Several months back, EcoTech Marine filed an obscure trademark for a Radion LED, but they were able to keep every detail about the trademark completely under wraps forcing the aquarium community to speculate wildly over the possibilities. Yes, the innovative water pump creators are branching out into the LED market, but their new product has been and will continue to be (at least for a little while longer) shrouded in so much mystery that most of us will be guessing as to what it may actually entail. Fortunately, a little information has leaked out from third party sources. Here’s what we know so far. The Radion name will be given to an LED light fixture. It will apparently have 34 full spectrum LEDs that will be a mix of Cree and Osram brand emitters. The fixture will be able to communicate wirelessly with the VorTech pumps and will have robust sunrise, sunset, and cloud cover programs. Other than those details, we don’t know much else. Will the LEDs be modular? How will the fixture look? Fortunately for aquarium technophiles, we won’t have to wait much longer for the official product announcement from EcoTech Marine. They will apparently be releasing all that information at MACNA, which is drawing ever closer. We’ll still try to dig up as much info as we can, but for now the details above will have to do.

By now I’m sure you’ve read the incredibly in-depth article covering measured flow output of various propeller-based water pumps over on Advanced Aquarist. For those of you who haven’t, here’s a quick rundown. The study was conducted by Michael Sandford, William Straka, and Sanjay Joshi with the main objective being to develop a method to more accurately measure water flows rates of various aquarium propeller pumps. Previous methods of measurement relied heavily on equations based on propeller fin measurements and pump rotational rates to calculate the theoretical flow rate. Additional methods of flow measuring consisted of simple bag-fill tests where, as its name implies, a bag of a certain volume was filled with water from the pump being observed. The testers would note how long it took to fill the bag to volume, and the flow rates were calculated. Understanding the intense complexity of water movement and the issues with commonly used testing methods, the group of researchers set out to develop a newer and more accurate way to measure water pump flow, and the results have been quite surprising.

Tunze Stream Flowrate Testing

Before we get into those surprising results, we must first describe the test and the instruments. A test tank of 350-gallons was set up and the tool used to measure the water flow was a SonTek/YSI 10-MHz ADV (Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter).  This ADV is described as a “proven, accurate solution for high-precision, 3-axis (3D), velocity measurements in a wide variety of settings from the laboratory to the ocean”. It is an instrument used by various well-known colleges in both the lab and field, and is a suitable tool for measuring water flow from pumps as it doesn’t create back pressure or unusual conditions that a pump wouldn’t normally encounter. A strobe tachometer and Kill-A-Watt meter were also used to measure each pump’s rotational speed in RPMs and power consumption, respectively.

Water Pumps Used in Flow Rate Study

Thirteen brand name water pumps were tested, including all of the EcoTech Marine VorTech pumps currently available, multiple Hydor Koralia pumps, and the three most powerful Tunze Streams. The ADV was placed at different points in front of each water pump’s opening, measuring data at 5mm increments along both the vertical and horizontal axes. The results were compiled into a flow profile with each pump, and some of these results have caused quite a bit of stir. Some pumps exceeded their advertised flow rates, while others significantly underperformed. Based on the study, all of the EcoTech Marine VorTech pumps had flow rates that exceeded their advertised rates, as did the Hydor Koralia 5 and the Aqueon 2400. Surprisingly, each of the Tunze pumps were shown to consistently under perform, with the Tunze 6305 producing less than half of its advertised flow rate. What appeared to be an anomaly in the study was the fact that the Hydor Koralia 5 produced more water flow than a Koralia 6, and almost as much as a Koralia 7. No explanation was given for this anomaly.

Water Pump Flow Rates

The results of the test apparently even surprised the testers, as they sent the paper to Tunze prior to publication. Tunze conducted their own tests and apparently confirmed the results of this paper, but there’s no information given as to how they performed the independent test. We assume it was through the same or at least similar methods, but that remains to be seen at this point. Tunze has also released a press statement regarding the results of both studies, which we will discuss in a future article.

