New EcoTech Marine Vectra Return Pump

[SPotter]

Originally Posted by CoralNerd

On a closed loop application are you guys finding the pump can actually pulse or does the pump have to wind up? Can it go zero to full blast very quickly?

I haven't played with the gyre setting yet. I will give it a try tomorrow and let you know.

[CoralNerd]

Originally Posted by CoralNerd

On a closed loop application are you guys finding the pump can actually pulse or does the pump have to wind up? Can it go zero to full blast very quickly?

Bump my question:

[peiloy3196]

Originally Posted by SPotter

I'll put a watt meter on my L1 later. When it's running at 100% on constant mode ESL is showing 127 watts.

I am really curious about ESL's reporting on wattage. I have noticed that the wattage changes as speed changes which is as expected, but if I throttle my discharge the wattage does not change. As a pump is throttled towards dead head its power consumption decreases, so I would assume that ESL's reading would change, but it does not. At 100% ESL also reports 127 watts for me. Not bashing ESL but this makes me think that the wattage is not truly being read from the pump rather just an average is being displayed based on speed setting.

The reason I was checking this is I figured that ESL could theoretically calculate flow based on affinity laws. Now I haven't throttled a great deal as I don't want to actually dead head the pump so I just wanted to throw the question out there to see if anyone is getting a different wattage reading from their L1 at 100%.

[slief]

Originally Posted by CoralNerd

Bump my question:

Like pretty much all DC pumps on the market, the Vectra is soft start meaning that it takes several seconds to ramp up. This was mentioned early on in the thread but it's obviously buried deep in here someplace. None the less, it will not pulse in rapid succession. Only slow ramp ups and ramp downs that will take several seconds per ramp.

[CoralNerd]

Originally Posted by slief

Like pretty much all DC pumps on the market, the Vectra is soft start meaning that it takes several seconds to ramp up. This was mentioned early on in the thread but it's obviously buried deep in here someplace. None the less, it will not pulse in rapid succession. Only slow ramp ups and ramp downs that will take several seconds per ramp.

Gotcha, do you have first hand experience with the pump in a closed loop? Trying to figure out if I should just by the waveline module to work with my apex...or is the Vectra going to blow my mind with current options.

[Spartanman22]

Joined the club today! This should work nicely on my upgrade

[slief]

Originally Posted by CoralNerd

Gotcha, do you have first hand experience with the pump in a closed loop? Trying to figure out if I should just by the waveline module to work with my apex...or is the Vectra going to blow my mind with current options.

If it were me and those were my two choices, I would absolutely go with the Ecotech just for the reliability factor. Truth is that the Vectra is the best DC pump option in it's price range. The Ecotech motor & controller are much better than any of the other Chinese DC pumps and for me, reliability is key. Pump failures are intolerable and because of that, I always choose reliability over cost. Unlike just about all the other Chinese DC pumps that come from the same factory, the Vectra is different and comes from a completely different factory that produces much better quality motors. They also have a much better controller with a wider range of flow adjustments. Couple that with a better quality power supply and you have a much better product.

My friend and neighbor has a couple Vectra's and I did get a chance to play with one of his for a bit when he first installed it. It's a very nice pump and well worth the extra money compared to the other Chinese DC pumps. As for your concerns about Apex control, I still believe that will be coming in the not so distant future. Also, that Waveline is soft start too so you will be stuck with the slow ramping on that as well. Given the programming and feature options offered with Ecotech live, there are a lot of upsides to the Vectra beyond just providing flow. I think Ecotech raised the bar as far as what we can look forward to with future pumps and added a lot of features not found on any other pump on the market. As such, I don't think you would be disappointed with the Vectra's performance or features. Even if you don't connect it to your Apex in the short term.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by CoralNerd

Gotcha, do you have first hand experience with the pump in a closed loop? Trying to figure out if I should just by the waveline module to work with my apex...or is the Vectra going to blow my mind with current options.

I'm due to get mine tomorrow, and plan it in a CL application. It's replacing a fluval seas model 2, so will report back on my experience.

[elegance coral]

I have a couple of questions. Hopefully some of you can help.

I'm setting up a 300 gallon with two Vectra L1 pumps. One pump will discharge on one end of the tank, and the other, on the other end. The goal is to create a very slow back and forth movement in the tank. As one pump ramps up, I would like the other to drop off. Will this be possible using just the controllers that come with the pumps, or will they need to be connected to a computer to get the effect i'm looking for? I'm a little concerned that, over time, the timing between the two pumps will get off, and both pumps will be at full power at the same time.

I hope someone understands that gibberish I just typed. LOL

Thanks in advance for any help.
Peace
EC.

[rjallen]

Will these pumps set up as return pumps or closed loop? I believe you can do this in closed loop mode but you might have to program it through EcoSmartLive. The program is free from Eco Tech Marine but you must use their reef link- S99.00. I use my M1 as a return and am not real familiar with the closed loop mode. It is possible to do some programming from the controller but your plan requires the synchronization of two pumps and I believe that requires the above.

RJ

[andrek787]

Guys, I need help deciding between M1 and L1. I am building on a 150g with 1" herbie and 1" return. I am figuring maximum flow I can run is through is 1500gph, but more likely will be doing 1000gph. Do I need to go for L1 or will M1 be plenty at 5' head?

[rjallen]

I have a 120 with a Bean Animal. My head is about 4.5'. The M1 works very well for me except I am having a hard time maintaining a siphon in my 1.5" drain. I did a volume test, with my return plumbing, I was somewhat disappointed to find my pump was only flowing around 1200 gph. Everybody's return plumbing is different and you may get more or less flow. I advise you to consider not using the supplied unions. The compression unions neck down the output from 1.25" to 3/4". [EcoTech's head height/gph tests were done without the 3/4" fitting. You can get an adapter directly from EcoTech that converts the pumps 1.25" British Thread fitting to a slip fitting that will work with American plumbing..
I believe the hassle is worth the effort as the Vectra is worth it. I is an exceptionally fine pump.

