@Tim at EcoTech
Initial review on the versa dosing pumps for Automatic Water Changes (AWC) is a good one.
Writing this review, because I have not been able to find one on here of anyone setting it up and using it for AWC. Maybe this will help a couple of people out.
I set these up for an AWC on my FOWLR tank that does not have an APEX on it, so this was the only choice I had IMO.
Right out of the box the product was in good shape and seems super solid for being such a small product. I plugged them in, downloaded the Mobius App, and the devices appeared right away. It took about 30 second for the app to update the firmware on the 2 pumps. After complete I took them out to the garage to set them up. Used the back side of the plate and screwed into the wall. After doing so, the pump would not seat all the way down. I tried loosening the screws, I did everything. Still could not get them to seat all the way down the way they were supposed to. They are secured enough for Government work though.
I used the RO tubing because It makes more sense for me to use them in this application. I ran the tubing. The New saltwater line runs 3 feet up, 8 feet over, 90 degree turn, 15 feet over, 6 feet down, 90 degree turn through the wall, and then about 2-3 feet of bend going into my sump. I mounted it, 5 inches above my water line in my sump. The old saltwater line, comes about 2-3 feet through the wall, 90 degree turn, 6 feet up, 20 feet over, and 4 feet down into my laundry room drain line. I calibrated each line separately at the actual point where the water would come out. Both pretty spot on.
During priming of the pumps, ( with them running full speed it was pretty loud (in my garage I don’t care) but after calibration, I set them to do 1 gallon an hour for 3 hours to test everything out and the pumps where dead silent. So with 100% certainty at 63 ML a minute the pumps are silent.
Overall Pros
Easy to set up, took 10 minutes
Murlock line fit on tight, no leaks
App connected lighting fast.
Customer Service (talk about that in a second)
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Moving on to the Cons
There is no real instructions on the EcoTech website, with the pump, or on the app. So while easy to use, I was not 100% sure I was doing things correctly. Was not sure how to prime the pumps (figured it out), or how to calibrate (also able to figure it out) but no step by step to ensure that I am doing it correctly.
There is no application labeled AWC inside the app. Without this my concern was that the pumps would not be running at the exact same time at the exact same dose.
While configuring the pumps, it asks you what the container volume is. My initial thought is that it would shut off if it hit that. That’s not true. It will only give you a warning that you container is almost empty.
There is no way to set the pump to run for a specific time and shut off. What I mean by this, is I will need to make new saltwater every two weeks. I would like the ability to schedule the AWC to only change water Monday – Saturday so on Sundays I can do maint and make new saltwater.
-----------------------------------------------
Now to my final pro, EcoTech customer service is the best in the business hands down. (Maybe BRS, but talking brand specific) I called EcoTech and after only being on hold a few minutes I talked with Cade at EcoTech. He assured me that the pumps will run on the same schedule as long as they are set at the exact same time, and answered about 5 more questions I had. I have used EcoTech customer service before and have always been flat out impressed.
I do believe that EcoTech is doing the right thing by releasing the Mobius platform with functions that 100% work, and then slowly add all the other functions to it to ensure there are no issues. Soon I believe the Mobius app will work with MP 40’s, and XR lights of older models. I also believe that they will add Wifi availability in the future.
Initial review on the versa dosing pumps for Automatic Water Changes (AWC) is a good one.
Writing this review, because I have not been able to find one on here of anyone setting it up and using it for AWC. Maybe this will help a couple of people out.
I set these up for an AWC on my FOWLR tank that does not have an APEX on it, so this was the only choice I had IMO.
Right out of the box the product was in good shape and seems super solid for being such a small product. I plugged them in, downloaded the Mobius App, and the devices appeared right away. It took about 30 second for the app to update the firmware on the 2 pumps. After complete I took them out to the garage to set them up. Used the back side of the plate and screwed into the wall. After doing so, the pump would not seat all the way down. I tried loosening the screws, I did everything. Still could not get them to seat all the way down the way they were supposed to. They are secured enough for Government work though.
I used the RO tubing because It makes more sense for me to use them in this application. I ran the tubing. The New saltwater line runs 3 feet up, 8 feet over, 90 degree turn, 15 feet over, 6 feet down, 90 degree turn through the wall, and then about 2-3 feet of bend going into my sump. I mounted it, 5 inches above my water line in my sump. The old saltwater line, comes about 2-3 feet through the wall, 90 degree turn, 6 feet up, 20 feet over, and 4 feet down into my laundry room drain line. I calibrated each line separately at the actual point where the water would come out. Both pretty spot on.
During priming of the pumps, ( with them running full speed it was pretty loud (in my garage I don’t care) but after calibration, I set them to do 1 gallon an hour for 3 hours to test everything out and the pumps where dead silent. So with 100% certainty at 63 ML a minute the pumps are silent.
Overall Pros
Easy to set up, took 10 minutes
Murlock line fit on tight, no leaks
App connected lighting fast.
Customer Service (talk about that in a second)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moving on to the Cons
There is no real instructions on the EcoTech website, with the pump, or on the app. So while easy to use, I was not 100% sure I was doing things correctly. Was not sure how to prime the pumps (figured it out), or how to calibrate (also able to figure it out) but no step by step to ensure that I am doing it correctly.
There is no application labeled AWC inside the app. Without this my concern was that the pumps would not be running at the exact same time at the exact same dose.
While configuring the pumps, it asks you what the container volume is. My initial thought is that it would shut off if it hit that. That’s not true. It will only give you a warning that you container is almost empty.
There is no way to set the pump to run for a specific time and shut off. What I mean by this, is I will need to make new saltwater every two weeks. I would like the ability to schedule the AWC to only change water Monday – Saturday so on Sundays I can do maint and make new saltwater.
-----------------------------------------------
Now to my final pro, EcoTech customer service is the best in the business hands down. (Maybe BRS, but talking brand specific) I called EcoTech and after only being on hold a few minutes I talked with Cade at EcoTech. He assured me that the pumps will run on the same schedule as long as they are set at the exact same time, and answered about 5 more questions I had. I have used EcoTech customer service before and have always been flat out impressed.
I do believe that EcoTech is doing the right thing by releasing the Mobius platform with functions that 100% work, and then slowly add all the other functions to it to ensure there are no issues. Soon I believe the Mobius app will work with MP 40’s, and XR lights of older models. I also believe that they will add Wifi availability in the future.