As for our opinion of the test, we feel there is a significant conflict of interest, despite the fact that Tunze has agreed to the test results. The reason for the conflict is EcoTech’s donation of the test equipment needed for the study and the fact that the person collecting the date was an EcoTech Marine intern.

“We would like to thank EcoTech Marine for providing the large aquarium and renting the equipment needed for the study. The work was performed under the technical guidance and consultation with Bill Straka and Sanjay Joshi of Penn State University. The data was collected by Mike Sandford during his summer internship at EcoTech Marine.”

I’m not at all trying to imply that EcoTech Marine or Mike Sandford are skewing the data, nor am I questioning the integrity of anyone associated with this test. However, when reading the article, you must keep in mind that the equipment was provided by EcoTech Marine and the results favor their products significantly. The VorTech pumps are great products, and I’ve owned several over the years, but any time you see a company essentially conduct a study of its own products alongside those of the competition and come out on top, you do have to question certain aspects of the study. The Tunze Streams are the single greatest competitor of the VorTech pumps, and to see them come out at the bottom is not only shocking, but turns into a PR nightmare for the company.

My only possible explanation for the significant difference in advertised versus actual flow rates for the Tunze Streams is the fact that they have a tube-like shroud protruding from the front of the pump. The VorTech pumps on the other hand, do not have a tubular shroud, but are instead wide open. On top of that, the Tunze shroud is seemingly longer than those of other pumps on the market, which further restricts flow and depresses water flow numbers. When describing previous and unreliable tests performed on older water pumps, the writers indicated that pumping water through a tube-like apparatus constrained water flow and created back pressure. For this reason, those tests were not accurate for propeller-based water pumps and it may serve as a reason behind the water flow differences in the Tunze pumps. This is of course speculation on our end, but given the design differences of each pump, it could serve as a reasonable explanation. This design may be an Achilles’ heel for Tunze, and a trip to the drawing board may be in order.

In closing, I wanted to again state that I do not doubt the test results or question the intentions of the testers. In fact, I applaud their efforts at expanding the understanding of water flow and the measuring of such parameters. Regardless of that, there is still a conflict of interest and I would honestly like to see more testing done, but this time by a completely disinterested third party. Even if the results were identical and the same equipment used, the study would be more readily accepted by the aquatic community and remove doubts from skeptical readers.

Several months ago, EcoTech Marine decided to branch off a little from their wildly popular VorTech pumps to bring another innovative product to the market. They introduced their EcoTech Elements Coral Glue, a cyanoacrylate-based super glue gel ideal for attaching corals to rocks and creating unique live rock structures. The glue was originally only available in 295ml and had a price tag of $50. The price forced many people to question why they needed such a large amount of glue, but fortunately, EcoTech has released a much smaller 75ml version. The new smaller volume glue shares the same compounds as its big brother which give it a two year shelf life, a claim no other glue can make. This smaller glue also sets in 10-seconds, cures in 5-minutes and costs around $2o. This price tag will be a bit more comfortable to swallow since many coral fragging hobbyists are fairly paranoid about having such a large bottle of super glue on hand that doesn’t frequently get used, especially since they’ve probably thrown so many half empty bottles of other brands of glue in the trash.

Using cyanoacrylate glue for coral fragging and other aquarium-related purposes is certainly not a new concept, but where EcoTech separates itself from the crowd is how the glue is made and how it it stored. The glue is triple distilled and has no effect on your aquarium’s pH. The bottle containing the glue has a non-clogging cap, which is a huge plus considering most glue bottles clog after the first couple of uses.

The last thing to keep in mind when considering the price of EcoTech’s glue is just how much 75ml of liquid really is. Most super glue comes in tubes of about one half of an ounce, or even much smaller. The Coral Glue, on the other hand, comes in at roughly 2.5 ounces for the 75ml version. And to top it off, it comes with a significantly longer shelf life and a non-clogging bottle.

Originally seen on Reefs.com.

