Has anyone else seen this on ecotech pumps

[chris3del]

I have had so many ceramic coatings fail on my MP10’s lately that I’m at a loss for words. I was wondering if this is happening to anyone else? Also I clean my wetsides twice a month!

 

[chris3del]

Here are some pictures

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Unfortunately, this is common on Ecotech powerheads. I had a wet side on an MP40 rust and break open. I've seen many reports of this, and have a friend who's had 2 MP60s that are less than a year old do this recently. If under warranty, Ecotech will replace the wet side at no charge, but unless they've made some changes to their manufacturing, I won't use them anymore because of this.

 

[ShadowR55]

I put silicone grease between any parts that rub together because that’s how it came when new. Do you re-grease it after every cleaning?

 

[ksanfranfan]

I've had it happen to me. The magnet on the propeller also was worn into because the ceramic broke down. The magnet was spinning on the metal shaft.
A couple of years ago I started using molykote to lubricate the ceramic parts. I clean all of my ecotech wetside now every other month just to inspect them just for this issue.
As mentioned above, this seems to be a common issue and I got tired of having to replace entire wetsides. They use to sell the frames by themselves but stopped doing that. It does get old dropping $50 and $75 for new mp10 and 40 wetsides.

 

[chris3del]

I didn’t know about adding more grease. Thanks for the info!! I think they should make that part different or something...

 

[ryeguyy84]

the used to offer the axel assembly (the shaft and plastic bottom) for like $12. not they want you to buy a new wetside.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

the used to offer the axel assembly (the shaft and plastic bottom) for like $12. not they want you to buy a new wetside.

Funny how that works...

 

[ReefEngr]

This is common with Vortech pumps. I have three Vortechs, two mp10's and one mp40. After about 3-4 years the magnet would crack, rust and swell up. I've now switched over to Gyre xf280's on my 180 display tank. I'm using the Vortech pumps on my frag tank now. I hope the Gyre's will last longer.

 

[ryeguyy84]

Funny how that works...

Indeed it is

 

[ca1ore]

I love a good conspiracy theory too, but parts for the MP10 wetside were never available. MP40 yes, but only for the older design. Once they moved to the newer one they stopped selling the parts kit. Curious about how the ceramic sleeves are failing? Is it just discoloration or are they actually cracking? They aren’t meant to be removed from the metal spindle; imagine that would damage them. Folks can fuss over the discoloration, I suppose, but IME its harmless. Magnets cracking and swelling is much more of a problem. How old are the wetsides? I’ve not personally had any issues with the ceramic sleeves across my vortechs.

 

[ShadowR55]

This is common with Vortech pumps. I have three Vortechs, two mp10's and one mp40. After about 3-4 years the magnet would crack, rust and swell up. I've now switched over to Gyre xf280's on my 180 display tank. I'm using the Vortech pumps on my frag tank now. I hope the Gyre's will last longer.

I switched from the Gyre’s because they are a pain to clean and it seems like something would always break when I took it apart.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

I love a good conspiracy theory too, but parts for the MP10 wetside were never available. MP40 yes, but only for the older design. Once they moved to the newer one they stopped selling the parts kit. Curious about how the ceramic sleeves are failing? Is it just discoloration or are they actually cracking? They aren’t meant to be removed from the metal spindle; imagine that would damage them. Folks can fuss over the discoloration, I suppose, but IME its harmless. Magnets cracking and swelling is much more of a problem. How old are the wetsides? I’ve not personally had any issues with the ceramic sleeves across my vortechs.

LOL, I'm no conspiracy theorist, but it just seems strange that they stopped selling that part... Anyway, the real frustrating thing about both issues (the ceramic sleeves, and the rusting magnets) is that these issues are well known, and have been going on for years, yet Ecotech has not resolved them. You pay a premium price for what should be a very reliable and long lasting product, and you end up with these problems. I also had a Vortech M1 fail from them so the only product I'll use are their lights. I've found other companies products to be much more reliable and durable...

 

[ca1ore]

Well, like I said, they only ever sold the maintenance pack for the old MP40. Since the newer wetsides are a much more integrated design, I imagine they decided it was no longer prudent.

 

[ryeguyy84]

I love a good conspiracy theory too, but parts for the MP10 wetside were never available. MP40 yes, but only for the older design. Once they moved to the newer one they stopped selling the parts kit. Curious about how the ceramic sleeves are failing? Is it just discoloration or are they actually cracking? They aren’t meant to be removed from the metal spindle; imagine that would damage them. Folks can fuss over the discoloration, I suppose, but IME its harmless. Magnets cracking and swelling is much more of a problem. How old are the wetsides? I’ve not personally had any issues with the ceramic sleeves across my vortechs.

No conspiracy, these were available. My guess is sometime in 2015 or 16 they stopped selling them and switched to full wetside replacement. Right around the time the qd pumps came out.

 

[135zman]

Can @ksanfranfan confirm which Molykote grease is reef safe? The Dow website has multiple Molykote products.

 

[ca1ore]

ETM have always been pretty flexible for me; perhaps they sold that chap a subsection of the assembly, but I do not ever recall them on the parts store. For the 10 and 60, the QD was just a driver swap. Only the 40 was completely redesigned. Either way, if I’m the OP, I’m calling them to discuss the issue.

 

[ReefEngr]

I switched from the Gyre’s because they are a pain to clean and it seems like something would always break when I took it apart.

I agree that they do require more cleaning. They are fragile indeed. I'm extra cautious when I disassemble and reassemble them for cleaning, and try not to force anything. I do like the flow of the Gyre's though.

 

[Gonebad395]

You pay a hefty price for something that should last awhile longer then what they are. I’ll never buy EcoTech after this bs. Totally inexcusable I know every product has some issues but for what they charge this should have been fixed a long time ago.

 

[jsvand5]

I agree that they do require more cleaning. They are fragile indeed. I'm extra cautious when I disassemble and reassemble them for cleaning, and try not to force anything. I do like the flow of the Gyre's though.

I’m hoping the gyre eventually gets more trouble free. I stopped using the ecotechs on my displays after the second MP 10 needed a new dryside. I use it now on my QT with worn bearings. It’s so loud that it can be heard from the next room over with the door closed. I just can’t justify spending more money on them. Now I have been using the cheap Coral box qp 16s and have actually been really happy with them.