Kickin the tires on a vortech

drclifton · 08/04/2009, 05:00 PM

Hey guys,

I am heading over to a local reefers place tomorrow to look at a vortech he has for sale. I have never had one of these nor do I know what to look for to make sure it is a good buy. Anyone out there able to help me out???

Its an MP40
I hear I want the 2nd gen model

when I asked he said he had the 2nd gen vortech for 6 months and decided to scrap the tank. How can I be sure it is?

Advice is great.

surge19us · 08/04/2009, 05:31 PM

If he has the original box it will say 2nd gen on the box. You can also copy the serial number from the controller and go to the ecotech forum and they can tell you if it is.

drclifton · 08/04/2009, 05:33 PM

He didn't mention still having the box, but the serial number idea is a pretty good one.

Anywhere I can look up serial numbers for vortechs?

dots · 08/04/2009, 05:39 PM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...s=&forumid=501

Check out the Ecotech forum, and email them (pm's don't work).

Obviously check that it is in good working order, and is "used" not "abused" like anything else.

So you say you have been told "Gen 2" is the one to get......

The first one was the MP40, this is the "real" one you want to avoid.

A MP40w Gen 1 can be upgraded to the Sealed Magnet and reflashed via a Gen 2, so don't worry too much about it.

What most don't realize, is the wet side is a wear part and its a good idea to buy a spare for each pump as the little bearing on the wet end will open up the hole overtime as the magnetic coupler pulls on it.

As mentioned the Wet side Gen 1 Magnet is exposed, whereas the Gen 2 upgrade kit and production have a plastic cover on them.

The Gen 2 has some differnt wave programs in it.....but I have a pair of Gen 1's with the magnetic upgrade and have been too lazy to flash them.....and don't see a need to.

Make sure the S/N number is not scratched off as some that were resold don't have them anymore and EcoTech may not honor the warranty on them anymore. Go one step farther and have the person send you a picture of the S/N's for Generation conformation....they may even give you service history on them....

http://ecotechmarine.com/faq/serial-number-sticker/

Get the Battery back up if they have that as well, and Marine Depot carries spare Wet ends.

I have had mine for nearly two years and love them.

FullFathomFive · 08/04/2009, 06:00 PM

Have him print off the sales receipt for you in case you need to have it sent in for repair.

drclifton · 08/04/2009, 06:10 PM

I knew you guys would pull through for me!!

Thanks FullFathomFive, Surge19us, and dots...Great advice.

I found out it is a Mp40W, so that is good. I asked him for the serial number and am waiting on a reply. I will ask him tomorrow for a sales receipt and also verify the sn myself.

Any advice on maintenance I should do on it when I get it? Vinegar soak and such. Knowing myself I will be so excited to get it that I will baby it for the first couple of months.

Speaking of How long do the wetside assemblies generally last?

drclifton · 08/04/2009, 06:34 PM

Just got the serial number. Anyone on here know how to tell what model/generation it is by just the serial number?

I emailed Ecotech and hopefully I get a response before tomorrow evening.

foxhuntr · 08/04/2009, 10:31 PM

look for the numbers 08 or 09 in the serial number that will tell you if its an gen 2 or not........ all of the 09's are gen 2.......if its a gen 2 it should say 40WG209******...... thats all the info you need....40W means its a MP40 wireless..... G2 means gen 2.... and the 09 means 2009

drclifton · 08/04/2009, 10:39 PM

Foxhuntr,

Mine is 40wg2080*****

Looks like it is an 08, but is still gen2.

What does this mean.

foxhuntr · 08/04/2009, 11:02 PM

that means it is a late 2008 model ..... it means your good to go.... but i would call ecotech and see if there is any warrenty left on it... if so register it.... there is a 1 year warrenty on them.... just check the wetside and make sure the impeller is still tight and the bearing is not worn out

08/04/2009, 05:00 PM	#1
drclifton Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 197	Kickin the tires on a vortech Hey guys, I am heading over to a local reefers place tomorrow to look at a vortech he has for sale. I have never had one of these nor do I know what to look for to make sure it is a good buy. Anyone out there able to help me out??? Its an MP40 I hear I want the 2nd gen model when I asked he said he had the 2nd gen vortech for 6 months and decided to scrap the tank. How can I be sure it is? Advice is great.

