Help me choose a return pump

bif24701 · Nov 13, 2016

DansReefYouTube said:
Ecotechs Vectra gets my vote .. its silent in my system. Ive never ran a return pump before with zero noise and this thing makes you scared the tanks turned off! - Winner winner Ecotech dinner.

For me that was the ticket, APEX ready.

Scott.h · Nov 22, 2016

bif24701 said:
For me that was the ticket, APEX ready.

ok so I have my pump installed, the wire you recommend to connect to my apex is being shipped. I'm currently trying to figure out its purpose and where it goes. My other question.. I'm stoping and buying a ups smart battery backup just for that pump. Currently My pump is plugged in to the apex. So once I have the battery back up if I hook my pump to the pc battery back up I'd then just plug the battery backup unit into the return pump port on the apex, I'd assume?

bif24701 · Nov 22, 2016

Scott.h said:
ok so I have my pump installed, the wire you recommend to connect to my apex is being shipped. I'm currently trying to figure out its purpose and where it goes. My other question.. I'm stoping and buying a ups smart battery backup just for that pump. Currently My pump is plugged in to the apex. So once I have the battery back up if I hook my pump to the pc battery back up I'd then just plug the battery backup unit into the return pump port on the apex, I'd assume?

The cable connects to the Variable port on the APEX and the pump controller. This will allow you to use the APEX to control the speed of the pump. You can reduce the speed for feed modes, night modes, or create a water change mode.

I guess you could plug a UPS to the APEX then the pump to that. I would test it to make sure it works. I don't use a back up power source for my return, it's seems like a waste to me. I have batteries on my power heads, last much longer, more effective water movement thus better to support the life.

Scott.h · Nov 22, 2016

bif24701 said:
The cable connects to the Variable port on the APEX and the pump controller. This will allow you to use the APEX to control the speed of the pump. You can reduce the speed for feed modes, night modes, or create a water change mode.

I guess you could plug a UPS to the APEX then the pump to that. I would test it to make sure it works. I don't use a back up power source for my return, it's seems like a waste to me. I have batteries on my power heads, last much longer, more effective water movement thus better to support the life.

yeah I figured it but I said screw it, bought the new apex, hard wired it, bought mp40s the ecotech battery backup, and figured I better battery back up my router. If I don't get a notification until the power is back on it doesn't help much. Then I got to thinking why can't I connect a battery back up to the pump too? It's dc after all. Or maybe a deep cycle battery at least, just in case.

Btw that pump is awesome. Anything past 3 my skimmer overflow can't handle. Unbelievably quiet at number 3 too. Very happy

bif24701 · Nov 22, 2016

Scott.h said:
yeah I figured it but I said screw it, bought the new apex, hard wired it, bought mp40s the ecotech battery backup, and figured I better battery back up my router. If I don't get a notification until the power is back on it doesn't help much. Then I got to thinking why can't I connect a battery back up to the pump too? It's dc after all. Or maybe a deep cycle battery at least, just in case.

Btw that pump is awesome. Anything past 3 my skimmer overflow can't handle. Unbelievably quiet at number 3 too. Very happy

I knew it would. Glad I could help.

Since you have backup power on your router you want to get the power adapter for the APEX, that way it will communicate with your router and alert you of a power outage. As long as you program your alerts correctly.

Scott.h · Nov 25, 2016

bif24701 said:
I knew it would. Glad I could help.

Since you have backup power on your router you want to get the power adapter for the APEX, that way it will communicate with your router and alert you of a power outage. As long as you program your alerts correctly.

my cable just came in the mail. When I plug the one end into the bottom part of the pump controller, and the other into the apex my pump shuts off. And of course reef octopus didn't give me any instructions with the pump at all. How do I configure this?

bif24701 · Nov 25, 2016

Scott.h said:
my cable just came in the mail. When I plug the one end into the bottom part of the pump controller, and the other into the apex my pump shuts off. And of course reef octopus didn't give me any instructions with the pump at all. How do I configure this?

You will need to read up on APEX programming a bit. You need to program the variable speed outlet. Until then, find which outlet it is and set it to constant what ever % you require.

Scott.h · Nov 25, 2016

bif24701 said:
You will need to read up on APEX programming a bit. You need to program the variable speed outlet. Until then, find which outlet it is and set it to constant what ever % you require.

this one is a variable speed port correct?