Plumbing a new Ecotech M2 return

[Reefrookie733]

So just got my Ecotech M2 today. When plumbing this thing externally do you actually cement the pvc pipe into the 1.25 inlet collar and the 1.0 outlet collar? I realize there is a union there but just wanted to check before i permanently glue this expensive pump together! lol

Thanks!

 

[Reefrookie733]

Bump...anybody? Beuller? Beuller?

 

[Water Dog]

Not sure if these are compatible with the M2 (check with Ecotech), but if I could, I would use these native plumbing PVC connectors and then attach my own unions. The BSP threads get Teflon paste and you get full, unrestricted flow with less stress on the pump. You also get no permanent attachments to the stock pump and fittings.

Vectra S1/M1 Sch. 40 Adapter Kit

Ecotech Marine Vectra pumps come standard with non-standard threads on the included couplings. With the Vectra S1/M1 Adapter it will allow you to convert your Ecotech Vectra S1 or M1 pump from BSP plumbing to standard NPT threads. Kit Includes: 1x 1.5” FBSP to 1.5” female slip schedule 40...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[ca1ore]

I went through a whole protracted conversation with ETM. The gen 1 volutes are different from the gen 2 volutes. The white adapters don't fit Gen2, though you can swap volutes between Gen1 and Gen2 if you want. The blue collars on Gen1 were quite restrictive to flow (thus the white adapters) but apparently the blue Gen2 unions are much less restrictive as they maintain native pipe size. Does appear the native is smaller for gen2 than Gen1 (or the marketing copy is wrong). You do have to solvent weld the PVC pipe into the blue adapters.

 

[Water Dog]

That’s a shame that those white BSP PVC plumbing adapters don’t fit on the new pumps.

 

[ca1ore]

That’s a shame that those white BSP PVC plumbing adapters don’t fit on the new pumps.

Agreed! I was toying with replacing my M1 with M2 because …. well, just because. After what seemed like weeks of back and forth with ETM i just decided to stick with what I have. All their stuff is OOS everywhere now anyhow.

 

[Dragon52]

That's what I did on my M1 but I used Silicone glue to attach it to my sump. Here is a picture.

 

[Reefrookie733]

That's what I did on my M1 but I used Silicone glue to attach it to my sump. Here is a picture.

Nice! Thanks for the pictures. That's the first inline (external) pump i've seen on here. A lot of people seem to do in sump returns these days. What size if your tank btw?

 

[canadianeh]

So just got my Ecotech M2 today. When plumbing this thing externally do you actually cement the pvc pipe into the 1.25 inlet collar and the 1.0 outlet collar? I realize there is a union there but just wanted to check before i permanently glue this expensive pump together! lol

Thanks!

I am doing a build right now check out my build thread. I used cement.

 

[Dragon52]

Nice! Thanks for the pictures. That's the first inline (external) pump i've seen on here. A lot of people seem to do in sump returns these days. What size if your tank btw?

Thanks, I haven't heard about to many doing it this way either but I've always preferred the pump on the outside of the sump. My tank is 185gl with a Trigger System Sapphire 34 sump.

 

[Reefrookie733]

Thanks, I haven't heard about to many doing it this way either but I've always preferred the pump on the outside of the sump. My tank is 185gl with a Trigger System Sapphire 34 sump.

Yeah im going from a reeflo superdart gold that someone gave me, which is not controllable except by valve to this one. Seems to be a big difference. I will hook everything up in the next few days and finally get to start cycling.

My tank is a 200G bowfront...i hope M2 is enough for it.

 

[Dragon52]

Yeah im going from a reeflo superdart gold that someone gave me, which is not controllable except by valve to this one. Seems to be a big difference. I will hook everything up in the next few days and finally get to start cycling.

My tank is a 200G bowfront...i hope M2 is enough for it.

It will be. I never run mine above 50%
Make sure you do the Calibrate in a bucket before hooking up to your tank.

 

[Reefrookie733]

It will be. I never run mine above 50%
Make sure you do the Calibrate in a bucket before hooking up to your tank.

hmmmm....not sure how you calibrate it in a bucket??? is there a forum for that? lol

 

[Dragon52]

hmmmm....not sure how you calibrate it in a bucket??? is there a forum for that? lol

Maybe a big tub if you have one. After viewing this video I just wasn't sure how I would do it in my tank because the return is under water so I couldn't see the lower flow to set & the pump would have emptied the sump if I didn't react fast enough to set the upper limit so did it in a bucket.

 

[Reefrookie733]

Maybe a big tub if you have one. After viewing this video I just wasn't sure how I would do it in my tank because the return is under water so I couldn't see the lower flow to set & the pump would have emptied the sump if I didn't react fast enough to set the upper limit so did it in a bucket.

Ok so i watched the video on how to calibrate it to lowest and highest. Lowest would be for feeding times? and highest would be as high as possible and/or as much volume as my drains can keep up? I need alot of "flow" in my tank and i will have to have some powerheads but wouldn't i want the return to push as much water as possible???

by the way, i love your setup on your build thread! that is one fancy sump! lol

 

[Dragon52]

Ok so i watched the video on how to calibrate it to lowest and highest. Lowest would be for feeding times? and highest would be as high as possible and/or as much volume as my drains can keep up? I need alot of "flow" in my tank and i will have to have some powerheads but wouldn't i want the return to push as much water as possible???

by the way, i love your setup on your build thread! that is one fancy sump! lol

Thanks, I actually had a Trigger Ruby 29 on it but it just didn't have all the room I needed & I should have gotten the 39 instead of the 34.
The high would be as fast as it can pump, If you run it wide open all the time like anything else it wont last & I beleive there is a feed mode or you can just shut it off while feeding (I don't because i have bottom dwellers that wont get any food because the bigger guys & gals will get it all.) Your powerheads will help with the flow so you don't need to have the return wide open.

 

[Dragon52]

By the way I have 2 Ecotec MP40QDs running in reefcrest mode @ 20-80% flow which is a slow to fast flow ratio. I get plenty of flow that way & have them facing each other 2 inches from top of water level & they don't move the sand. Tank is 60x24x30"

 

[Reefrookie733]

By the way I have 2 Ecotec MP40QDs running in reefcrest mode @ 20-80% flow which is a slow to fast flow ratio. I get plenty of flow that way & have them facing each other 2 inches from top of water level & they don't move the sand. Tank is 60x24x30"

Hey man this is really good stuff. I appreciate all the help. I've never had a big tank, i have a 28G AIO nano and it's pretty much self contained.

I cant afford the MP40's without getting divorced first (and that will cost more) so i have found some comprabales which are the Tunze 6105's. I think with 2 of these aimed at each other like yours i can get pretty good flow. Although my tank is 72" long.

 

[Dragon52]

Hey man this is really good stuff. I appreciate all the help. I've never had a big tank, i have a 28G AIO nano and it's pretty much self contained.

I cant afford the MP40's without getting divorced first (and that will cost more) so i have found some comprabales which are the Tunze 6105's. I think with 2 of these aimed at each other like yours i can get pretty good flow. Although my tank is 72" long.

Tunze are good from what I've seen people post here on R2R