even at 3 years. I have always used their products and I think their customer service is always fantastic. I would definitely buy/use vectra again.

RobbyG · 07/29/2019, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antics

I had a launch L1 and ran it internally for 3 years. Eventually is overheated or seized and the impellar was fused inside the pump. Ecotech warrantied it even at 3 years. I have always used their products and I think their customer service is always fantastic. I would definitely buy/use vectra again.

Sounds about right. I have scoured the Net for reports and from what I have found it seems like most people get about 18 Months on average before either the Pump or the power supply dies. Almost all the people are running it submerged.

Great Support from Ecotech is not going to help me if my pump dies at 1am on Saturday morning. I would need a second pump and these pumps are not cheap. Don't get me wrong, I commend their great customer support but when it comes to the Literal Heart of the Tank dying I am not willing to take the chance on a Pump that has so many people reporting that they are on their second or third pump in 2 years. The Red Dragon sounds great but the price is too steep for me since I would need something bigger than there 50W version. The Abyzz is even nicer but is priced for millionaires.

Rob

Antics · 07/29/2019, 02:01 PM

Yeah I feel you but it seems to.only be the early L1 with the issues no? Ecotech made some revisions in the L1 before it became the L2, seems to have really improved the reliability.

RobbyG · 07/29/2019, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antics

Yeah I feel you but it seems to.only be the early L1 with the issues no? Ecotech made some revisions in the L1 before it became the L2, seems to have really improved the reliability.

Yeah I have been looking at that. On one hand in an interview video they said the only thing that has been changed are the fittings. When I called and talked to a CSR he said that many other little changes have been made. When I asked for examples he said he could not give me any because he did not know off hand.

At this point who knows! We wont know anything until at least two years have passed with the second Gen. I am now looking at another Reeflo Dart and am once again reminded why I wanted to move away from them. No Sales or Support number on their website. When I did find one on the web I got an answering machine. Reeflo makes great pumps but the support is not great. I will probably still buy the Dart pump but I really wish the Ecotech had a better track record with the Vectra.

Rob

Antics · 07/30/2019, 05:38 PM

I definitely see where you are coming from. Even as a huge Ecotech fan I'm still partial to the red dragon pumps.

07/27/2019, 10:10 PM	#33
RobbyG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 600 Ft From the Reef Posts: 2,099	Its kind of interesting that a Reeflo Dart puts out 3700 GPH and uses about 160 Watts both in Specs and measured on my system. While a Vectra L2 puts out 3100 GPH and uses 150W according to the info on Bulkreef. I am confused, I thought that the Vectra's used very little power? Anybody measure the power consumption of their Vectra? Rob __________________ The Optimist says the glass is half full, the Pessimist says it’s half empty, an engineer only see's a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be! Current Tank Info: Insanely Automated Low Power Consumption 90 Gal Oceanic Bow System/Aquatronica Touch Controller/AQ Dosing Pump/AQT LEDS/AQ SMS/Seq Dart Pump/ASM G3/Ozotech Ozonizer/Koralin 1502/Chiller/Typhoon3 Ro/S.Squirt /Phos React/Rmt DSB

07/24/2019, 03:32 PM	#26
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Alton said his is external. Corey

07/25/2019, 05:23 AM	#30
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	I have never cleaned this pump

07/25/2019, 05:27 AM	#31
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	This is a replacement for the first one I purchased which started a whine just under one year. This replacement pump has worked flawlessly for two years. I installed two ball valve unions from BRS so replacement was easy.

07/28/2019, 06:22 PM	#34
Antics Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 50	I had a launch L1 and ran it internally for 3 years. Eventually is overheated or seized and the impellar was fused inside the pump. Ecotech warrantied it even at 3 years. I have always used their products and I think their customer service is always fantastic. I would definitely buy/use vectra again.

07/29/2019, 02:01 PM	#36
Antics Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 50	Yeah I feel you but it seems to.only be the early L1 with the issues no? Ecotech made some revisions in the L1 before it became the L2, seems to have really improved the reliability.

07/30/2019, 05:38 PM	#38
Antics Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 50	I definitely see where you are coming from. Even as a huge Ecotech fan I'm still partial to the red dragon pumps.