My tank has been doing horrible lately for no apparent reason. Going on about a month. All tests were coming back normal. Alkalinity stable, on point. No changes to anything. Even replaced my RO membranes/ carbon filters, ran GAC, fearing some kind of contamination. 4 + year old SPS colonies would first show lack of PE, then turn brown, then STN from the base up. First I thought pests, or a few isolated STNS. Test dipped, etc. nothing. I was scratching my head. 80% of colonies were showing signs of STN. I was thinking about tearing everything down and starting over.
Went to clean my pumps, and look what I found. Mind you, this happened over approximately one month, since pumps are cleaned monthly. So, very rapidly. I clean with a dilute solution of warm water and tunze or BRS citric acid, or vinegar. This is a 3 month old pump, purchased around Christmas from BRS.
I email ectotech customer support. Attached copies of the photos and my proof of purchase from BRS. I am told that it is basically my fault, for using citric acid. and that " the pumps are not designed to be used with a cleaning agent of that nature," and that I should have been using vinegar solution instead. What a laughable and misinformed excuse. Acetic acid and citric acid are very comparable weak acids, being used dilutely. Clearly, there is a quality issue. I understand that some items may fall through the cracks and that defective products are inevitable on occasion. But don't make excuses, and insult my intelligence. Own up to it and act rapidly to directly correct the issue. This is the most expensive pump of its class on the market. Didn't have this issue with $40 Jebaos. I am very disappointed and have lost respect. Mind you, this post is coming from somewhen who was gloating a few months ago about the virtues of Eco tech products.
That said, they offered to have me pay to send the pump back, at which point they will inspect it and possibly send me a new one. Meanwhile, tank is with reduced flow. I will probably sell off the new one and subsequently switch all to Tunze, for one because I can't risk this happening again, and two, because I did not like the way this was handled.
Beware.
At any rate, doing water changes Daily. Replacing GAC daily. I can tell that the GAC is pulling things out of the water, since it turns bright orange (rust colored) after use in the sump. ( I don't use GFO.) The contamination issue has set off a chain reaction, in which the dying off corals have elevated my nutrients and promoted cyano. However, I am confident that things will improve soon since discovering the cause. Looking into a chelating agent; concerned about Sn, W, or Ba contamination.
Went to clean my pumps, and look what I found. Mind you, this happened over approximately one month, since pumps are cleaned monthly. So, very rapidly. I clean with a dilute solution of warm water and tunze or BRS citric acid, or vinegar. This is a 3 month old pump, purchased around Christmas from BRS.
I email ectotech customer support. Attached copies of the photos and my proof of purchase from BRS. I am told that it is basically my fault, for using citric acid. and that " the pumps are not designed to be used with a cleaning agent of that nature," and that I should have been using vinegar solution instead. What a laughable and misinformed excuse. Acetic acid and citric acid are very comparable weak acids, being used dilutely. Clearly, there is a quality issue. I understand that some items may fall through the cracks and that defective products are inevitable on occasion. But don't make excuses, and insult my intelligence. Own up to it and act rapidly to directly correct the issue. This is the most expensive pump of its class on the market. Didn't have this issue with $40 Jebaos. I am very disappointed and have lost respect. Mind you, this post is coming from somewhen who was gloating a few months ago about the virtues of Eco tech products.
That said, they offered to have me pay to send the pump back, at which point they will inspect it and possibly send me a new one. Meanwhile, tank is with reduced flow. I will probably sell off the new one and subsequently switch all to Tunze, for one because I can't risk this happening again, and two, because I did not like the way this was handled.
Beware.
At any rate, doing water changes Daily. Replacing GAC daily. I can tell that the GAC is pulling things out of the water, since it turns bright orange (rust colored) after use in the sump. ( I don't use GFO.) The contamination issue has set off a chain reaction, in which the dying off corals have elevated my nutrients and promoted cyano. However, I am confident that things will improve soon since discovering the cause. Looking into a chelating agent; concerned about Sn, W, or Ba contamination.
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