Is the Vortech MP10 EcoSart better/worth more the original MP10?

[DanMgy]

I am goin to be purchasing a Vortech MP10 or MP10ES in a day or two and I have been trying to figure out the major differences and if the MP10ES is really worth the extra cost. I can get the MP10 for about $25/$30 less than the MP10 EcoSmart.

So my question, is it worth paying the difference?

From what I can see the only main differnce is that you get a few new wave modes with the MP10 ES and it comes with a fancier control box. Even if the MP10 ES does come with a little bit more, is it really worth the extra cost?

My buddy has one and he hardly ever changes the modes except when feeding, is that the norm with most people?

[ganjero]

There are only 2 generations of MP10, and 2 models of the second gen. If you get the one with the ecosmart driver get the one with wirelles capability, that way you can later on get another one and have them communicate. For $25/$30 I would get the newest one.

Yes, usually once you like a mode you stick with it.

[DanMgy]

Originally Posted by ganjero

There are only 2 generations of MP10, and 2 models of the second gen. If you get the one with the ecosmart driver get the one with wirelles capability, that way you can later on get another one and have them communicate. For $25/$30 I would get the newest one.

Yes, usually once you like a mode you stick with it.

ganjero,

Thanks for the clearing that up for me, I went ahead and updated my post.

I did see the wireless feature, but the cost is about $75 more than the MP10 ES and almost $100 than the original MP10. I figure if I do ever upgrade I can just buy the upgrade module at that time, so I won't have to spend the cash now because I won't need it. Plus, can't I just spend a little time and adjust the speeds manually to create the flow/wave I want?

[ganjero]

Originally Posted by DanMgy

ganjero,

Thanks for the clearing that up for me, I went ahead and updated my post.

I did see the wireless feature, but the cost is about $75 more than the MP10 ES and almost $100 than the original MP10. I figure if I do ever upgrade I can just buy the upgrade module at that time, so I won't have to spend the cash now because I won't need it. Plus, can't I just spend a little time and adjust the speeds manually to create the flow/wave I want?

The modes are almost the same, the ES has a new tweaking advantages but for random regular flow it's about the same. Some of the new features:
You can adjust the feed mode speed and duration, night mode speed and duration, 2 new modes, new driver that can be dimmed and it's also more visual (easier to adjust speed), you can turn off the pump without needing to unplug it, etc. Like I said the ES makes it easier to tweak it.

[sedor]

I would go with the newer version as well. Its going to produce the same quality results but it has a few more cool gizmos and gadgets so why not get the best if your committing to a high quality powerhead anyways.

[DanMgy]

Originally Posted by sedor

I would go with the newer version as well. Its going to produce the same quality results but it has a few more cool gizmos and gadgets so why not get the best if your committing to a high quality powerhead anyways.

Ryan,

I completely understand what you are saying and agree, why not spend a few extra dollars when already spending a lot. The problems is that happens on everything and I am already spending more to get the Vortech. I am just trying to see if those "cool gizmos" are Reallyworth it. I don't doubt that they are nice to have, but will I use them? But I have and will have everything connected to easy access power modules and once I find the speeds wouldn't I hardly be adjusting them? Maybe when adding some new frags or something?

Not trying to argue, really just want to gauge if it is worth it. Almost seems like its that house down the street being flipped... new coat of paint, new hedges and landscaping, but really just the same house No? Or maybe that stuff is worth it and I should just suck it up and pay the extra?

[Opus123]

In your case it sounds like you don't need it. If you get a second MP10 a year or 2 down the road, upgrade your current MP10 then instead of investing the extra $$$ now. Use the $$$ else where such as on a better protein skimmer or lights. You might also think about using the $$$ to invest in the battery backup vortech makes.

I'm in the same boat. I've got a MP10 but once I set it up I haven't touched it so I've so far held off from buying the upgrade. I probably won't upgrade unless I decide to add a second MP10 to the tank.

I'm not sure what prices you are seeing but I've seen several dealers unloading their MP10's for $175 with free shipping. May be able to find them even cheaper.

[DanMgy]

Originally Posted by Opus123

In your case it sounds like you don't need it. If you get a second MP10 a year or 2 down the road, upgrade your current MP10 then instead of investing the extra $$$ now. Use the $$$ else where such as on a better protein skimmer or lights. You might also think about using the $$$ to invest in the battery backup vortech makes.