08/04/2009, 05:31 PM	#2
surge19us Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Willard, Oh Posts: 656	If he has the original box it will say 2nd gen on the box. You can also copy the serial number from the controller and go to the ecotech forum and they can tell you if it is. __________________ Sean Current Tank Info: 120 gal 30 gal sump/fuge, ATB Econo 840 skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40w, AC Jr., 2-250watt MH 20K Radiums, Lumen Max 2 reflectors, 2 tek T5 retro actinic, Prime chiller, ATO/kalk reactor, drews dosers on two part.

08/04/2009, 05:39 PM	#4
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...s=&forumid=501 Check out the Ecotech forum, and email them (pm's don't work). Obviously check that it is in good working order, and is "used" not "abused" like anything else. So you say you have been told "Gen 2" is the one to get...... The first one was the MP40, this is the "real" one you want to avoid. A MP40w Gen 1 can be upgraded to the Sealed Magnet and reflashed via a Gen 2, so don't worry too much about it. What most don't realize, is the wet side is a wear part and its a good idea to buy a spare for each pump as the little bearing on the wet end will open up the hole overtime as the magnetic coupler pulls on it. As mentioned the Wet side Gen 1 Magnet is exposed, whereas the Gen 2 upgrade kit and production have a plastic cover on them. The Gen 2 has some differnt wave programs in it.....but I have a pair of Gen 1's with the magnetic upgrade and have been too lazy to flash them.....and don't see a need to. Make sure the S/N number is not scratched off as some that were resold don't have them anymore and EcoTech may not honor the warranty on them anymore. Go one step farther and have the person send you a picture of the S/N's for Generation conformation....they may even give you service history on them.... http://ecotechmarine.com/faq/serial-number-sticker/ Get the Battery back up if they have that as well, and Marine Depot carries spare Wet ends. I have had mine for nearly two years and love them. __________________ ~Doug

08/04/2009, 06:00 PM	#5
FullFathomFive Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Pacific Northwest Posts: 48	Have him print off the sales receipt for you in case you need to have it sent in for repair. __________________ Ivana Current Tank Info: 155-gallon bowfront with 55-gallon sump

08/04/2009, 05:33 PM	#3
drclifton Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 197	He didn't mention still having the box, but the serial number idea is a pretty good one. Anywhere I can look up serial numbers for vortechs?

08/04/2009, 06:10 PM	#6
drclifton Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 197	I knew you guys would pull through for me!! Thanks FullFathomFive, Surge19us, and dots...Great advice. I found out it is a Mp40W, so that is good. I asked him for the serial number and am waiting on a reply. I will ask him tomorrow for a sales receipt and also verify the sn myself. Any advice on maintenance I should do on it when I get it? Vinegar soak and such. Knowing myself I will be so excited to get it that I will baby it for the first couple of months. Speaking of How long do the wetside assemblies generally last?

08/04/2009, 06:34 PM	#7
drclifton Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 197	Just got the serial number. Anyone on here know how to tell what model/generation it is by just the serial number? I emailed Ecotech and hopefully I get a response before tomorrow evening.

08/04/2009, 10:31 PM	#8
foxhuntr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: PA Posts: 266	look for the numbers 08 or 09 in the serial number that will tell you if its an gen 2 or not........ all of the 09's are gen 2.......if its a gen 2 it should say 40WG209******...... thats all the info you need....40W means its a MP40 wireless..... G2 means gen 2.... and the 09 means 2009

08/04/2009, 10:39 PM	#9
drclifton Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 197	Foxhuntr, Mine is 40wg2080***** Looks like it is an 08, but is still gen2. What does this mean.

08/04/2009, 11:02 PM	#10
foxhuntr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: PA Posts: 266	that means it is a late 2008 model ..... it means your good to go.... but i would call ecotech and see if there is any warrenty left on it... if so register it.... there is a 1 year warrenty on them.... just check the wetside and make sure the impeller is still tight and the bearing is not worn out