RJ

[ca1ore]

Has anyone used the supplied collar fittings yet? They're ABS apparently, and I thought it was problematic to glue PVC to ABS. Does anyone know? There's a universal solvent glue I guess that's the stuff to use.

[afhtan]

Does anyone know what the minimum water depth is for the Vectra L1?

The return section in my sump runs at 170mm high.

[sleepydoc]

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Has anyone used the supplied collar fittings yet? They're ABS apparently, and I thought it was problematic to glue PVC to ABS. Does anyone know? There's a universal solvent glue I guess that's the stuff to use.

I haven't used the collar fittings (or the pump,) but I would point out that most bulkheads are ABS, and we glue those all the time without incident.

You are correct, there is a special transition cement for cementing ABS to PVC. When I looked at the ingredients some time ago, it was virtually identical to the ingredients of the standard PVC cement. That would explain why so many people who went ahead and used regular PVC cement to weld PVC pipe to an ABS bulkhead never had any problems.

[ca1ore]

Excellent point, thanks.

[rjallen]

Originally Posted by sleepydoc

I haven't used the collar fittings (or the pump,) but I would point out that most bulkheads are ABS, and we glue those all the time without incident.

You are correct, there is a special transition cement for cementing ABS to PVC. When I looked at the ingredients some time ago, it was virtually identical to the ingredients of the standard PVC cement. That would explain why so many people who went ahead and used regular PVC cement to weld PVC pipe to an ABS bulkhead never had any problems.

I don't know if they are ABS or not. Here is a couple of views on the subject.

http://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbi...-pipe/view-all

Oatey sells this product to GLUE the joints.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-4-o...9003/100344275

I suspect using the special glue would be acceptable in our application. Regular PVC glue will bond to ABS but the joint is far weaker. Plumbing codes in this case, may be a little out of date and do not take into consideration the new adhesives on the market. In addition, it would be almost impossible for a plumbing inspector to determine what glue was used in an ABS/ PVC joint. The easiest and best answer is to simply get the adapter fittings from Eco Tech and go straight PVC. In this case your line will not be restricted by the 3/4" [M1- L1 has a similar restriction] plumbing.

RJ

[rjallen]

While doing the research for ABS/ PVC, I found this site with good information about British Standard Threads [Vectra pumps use BST parallel threads] vs National Pipe Thread taper fittings.

http://pipeandhose.com/?q=node%2F2

Probably more information than you want to know.

[wcharon]

I am interested to buy the Vectra M1 for my 125 gallon tank. At this moment i am using the WaterBlaster Hy-5000 which is rated at 1,300 gph max.

I will like to know before i make my decision if somebody has measured what is the lowest flow rate and power consumption in the lowest setting of the dial jog? I don't want to go too much overkill.

Thanks in advance...

[rjallen]

For use as a return pump, you calibrate your Vectra plumbed into your system. Calibration takes into account the individual plumbing height and resistance of your piping. Your "zero" is when the pump just pushes water up to your return and does not push the water further into your tank. This is your base line, used for feed mode. The pump can be slowed to any higher flow up to the maximum 100%. So to answer your question lowest flow is zero.

[wcharon]

Originally Posted by rjallen

For use as a return pump, you calibrate your Vectra plumbed into your system. Calibration takes into account the individual plumbing height and resistance of your piping. Your "zero" is when the pump just pushes water up to your return and does not push the water further into your tank. This is your base line, used for feed mode. The pump can be slowed to any higher flow up to the maximum 100%. So to answer your question lowest flow is zero.

Thanks for the explanation. That means that the power consumption must be less that what i am using right now????

Can you share at what level you are using yours which is similar to mine in terms of gallon?

[rjallen]

Originally Posted by wcharon

Thanks for the explanation. That means that the power consumption must be less that what i am using right now????

EcoSmartLive program lists a power consumption value. Do not know how accurate it is. I does not give you the power used my the controller which is about an additional 8 watts.

Originally Posted by wcharon

Can you share at what level you are using yours which is similar to mine in terms of gallon?

I run my unit between 65% and 98% over a 24 hour period At the highest speed, my power consumption is shown as 78-79 watts.

RJ

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by rjallen

For use as a return pump, you calibrate your Vectra plumbed into your system. Calibration takes into account the individual plumbing height and resistance of your piping.

Not quite sure how I'm going to do that with my CL. Really have no way to monitor output since the returns are down in the tank (and encrusted with SPS). May just have to do it in the slop sink with some temporary piping.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by rjallen

The easiest and best answer is to simply get the adapter fittings from Eco Tech and go straight PVC. In this case your line will not be restricted by the 3/4" [M1- L1 has a similar restriction] plumbing.

Apparently the solvent glue I have been using all along is multi-purpose for ABS, PVC, and CPVC - who knew (well, unless one actually read the can, which I apparently did not)!

3/4" restriction of the output is OK in my case because even then pump will have more flow than I need.

[wcharon]

Originally Posted by rjallen

EcoSmartLive program lists a power consumption value. Do not know how accurate it is. I does not give you the power used my the controller which is about an additional 8 watts.



I run my unit between 65% and 98% over a 24 hour period At the highest speed, my power consumption is shown as 78-79 watts.

RJ

Thanks... This will give me a rough estimate and seems that I will give it a try. How long is the electrical cable?