I'm in the same boat. I've got a MP10 but once I set it up I haven't touched it so I've so far held off from buying the upgrade. I probably won't upgrade unless I decide to add a second MP10 to the tank.

I'm not sure what prices you are seeing but I've seen several dealers unloading their MP10's for $175 with free shipping. May be able to find them even cheaper.

I pretty muched have maxed everything out with lights, skimmer, tank, pump , there are extra's that I will get eventually i.e. ATO, doser. I will be posting everything once the tank is finished.

I found the MP10 for 175, the MP10ES for 195, but the MP10ESw jumps up to about 265 .

[Chris27]

Really, you'll be happy with any model you get. If you don't have the money for the full on version then drop the $175 bones now, I know you'll be happier with it over a Korailia or Maxijet....

[Poriferan]

I agree, if you are only running 1 the advantages of the new controller seem mute. I have the old version and it is far superior to my korilla. I leave it on wave crest (which is 90% of what most people state they use) and use feeding mode and night mode. It can be turned off without unplugging by holding set and mode buttons for 3 seconds.

[ganjero]

Originally Posted by Poriferan

I agree, if you are only running 1 the advantages of the new controller seem mute. I have the old version and it is far superior to my korilla. I leave it on wave crest (which is 90% of what most people state they use) and use feeding mode and night mode. It can be turned off without unplugging by holding set and mode buttons for 3 seconds.

You mean reef crest, right? Holding set and mode for 3 sec enters the configuration mode, which is not really turning it off but I guess it could work for some purposes

[VtheMaestro]

the advantages of the new controller are numerous regardless of the number of vortechs you are running. The LED display to accurately guage the intensity of the pump is worth the price of upgrading to es. Also, the nutrient transport mode and the wave autotune are awesome improvements over the previous driver. I have to vortechs, one wireless, but they aren't connected. I don't mind that they don't communicate, i just love the es controller.


word to the wise, search is your best friend on rc. This subject has been discussed as nauseum already.

[DanMgy]

Originally Posted by VtheMaestro

the advantages of the new controller are numerous regardless of the number of vortechs you are running. The LED display to accurately guage the intensity of the pump is worth the price of upgrading to es. Also, the nutrient transport mode and the wave autotune are awesome improvements over the previous driver. I have to vortechs, one wireless, but they aren't connected. I don't mind that they don't communicate, i just love the es controller.

word to the wise, search is your best friend on rc. This subject has been discussed as nauseum already.

Maestro- I did try doing a search on this and I couldn't find anything addressing comparing the MP10 and the MP10 ES, sorry if redundant...

But on another note, thanks for the feedback and I have to say that you have one of the cleanest looking sumps I have seen.

Question for you if you don't mind... you say that being able to gauge the intensity is a real value for you, I was under the impressions that when I'm setting it up I am going to look at the water and the action the pump is creating to adjust it? Do you have some trick or tip that you can share with me on setting it up??

Thanks-

[Poriferan]

Yes to Reef Crest
Eco Tech rep called it "turning off" prior to the new driver being released. It stops the device until you restart it.

As fas as led lights to indicate intensity, I am curious, how often do you make adjustments to you intensitys? I found a good spot (100%) and never adjust it. Sometimes I play with the short pluse mode but I go by action I see in the tank not the position on my dial.

I will look up the nutrient transport mode and the wave autotune to see the advantage of having these functions.

All that said, if I were buying a new one I would get all the bells and whistles, what's a few more $$ for equipment
This is reefing after all and most of use have likely already spent quite a bit.

[VtheMaestro]

Originally Posted by DanMgy

Maestro- I did try doing a search on this and I couldn't find anything addressing comparing the MP10 and the MP10 ES, sorry if redundant...

But on another note, thanks for the feedback and I have to say that you have one of the cleanest looking sumps I have seen.

Question for you if you don't mind... you say that being able to gauge the intensity is a real value for you, I was under the impressions that when I'm setting it up I am going to look at the water and the action the pump is creating to adjust it? Do you have some trick or tip that you can share with me on setting it up??

Thanks-

no worries.
I'm not sure what search terms you used, but these RC threads may help...
EcoTech VorTech MP Model questions.\
What is the difference between MP10 & MP10ES
EcoTech Marine Launches the EcoSmart Driver!
vortech mp40w or mp40es?
difference in new vortec ecosmart driver and old


thanks for the compliment, i wanted a clean build from top to bottom.

