Is the EcoTech VorTech worth it for the price?

[VintageReefer]

yes they are absolutely worth it especially if you buy used.

I can send waves 4 feet with my mp40

I bought 2 mp40 and a mp10 in 2012-2013. Bought all used. I use them daily and they run my reefs and are silent. I clean once a year

 

[Ironwill723]

Depends what you NEED. I have used almost every pump on the market and the Vortech is by far my favorite. Easy to clean. Easy to hide on the back wall. Fantastic customer service when I needed it. They aren't cheap though and QC has defintely gone downhill from 10 years ago.

Hate gyres. They have to be cleaned weekly or lose tons of flow. No brand is immue from this. They suck to clean.

Tunze are some of my absolute favorite as well. Terrible controllers though and they didn't have anything that worked on my 6 foot peninsula. They last forever though.

New Reefhub controllers come out in August in the U.S. for Tunze...

Turbelle® stream 6105 eco - Tunze

Hi-Tech für Aquaristik

www.tunze.com

 

[VintageReefer]

Absolutely not.

Jebao everything for me. I’m patiently waiting for the patent to expire so Jebao can make the cordless version themselves, undoubtedly better as well

I doubt they will let it expire, but keep your eyes open in 2026 incase they screw up

Vortech Patents

We are soon going to need a 2nd powerhead for our 90 gal tank and my wife insists on keeping the electrical cord out of the tank so that implies a $360 Vortech MP40 as opposed to a much less expensive option. I started doing some research on the applicable Vortech patents and it looks like they...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[areefer01]

New Reefhub controllers come out in August in the U.S. for Tunze...

Turbelle® stream 6105 eco - Tunze

Hi-Tech für Aquaristik

www.tunze.com

I wish more companies would integrate with controllers for a single app / access layer. Sicce and Kessil did this with Neptune Apex and it was a huge quality of life changer.

 

[ca1ore]

To some that may have a larger visible foot print. Of course we are all different. I am speaking aesthetically of course.

I meant it as a joke - because I agree with you.

 

[GlassMunky]

I doubt they will let it expire, but keep your eyes open in 2026 incase they screw up

Vortech Patents

We are soon going to need a 2nd powerhead for our 90 gal tank and my wife insists on keeping the electrical cord out of the tank so that implies a $360 Vortech MP40 as opposed to a much less expensive option. I started doing some research on the applicable Vortech patents and it looks like they...

www.reef2reef.com

i honestly HIGHLY doubt china can actually copy these at a price point that makes it worth it for them.

 

[VintageReefer]

i honestly HIGHLY doubt china can actually copy these at a price point that makes it worth it for them.

I’d they could have they would have by now. Jebao don’t care about patents

 

[GlassMunky]

I’d they could have they would have by now. Jebao don’t care about patents

exactly my point.... if they could have copied it by now they would have.... which means they CANT! so even if it did lapse china (Jebao) couldnt produce the knockoffs.

 

[ca1ore]

I made that point years ago (when Jebao first copied Tunze) that it was the engineering challenge more than respecting a patent. Coupling a pump through the tank wall requires more precise manufacturing and better parts - neither of which Jebao are likely to be good at or willing to do. I said back then that I did not think we would ever see a cheap Chinese knockoff of the Vortech, and so far we have not.

 

[spsick]

Depends what you want. They are easy to clean and that to me is one of the most important points. Just drop in a new wet side and soak this one in citric for a day.

The list of American made powerheads is very short and they are on it. That has to be worth a premium.

 

[mfinn]

Is the EcoTech VorTech worth it for the price? It is very expensive and you can find a lot of other wavemakers on the market. Is the biggest reason the Vortech is set apart from other wavemakers because there is no cord in the tank?

To me the vortech is worth it.
I have 2 that has been in service for about 5 years. I did have to replace 1 wetside last year when the prop lost a blade. Not sure how that happened, maybe a snail? IDK.
I have thrown away a bucket full of jeboas, and even given away a few more that stopped working.

 

[Solo McReefer]

i honestly HIGHLY doubt china can actually copy these at a price point that makes it worth it for them.

A magnet induction

That travels through glass

Seems like they would have broken that patent already

 

[areefer01]

I meant it as a joke - because I agree with you.

Obviously I missed it. Sorry about that. I'm a dork

 

[thedon986]

I have been using Nero 5's for four years and have not had one fail on me yet. I seldom clean them and they still put out a ton of flow. When I do clean them I bring the bucket of citric acid to the tank and put the pump right in there and let them clean themselves, touch up finish with a toothbrush after an hour or so then back in the tank. It's really not as hard to clean as people say.

I actually sold the MP40s that came with a breakdown I bought. I work in the room with my tank all day and even the QDs will make noise eventually. These Neros are silent, and if they aren't then they need a cleaning and then they are silent again. Back in 2020 I had an MP10 and dropped the dry side, bought a brand new one from EcoTech direct and I could still hear it ramping up and down. Couldn't do it.

Also, Nero 5s use about 15 watts at 1,500gph. I really don't think that is much of a pro of VorTechs anymore.

 

[GlassMunky]

A magnet induction

That travels through glass

Seems like they would have broken that patent already

If it’s sooo easy that everyone knows how why hasn’t it been done then?

 

[areefer01]

This is a strange hobby whereas people want to have vendors IP copied regardless of product type.

 

[jimfish98]

I don't think they are worth it due to the vibration/noise they make at higher speeds. On random flow I could hear it ramping up or down and at the higher end of the speed settings it was annoying. Heard the same on the frag tanks at my LFS. I ended up trading my two MP-40 for a pair of Nero from a fellow reefer. He ran at lower speeds and didn't mind the noise but appreciated his water in his small tank not being as warm. I enjoyed my Nero being so quiet and didn't notice an impact on temps in my larger tank.

 

[Mwatts12]

I went from 6 Jebao to two MP60. What a difference. I can’t say it’s the best $1800 I ever spent, but I def have some good flow.

Last time I used MP’s they did not have the ability to switch programs. This was a huge deal to me. I have a day time schedule and night time. Plus the night time I reduce flow about 15%.

I would not go back.

 

[Boomer52]

Not to change the subject, but what's the best way to clean the wet side?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Not to change the subject, but what's the best way to clean the wet side?

Drop it in a mild acid like citric for a couple hours and then wipe off all the goo.

You can go as far as taking the propeller out and cleaning inside there.

If you're storing it after cleaning (multiple wetsides) add some silicone grease to the surfaces that the magnet rest on the ceramic washer, a little goes a long way. Otherwise, if you're putting it back into service you can skip the grease.

One thing to be EXTREMELY CAREFUL of is not to let the wetside magnet bang up against a metal sink of anything else ferris. If you do that you run the risk of cracking the magnet inside, putting stress on the encased plastic, creating a tiny crack. Then it's only a matter of time salt water gets inside and rusts it out.