Has anyone else seen this on ecotech pumps

[shred5]

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

This seems to be getting more common since they moved to the quiet drives.
The older ones never did this.
I have heard several things. Some of the parts on these are now made in China to they switch magnet types.
I see so many of these all of a sudden..

They need to admit there is a issue..
I know I will not buy one anymore until they admit there is a problem and take care of it.
I have mp 40s that are 10 years old and never fixed anything other than power supply.

 

[ksanfranfan]

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

I use molykote 111. I lightly spread it on the ceramic shaft and bottom of the frame where the ceramic is. When I started putting silicone grease on the ceramic parts I haven't had any more problems.

 

[ksanfranfan]

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.

I also bought mp10 frames separately without having to purchase complete wetsides. The frames came with a new ceramic shaft and rubber gasket and was lubricated.

 

[ksanfranfan]

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

I just placed an order for a new mp40 wetside yesterday. The plastic covering the magnet was cracked and had begun swelling. I had upgraded the wetside on one of my mp40es. The new qd wetsides are definitely constructed of cheaper material all around. I only got a good year out of it before issues arose.

 

[Softhammer]

That is absolutely inexcusable for how expensive they are.

 

[Gonebad395]

I just placed an order for a new mp40 wetside yesterday. The plastic covering the magnet was cracked and had begun swelling. I had upgraded the wetside on one of my mp40es. The new qd wetsides are definitely constructed of cheaper material all around. I only got a good year out of it before issues arose.

Only a year is crazy these are held way to high in the reef community and they know it. Since they have such a foothold they can use cheaper material and still sell

 

[Saveafish]

The old ones was very dependable. I have 2 old 40's. Maybe 7-8 yrs old little noisy buy running now. I got two new ones a couple yrs ago. They went in the trash. Blew the butt right out of them. Rusted to no end. Funny thing Ive noticed a couple things with them. I just won't say. But the quality went to poop. Things are changing hard core. USPTO runs out this year. Several loans are due to the USPTO running out. A few years ago cost was cut to make up for the short coming.
Funny how you learn this in shareholding meetings.

 

[Gonebad395]

I buy nothing EcoTech anymore they have cut to many corners and it stinks because I really like their products At one time. But realized that customers weren’t who EcoTech cared about any longer

 

[MTBake]

They don't make them like they used to. The wet side housing around the magnet on my m40 is cracked and I haven't used it in a year. Using gyre now.

 

[Softhammer]

I have been using the bootleg ice cap gyre pumps. All I can say is bye bye Tunze and Ecotech. Ice caps have been flawless

 

[MTBake]

I have been using the bootleg ice cap gyre pumps. All I can say is bye bye Tunze and Ecotech. Ice caps have been flawless

I also use the Ice Cap 3k. Works well.

 

[chris3del]

This happens every few months I have had 5 fail in less than a year all the same issue!!!!

 

[Gonebad395]

I have been using the bootleg ice cap gyre pumps. All I can say is bye bye Tunze and Ecotech. Ice caps have been flawless

I also use the Ice Cap 3k. Works well.

Hey guys I’ve been looking at the 1k ice cap gyre how’s the noise lvl with them

 

[ksanfranfan]

I buy nothing EcoTech anymore they have cut to many corners and it stinks because I really like their products At one time. But realized that customers weren’t who EcoTech cared about any longer

If I hadn't already invested so much money into all of the vortechs I have I would cut ties with them as well. Wave makers are expensive as it is. I can understand parts wearing from normal wear and tear but that's not the case here. It's really aggravating that they did away with just ordering frames and housings. For the mp40s you use to be able to just buy the shafts, screws and nuts.
I've also had to replace bearings on 2 of my mp10 drysides. The replacement bearings have lasted 4 times longer than the original ones.
As pointed out by several others, paying premium prices for a product shouldn't come with cheap quality materials. It's even worse than they've taken away from being able to order simple parts instead of complete pieces.
I also really like the vortechs due to them taking up much less space in the tank and no wires in the water. I also like the wider and more gentle flow patterns.
One thing is for sure though, I will not be buying new drysides if/when they fail. I won't buy any more vortechs either.
I still have old maxijet powerheads that have been abused and still run with no problem. If they had dc motors I'd run them on my tanks instead.

 

[madweazl]

My QD (40 series) wets are well over two years old and I've not had any issues. I tear them down at least once a month to thoroughly clean and inspect.

 

[theatrus]

My QD (40 series) wets are well over two years old and I've not had any issues. I tear them down at least once a month to thoroughly clean and inspect.

Mine have been flawless on the wet side as well. I won't get into the pre-QD bearings (those sucked), but the QD dry side has been also very nice.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

The old ones was very dependable. I have 2 old 40's. Maybe 7-8 yrs old little noisy buy running now. I got two new ones a couple yrs ago. They went in the trash. Blew the butt right out of them. Rusted to no end. Funny thing Ive noticed a couple things with them. I just won't say. But the quality went to poop. Things are changing hard core. USPTO runs out this year. Several loans are due to the USPTO running out. A few years ago cost was cut to make up for the short coming.
Funny how you learn this in shareholding meetings.

Very exciting about the USPTO. I hope other companies are working on something to release shortly after the patent is expired. Really hoping for a Jebao (Chinese) alternative. I cannot be happier with the Jebao pumps I have.

 

[Saveafish]

Very exciting about the USPTO. I hope other companies are working on something to release shortly after the patent is expired. Really hoping for a Jebao (Chinese) alternative. I cannot be happier with the Jebao pumps I have.

They are. You notice how a lot are getting that flat look. But still have the cord in the tank. They are playing with them, just waiting.

 

[shred5]

My QD (40 series) wets are well over two years old and I've not had any issues. I tear them down at least once a month to thoroughly clean and inspect.

You jinxed yourself.

Most do not realise the magnet is rusting until it starts to bulge out.
I do not own a quiet drive but can you even open it up to inspect the magnet?

 

[Halal Hotdog]

They are. You notice how a lot are getting that flat look. But still have the cord in the tank. They are playing with them, just waiting.

This might explain why quality has been dipping, they might be trying to cut costs in order to drop price once more companies are making a similar cordless powerhead. Do you know exactly when it expires?