Ecotech Vectra M1 vs Reef Octopus VarioS-6 DC Pump

[Allen Chris]

Hello,
Which one of these DC pumps is a better return pump?
I hoping someone here has been fortunate enough to have both at one point to to give a good comparison. I am aware that the Reef Octopus is APEX compatible and it has a float switch.

What I am mainly looking for is:
1. Minimal heat
2. Silent
3. Reliability

Any advice and help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

 

[mcarroll]

1) dubious; based on power consumption alone – which if you're in a 72ºF HVAC living space might not be an actual benefit cuz your heaters will pick up any slack in the water temp. In addition, RPM's are higher on DC pumps so you maybe trading one heat issue for another. At most, DC is slightly more power-efficient than AC, but at what cost? (Both in dollars and warranty.)
2) AC pumps are also silent. And I mean my cheapie Quiet One is literally dead-silent. So was the one before it. So's my Eheim Universal. Even my Mag is really quiet, though it is louder than the other two. If there's a pump that's more quiet than the Eheim and Quiet One, you'd need a sound meter to prove it.
3) DC pumps (the ones you named) haven't been around long enough for anyone to really say. AC pumps like Mag, Quiet One, Eheim, Sicce have been out there for many years....some far longer than others.

Last, there's no real reason to have variable flow on a return pump is there?

At most having it on your controller for on/off switching is usually more than adequate. (For what it's worth, I don't even do that. If my return pump isn't running, it's either being cleaned or it's broken. )


(Sorry I can't comment more directly on the comparison.....you may also consider this post a BUMP!)

 

[mta_morrow]

1) dubious; based on power consumption alone – which if you're in a 72ºF HVAC living space might not be an actual benefit cuz your heaters will pick up any slack in the water temp. In addition, RPM's are higher on DC pumps so you maybe trading one heat issue for another. At most, DC is slightly more power-efficient than AC, but at what cost? (Both in dollars and warranty.)
2) AC pumps are also silent. And I mean my cheapie Quiet One is literally dead-silent. So was the one before it. So's my Eheim Universal. Even my Mag is really quiet, though it is louder than the other two. If there's a pump that's more quiet than the Eheim and Quiet One, you'd need a sound meter to prove it.
3) DC pumps (the ones you named) haven't been around long enough for anyone to really say. AC pumps like Mag, Quiet One, Eheim, Sicce have been out there for many years....some far longer than others.

Last, there's no real reason to have variable flow on a return pump is there?

At most having it on your controller for on/off switching is usually more than adequate. (For what it's worth, I don't even do that. If my return pump isn't running, it's either being cleaned or it's broken. )


(Sorry I can't comment more directly on the comparison.....you may also consider this post a BUMP!)

I really like your way of thinkin'!

 

[ksed]

Very well said.
Although I would like to add, DC pumps are not necessarily more efficient. If the two pumps use the same gap between the stator and rotor, the same type of magnets eg neodymium, same motor block eg poles etc
The AC will come out slightly more efficient simply because you don't have the 120V to 24V conversion losses (power supply).

1) dubious; based on power consumption alone – which if you're in a 72ºF HVAC living space might not be an actual benefit cuz your heaters will pick up any slack in the water temp. In addition, RPM's are higher on DC pumps so you maybe trading one heat issue for another. At most, DC is slightly more power-efficient than AC, but at what cost? (Both in dollars and warranty.)
2) AC pumps are also silent. And I mean my cheapie Quiet One is literally dead-silent. So was the one before it. So's my Eheim Universal. Even my Mag is really quiet, though it is louder than the other two. If there's a pump that's more quiet than the Eheim and Quiet One, you'd need a sound meter to prove it.
3) DC pumps (the ones you named) haven't been around long enough for anyone to really say. AC pumps like Mag, Quiet One, Eheim, Sicce have been out there for many years....some far longer than others.

Last, there's no real reason to have variable flow on a return pump is there?

At most having it on your controller for on/off switching is usually more than adequate. (For what it's worth, I don't even do that. If my return pump isn't running, it's either being cleaned or it's broken. )


(Sorry I can't comment more directly on the comparison.....you may also consider this post a BUMP!)

 

[Salty1962]

I have a RODC 5500 which is the earlier version of the Vario6 and I really like it. Great flow, dead silent and only 50Ws on full blast, 1585 GPH. The Vario6 is even higher in flow, I believe @1700+ GPH. Unless you're going to use the pump for a closed loop, I agree with @mcarroll what do you need the control that Ecotech has? JMO

 

[dangros]

IME the Eheims are not silent. They are quiet compared to a Mag but that's as far as I would put it. You can easily hear the hum in my house. My Overflow is silent and I have hardwood floors. ANY pump noise is easily heard on my setup. I can't stand the noise so i truly want silent - when I say silent, I mean that you won't hear it standing at the tank period! My vectra m1 is 100% undetectable at the tank. It does, however generate more heat than I care for. So I may be replacing it with a dragon or octo at some point but for now, I just run it on level 4 or 5 and it's ok.

 

[mfinn]

Hello,
Which one of these DC pumps is a better return pump?
I hoping someone here has been fortunate enough to have both at one point to to give a good comparison. I am aware that the Reef Octopus is APEX compatible and it has a float switch.

What I am mainly looking for is:
1. Minimal heat
2. Silent
3. Reliability

Any advice and help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

To answer your question,
my vote is for the Vectra M1.
Silent and dependable.
I do like the dc pumps because you can always go bigger or smaller, increase flow or decrease flow without adding extra valves.

 

[mjt82]

I'm sitting here laughing at myself as I type this because I'm currently on my third reply on the forum bragging on my Varios...

I'm a huge fan of my Varios. I haven't owned a Vectra, so I can't speak on how they operate, but the Varios is dead silent and very powerful. I can't detect any heat issues associated with it. I haven't had it but for a few months, but haven't had a minute's trouble from it since I've owned it. I'm a huge fan of Reef Octopus' stuff.