The guage is important to me because:
1. i re-scape the tank when i vacuum and flow patterns must be adjusted, i'm constantly adding new specimens so i may want lower flow while acclimating 2. i may want to change intensity based on feeding (feed mode works, but i like to increase the flow gradually from the off position)
3. i learn more about return flow vs powerhead flow; i'm making small adjustments. When i clean my return pump and plumbing, resulting in higher flow, i like to reset my vortechs.

Maybe i'm looking to deeply into it, or maybe i just like spending money on my tank, but the es was worth the extra coin.

[sitandwatch]

Get the original unless you are going to run more then one then get the wireless one so they talk to each other.

Really you will find one mode and leave it there, I bet you and your tank would not notice the difference between the Eco mode's and reef crest.

You can always upgrade in the future.

[VtheMaestro]

another word of advice from my life outside of reefing:
if you only plan to buy something once, buy the best you can afford

[DanMgy]

Originally Posted by VtheMaestro

another word of advice from my life outside of reefing:
if you only plan to buy something once, buy the best you can afford

HA! I agree with that philosophy but I need to make a slight adjustment to it "buy the best you are allowed to afford"

My other half complains that I am always doing some kind of project and spending money like it grows on trees, which sucks because I tend to lean towards the expensive stuff... So I am now limited to what I can spent. But I got a pass on this because i'm doing it with the kid and got a pass

I know this might be changing the topic a little, but will the Vortech's be as effective if I place two against the back instead of on the side? I hate the fact I have a rimless with a black thing on the side.

Isn't the idea is to create water movement and a current, does it really matter if it is side to side verse front to back as long as the water is moving?

Maestro, I saw in your tank thread that you were looking to repostion yours, did you ever try putting them against the back wall?

[Chris27]

I felt the same way, which is why I got two to put on the back wall of my tank. A big'ol black thing hanging off the side of the tank with a wire running up to the top is pretty ugly if you ask me. The motors on these things really aren't that big, and can easily fit between a tank and a wall for a nice clean look.

Don't worry, whether you spend $175 or $265, you are still getting one of the best, the difference is that one is just a little newer and has the cherries on top....

[jlanger]

Yesterday I just installed two MP10w ES pumps on our 45 gallon cube.

LOVE THEM!!!

The two pumps replaced five different koralia pumps and the changed is dramatic.
The water temp has always been hovering around around 82 degrees and now we need a heater to get it up to 76 degrees.
The amount of surface agitation is much improved.
And the biggest improvement is the undertow has basically eliminated dead spots on the sand bed. After I removed all the other pumps and re-aquascaped the system, there was a lot of detritus settled behind the rocks. I was thinking that I may have to add one koralia back into the tank to keep some flow going behind the structure. But after a couple of hours, it was all gone.

The two are running as master/slave in Tidal Swell Mode at 75%.
Set-up was incredibly quick and easy. But I do confess I had spent some time reading the full manual prior to ordering them so I was more familiar with them before they arrived.
There is a very smaller amount of 'chatter' when the pumps are ramped up to the higher flows, but they do say after a break in period it should lessen.

My only complaint is the adhesive backing on the cord managers are white. So you see white squares on the inside of your system. Why couldn't they be black? I'll probably try to find some black ones to use instead. Very small detail, I know. But it does bug me.

I highly recommend going for the wireless EcoSmart models!
I believe all the bells and whistles of the newer models are worth the money. Having an on/off button makes that process easier.
Not to mention that being wireless means when you adjust the master pump, all slave pumps respond instantly.
And with any future upgrades we make to larger systems, the wireless pumps can become slaves to the larger models.
Just ask yourself, "Is the extra money going to be worth all the hours of you're going to spend wishing you had the upgraded model?" I say it is.

If anyone has any questions about how the pumps are doing over a longer period of time, just ask.
I'm sure I'll be playing with the pumps today as the system wakes up today.

-JASON

[reefD]

it will cost you later 60 bucks to upgrade it to an ecosmart. 100 if you want it to be wireless. thats the best part about these pumps later on your can upgrade it. they main issue is not the extra modes its the connectivity that can be made with all pumps if you get the ES model. if you stick with the normal model if you ever get anothe pump you cant controll them together . with the ES driver later when u get other pumps u can controll them as one. id say its worth the extra 30 bucks for sure!

[DanMgy]

I did end up getting the ES model's I found a very good deal and they ended up actually being cheaper than the older generation. I am just nervious that they are not enough and I might have to get a 3rd one or look at getting an MP40... time will tell