Seems like a lot of aquarium companies are hiring these day…which means things are going well for the industry. EcoTech Marine is the latest company to open up its doors and offer up a new and exciting career. They have created a new customer service representative position and are looking for hands-on aquarium enthusiasts. This new customer service rep will have direct interaction with customers via phone, email, or face-to-face and will be responsible for educating customers on the product line, processing orders, performing repairs, and a whole slew of other duties related to the product line. If you are interested in the position, EcoTech Marine asks that you send your resume and cover letter to their hiring management partner hireVision Group.

A list of minimum requirements and desired characteristics can be seen below.

Minimum Requirements

* High School Degree
* Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal)
* Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
* Experienced Saltwater Reef Aquarist

Desired Characteristics

* Experience using Epicor Software
* Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to listen effectively
* Able to think and reason in an analytic fashion
* Ability to provide excellent service to various personalities of end users
* Strong organization and record keeping skills
* Stress tolerance, attention to detail and accuracy
* Willing to build a long-term relationship with the customer and the Company
* Has empathy for the customer’s situation
* Has the desire to delight customers, above and beyond the call of duty
* Has a “thick skin” and is able to tactfully and proactively handle complaints

The guys at EcoTech Marine, the manufacturer of the extremely popular VorTech pumps, have been featured in a very recent Newsweek article entitled “College Kid to Millionaire”. The article highlights how EcoTech came into existence, indicating that the company originated as part of a college-sponsored project about seven years ago. The project later received funding to make the dream a reality, eventually leading to arguably the most innovated aquarium pump in the aquarium industry. The reason for EcoTech’s recognition in the article comes from the company’s recent achievement of being named one of Inc.’s 500 fastest-growing companies. Last year alone, the company generated almost $4 million dollars in revenue.

We were recently sent an EcoTech Marine VorTech MP10w with the EcoSmart controller from our newest sponsors Aquarium Specialty for a product review. Though we haven’t had a chance to fully explore all of the features of this spectacular little pump, we did want to share our first impressions. Upon opening the package, I immediately went for the controller. I’ve played with these in the past and the one thing that always impressed me was the quality. The trio of buttons buttons, LED lights, and the knob all feel solid and they all function very well. The buttons even appear to be waterproof, though I have no plans on testing this notion. Moving on from the EcoSmart controller, I then gazed at the pump itself, which is remarkably small. Don’t let its small size fool you though. It puts out some serious flow, but a little more on that later. The pump easily fits into the palm your hand, which is great news for the nano enthusiast who doesn’t want giant powerheads in their aquarium.

After the initial inspection, I put the VorTech MP10 into our 80-gallon frag tank. I unplugged every piece of equipment except the lights, then turned on the tiny VorTech. I was extremely amazed at how much surface agitation and overall water movement this pump emitted. On “Constant Speed” mode and set to full blast, the pump flow hits 1,575 gallons per hour. Though the flow is wide and diffuse, I was able to see plenty of water movement on the opposite end of the tank, which was four feet away. After gathering myself from the initial amazement, I  started to tinker with the different flow modes on the controller. Though I initially doubted the efficiency of the wave creating modes on such a large tank, I decided to try them anyways. Still with no other equipment powered on, I moved into “Short Pulse” mode. The wave effect wasn’t as drastic as you see in all of the YouTube videos, but I was still able to get about a 2 inch wave after only a few seconds. I assume that I could get a much larger wave motion once I’ve had a chance to play with the controller and find the sweet spot.

Continue reading below for the VorTech’s noise levels, controller usage, and our closing thoughts.

The one thing I noticed about this pump that could be a potential downside long-term is the noise level. The pump was by no means loud, especially in relation to the protein skimmer. In fact, with all of the equipment on, the VorTech wasn’t even noticeable. However, with all of the equipment off, you could hear the motor speeding up and slowing down from several feet away. In all fairness though, the acrylic on the frag tank was quite thick and I was unable to use the rubber gasket that goes between the pump’s dry side and the aquarium. From my past experience with the Gen 2 VorTech MP40w that I had on my old 180-gallon reef, the rubber gasket makes a huge difference in noise. Another factor that contributes to noise is the age of the pump. Every VorTech I’ve have ever owned has been louder straight out of the box than a week or more down the road. This may not be the same experience others have had, but it’s something I noticed on equipment that I have used.

