New EcoTech Marine Vectra Return Pump

[fredro]

Just saw a post about a new product from ETM on Twitter. I guess it's a return pump that runs off a VorTech Controller and QD based motor technology. Also am be controlled through ESL. Anyone have any juicy info on this!!??!! Saying release date end of August,

https://mobile.twitter.com/h2oaquatics

[gcarroll]

Once again, the cat gets out the bag just a tad early!

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by fredro

Anyone have any juicy info on this!!??!!

Yup

[sbarkey]

Tagging along for more details as well.

[Spartanman22]

This is interesting! I may have to think a little harder on my return pump for my upgrade now! Looks like the RD3 may have some competition!

[d2mini]

Darn. Wish it was something I could actually use.
Unless this thing is going to push 6000+ gph!

[Johnseye]

and I just bought a new pump....I suppose the RD 3 is still going to be a better pump, but I do like Ecotech products

[nuxx]

Guess it'll occupy that place between the price of Chinese DC pumps and RE pumps.

That being said, have had great luck with Chinese DC pumps in two skimmers and 4 return pumps.

[Wazzel]

Interesting concept and I am sure it is a well made product, but are people really going change the speed of the return pump during the day? It will cause SG fluxuations and tuning issues with the overflows. Maybe for a closed loop it would be cool or just to compete with the DC pumps on the market already.

[nuxx]

Originally Posted by Wazzel

Interesting concept and I am sure it is a well made product, but are people really going change the speed of the return pump during the day? It will cause SG fluxuations and tuning issues with the overflows. Maybe for a closed loop it would be cool or just to compete with the DC pumps on the market already.

DC is nice for super fine adjustments (have a DC light dimmer in line on one of our pumps) instead of adjusting valves in the plumbing.

I think it's more to get in with the current trend. Not sure about the QD either...

Every DC pump I've had, all you can hear are the impellers... and only after they've been cleaned or are new.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by Wazzel

Interesting concept and I am sure it is a well made product, but are people really going change the speed of the return pump during the day? It will cause SG fluxuations and tuning issues with the overflows. Maybe for a closed loop it would be cool or just to compete with the DC pumps on the market already.

Agreed, though the closed loop applications could be really intriguing; assuming it's rated as an external pump, that is. Will it 'pulse' like a vortech I wonder? Also, how much of it is ETM made and how much repurposed Chinese DC.

[Chris155hp]

Following and the fact that reef builders "leaked" images first seems to me like a planned leak. Much the same move as with the QD being "leaked" a few weeks b4 announcement

[Breadman03]

If it's pressure rated, count me as interested.

[gcarroll]

Originally Posted by Chris155hp

Following and the fact that reef builders "leaked" images first seems to me like a planned leak. Much the same move as with the QD being "leaked" a few weeks b4 announcement

Um, Reef Builders wrote the article today. This thread started yesturday!

[toky916]

Nice but so far I'm happy with my water blaster and that's honestly till it dies or I upgrade tanks then I'll consider a new return...

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by Johnseye

....I suppose the RD 3 is still going to be a better pump

I'm not so sure about that, time will tell though.

So I have been biting my tongue for a while. I have been using an Ecotech Marine return pump for close to 4 years. I acquired these without Ecotechs knowledge from a beta tester after he left the hobby and out of respect I didn't want to leak any info that Ecotech was in fact working on a return pump. I've blurred the serial numbers but in case you get busted dude, sorry... I held out as long as I could. Now that the cat is out of the bag I am going to show them. AFAIK these are the only published pics of the Ecotech TiTech pumps .

These are not the pumps being released as they are visably different and are ac based but I can tell you these things are amazing. The stats printed on the label are quite conservative but you can get a feel for the flow ranges. They are quiet, I have never encountered a stall, and I have never taken them apart for cleaning so I don't know what they look like on the inside. What I can say is these are by far the best pumps I have used, they are external or submersible, I've used them in both configs. You can clearly tell that the pump body and manufacture date should put to rest that they are rebadged or copies of Chinese DC pumps as they were made in 2011, long before those things were even a thought.

I am stoked to see the new pumps fit the form factor because in the event anything breaks on these pumps I will likely have to manufacture the parts myself. Given the serial numbers I cannot imagine they made more than a handful of them. So the fact that these pumps fit the form factor means I will probably be able to adapt them without much plumbing change. If they kept the fittings the same a standard threaded pvc union will also fit.


I use this pump as my return, it is plumbed into a manifold and feeds several reactors and 3 connected tanks.


I use this pump as a closed loop, it is hanging from the top of my stand in my BTA tank.


So there you have it, my juicy details. Ecotech has been developing these pumps for over 4 years. Given their history of consistent improvement I can only imagine these new pumps are silent, durable, more efficient, and powerful. I grinned ear to ear after seeing the leaked photo on this thread, I wasn't entirely sure they had continued the project. Glad they did!!!

That said, I won't be upgrading any time soon (I hope) . These beasts do just fine.

[fredro]

Wow!

[Chris155hp]

Awesome can't wait to see more of the new version

[nuxx]

Nice inside info

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by nuxx

Nice inside info

Thanks , as a fanboy I have to try my best . Though I must admit... it wasn't easy for me to keep this under wraps. I like to talk.

[gcarroll]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Thanks , as a fanboy I have to try my best . Though I must admit... it wasn't easy for me to keep this under wraps. I like to talk.

The pump you showed is not related to the pump that is being released, other than the fact that it shows just how long Ecotech Marine has been researching return pumps.

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by gcarroll

The pump you showed is not related to the pump that is being released, other than the fact that it shows just how long Ecotech Marine has been researching return pumps.

Beyond show and tell that is the reason I posted it, if I wasn't clear enough in my post then I am sorry. I can only assume they learned from it and moved on. I'm a manufacturing engineer that works in R&D. I understand what it takes to produce something good and that you work in iterations to get a final product, it just doesn't happen out of the gate unless you are extremely lucky or choose to go the cheap and risky route of having your customers do the testing. From manufacture date of the TiTech to the release date of the Vectra I would be willing to bet everything has changed at least once if not many times over.

[d2mini]

I wonder how big they are planning on going?
I need something twice that powerful!
10,500 l/hr is about 2700 g/hr

[ca1ore]

Intriguing if the QD controller enables the same range of functions for this as it does for the vortech. Not all that useful as a return pump perhaps, but very interesting as a closed loop.

[sbarkey]

Perhaps they will release multiple models with more capability!