The other thing that could be a little frustrating is the flow modes and finding out how to use them. None of us are as patient hobbyists as we should be, and the casual user might not be able to figure out the controls in the first few minutes of use. Luckily, EcoTech Marine has included a very well written and illustrated instruction manual. I know us guys don’t think we need instructions, but they really do help if you read them while you are tinkering with the EcoSmart controller and all of the flow modes. The instructions explain everything from setup to disassembling, and everything in between. Each and every flow mode is listed and described, including how to get them working on your pump.

So far, I’m very impressed with the performance of this pump. It is extremely tiny, though it does a good job of handling an aquarium that is far larger than it was designed for. I wouldn’t recommend using the pump on a four foot long aquarium (that realm is for its big brother the MP40w ES), but it will handle nano aquariums with ease. We will continue to monitor the pump’s performance and we are hoping to get it working on a tank more suited to its capabilities (cough, possible tank build articles in the future, cough). So be sure to stay tuned for updates on this pump, as well as other aquarium equipment we review.

EcoTech VorTech MP60

EcoTech Marine announced yesterday that due to continued development, their new VorTech MP60w ES will now put out a whopping 7,500 gph. This number is a sharp increase from the 5,500 gph that was originally expected. The price on the pump will remain the same ($695) and various retailers, such as our friends at Aquarium Specialty, are already taking pre-orders. If you want to be one of the first to get your hands on this new pump, make your pre-order soon, since the pre-orders are filling up fast according to EcoTech.

From EcoTech:

We had a great time at MACNA earlier this month and we were proud to preview the MP60w ES to the aquarium industry.

When we announced the MP60, we achieved flow rates of 5,500gph. As a result of continued engineering and development, we are excited to announce the final MP60 flow rate is an incredible 7,500gph – making this superior product an even greater value.

Built for tanks 120g-1,000+g, the MP60 will be available to our valued customers later in the winter. Retailers are already taking pre-orders and those are filling out fast.

Just yesterday, EcoTech Marine announced its newest pump…the VorTech MP60w with the EcoSmart controller. EcoTech has also added some footage of this beast in action, making huge waves in a display aquarium (see above). To help keep the pump cool, EcoTech has added vents on the dry side of the pump to keep the motor from overheating. We are very curious to hear how loud these are in person, but by judging from the audio taken from the videos circulating around the web, it’s not very loud.

Specifications from EcoTech Marine:

Flow: 2,500 – 5,500 GPH
Wattage: 10 – 60 watts
Maximum Tank Thickness: 1.25″ (range 3/8″ – 1.25″)
Appropriate Tank Size Range: 120 to 1000+ gallons
Dimensions: Wet Side- 4″ diameter by 3” long.
Dry Side – 4″ diameter by 2.8″ long.
Clearance Needed Behind Aquarium: 3.3″

EcoTech New Battery Backup

EcoTech Marine and IceCap, Inc. are voluntarily recalling the Battery Backup cables for the EcoTech Marine and IceCap Battery Backups, with each company handling recalls for their respective products. The issue arose only on the VorTech pumps operating with the Wireless Wave Driver. This includes all MP40w pumps equipped with the WWD and any MP40 or MP20 pumps that have been upgraded with the WWD. The Battery Backup could experience a condition in which it would supply more current to the pump than the cable can handle. The cable could then heat up to unsafe levels. To remedy the situation, EcoTech Marine and IceCap, Inc. are performing a recall on all of the cables, regardless of the model of VorTech pump used. So even if your pump isn’t one of the ones affected (for example the MP10, MP10 ES, MP10w ES, MP20, MP40w ES, or any model VorTech pump that does not use a WWD driver), you are still eligible for the recall. To participate in the recall, go to the EcoTech Marine Recall Page. There, you will find the contact information for both EcoTech Marine and IceCap, Inc.

See below for the press release from EcoTech Marine President, Tim Marks:

Important Notice:

EcoTech Marine has issued a voluntary recall of the Battery Backup cable used for the VorTech pump.

Dear Customers:

EcoTech Marine has issued a voluntary recall on the Battery Backup cable for the EcoTech Marine Battery Backup. This recall also affects the cables supplied with the IceCap Battery Backup for the VorTech propeller pump, however IceCap, Inc. will be handling the recall of the cables for their accessory independently of us and we recommend that you contact them directly regarding a recall of their cables. It is important to note that this issue only affects those Battery Backup cables that are used with VorTech propeller pumps powered by the Wireless Wave Driver (WWD) driver but this recall will cover all Battery Backup cables regardless of which driver is connected with the cable.

VorTech pumps operating with the WWD may experience an electrical fault condition. In these cases, a battery backup could supply more current than the connection cable can handle which could cause the cable to heat up to an unsafe level. Therefore, there is a voluntary recall on the connection cable for the EcoTech Marine Battery Backup (image 1.1 shown below) for the VorTech propeller pump.  Note the same issue will occur with the IceCap Battery Backup cable for the VorTech propeller pumps sold in United States and Canada. This will apply to Battery Backups used with all the following models of EcoTech Marine VorTech pumps:

-          All MP40w Pumps equipped with the WWD
-          Any MP40 and MP20 pumps that have been upgraded to the WWD

Note: this issue does not affect the use of the Battery Backup connection cable when used with MP10, MP10 ES, MP10w ES, MP20, MP40w ES, or any model VorTech pump that does not use a WWD driver. However, anyone that has purchased an EcoTech Marine Battery Backup will be eligible to participate in this recall regardless of what model VorTech propeller pump they are using.

To correct this problem swiftly and safely, we have revised the cables used with our Battery Backup accessory to include a cable that has an inline fuse built in. Any purchaser of an EcoTech Marine Battery Backup is eligible for this recall at no cost. Our revised cable will also solve this risk for use with IceCap batteries; however they will be handling the distribution of these components to their customers separately from us.

If you have purchased an IceCap Battery Backup (as indicated by the presence of their logo on the accessory, Image 1.3 shown below) or IceCap Battery Backup connection cable, please contact them directly for support at service@icecapinc.com or 1-800-7-ICECAP. If you have purchased an EcoTech Marine Battery Backup (as indicated by the lack of IceCap’s logo on the accessory, Image 1.4 shown below), please refer to below:

To receive replacement cables, please fill out our recall request form below. We will send you replacement cables free of charge upon submission of the form. Discontinue use of the previous connection cables. Note that we are not requesting that you return your non-fused cables to us. Please destroy the non-fused cables by cutting them in half and dispose of them so that they cannot be used. If you have any questions, please email us at service@ecotechmarine.com or call us at 1-888-785-0338.

If you are an international client, revised battery back cables will be supplied through your local distributor, a list of who are available on our website here: http://ecotechmarine.com/where-to-buy/international-distributors/

In order to improve the efficiency of this action, we will also be selling cables through our parts store below our cost to any customer that wishes to place an order immediately and forego the recall paper work. The revised cables will be available on our website for $1.50 each plus $3 shipping to US customers only for a period of approximately three months from the date of the recall.

From this date forward, all EcoTech Marine Battery Backups will contain the new fuse styled cables, which are distinguishable by the presence of a fuse holder built into the cable and a label showing part number 10427. However, there may still exist inventory that will contain the previous non-fused cable. If you purchase an EcoTech Marine Battery Backup from a vendor and it does not feature the new style cable with fuse, please contact us for your replacement cables.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Regards,

Tim Marks
President
EcoTech Marine, LLC

EcoTech Marine Logo

A couple of weeks ago we wrote about the new EcoTech Marine Parts Store that was announced. Well, today it officially launched. The Parts Store is full of every gadget and gizmo that could possibly fit on your Vortech MP10, MP20, or MP40w.

EcoTech Marine Parts Store