Thinking of going over to Vortech.....but

[jda]

I feel like the 6255 moves more water than a mp60. Just anecdotal. They are pretty comparable. The mp60 that I used was loud, but it was used when I borrowed it. You can point the 6255 too and use them on sea sweep for super large tanks.

 

[MartinM]

Ecotech holds the patent on magnetic coupling through an aquarium wall so you won't see contenders any time soon. How they got it is a mystery but that IP locks out the competition.

Ah, didn’t know that, thanks. I was wondering why there weren’t alternatives.

 

[DWill]

I have MP10’s. Dead quiet and the hardware has been flawless. From a hardware perspective, they are worth every dollar you spend on them.
However, Mobius the software to control is flatly crap. You will become very acquainted with the Ecotech support staff. They are awesome even though they have no solutions to the problems they Roman awesome job.

 

[jda]

Tunze and other companies have had their patents stolen by Jebao and other Chinese patent-stealing business model companies (not to be confused with stuff manufactured in China that does not steal IP/patents). It is somewhat of a mystery why they have not stolen those from the VorTech - my guess is that the materials are too expensive to make a cheap knock off work.

 

[MONTANTK]

I have never had an issue with the Vortechs and I love them. Up until recently, I’ve had an MP10 on every single tank I’ve ever set up

 

[WVNed]

I bought a lot of pumps. Jebao, Tunze, Maxspect gyres and a few others.
I am now running 4 MP60s in a 240, 2 MP40s in a 75 and an Mp10 in a 29.
I wish I had just bought them first.

 

[dhnguyen]

Ecotech holds the patent on magnetic coupling through an aquarium wall so you won't see contenders any time soon. How they got it is a mystery but that IP locks out the competition.

That patent won't last for much longer IIRC their patent expires in 2026 some time. After that expect to see some competitors for sure.

Here's the patent filed in March 2006

US Patent for Bracketless magnetic pump Patent (Patent # 7,393,188 issued July 1, 2008) - Justia Patents Search

A fluid pump assembly is used in combination with a container having a wall. The pump assembly comprises a first casing disposed outside the container in contact with the wall, a first magnetic assembly mounted to the first casing and operatively associated with a drive motor, a second casing...

patents.justia.com

 

[FBAA]

That patent won't last for much longer IIRC their patent expires in 2026 some time. After that expect to see some competitors for sure.

They were just granted an improvement patent on 5/26/2020 so we shall see how that all works out legally.

 

[ca1ore]

Tunze and other companies have had their patents stolen by Jebao and other Chinese patent-stealing business model companies (not to be confused with stuff manufactured in China that does not steal IP/patents). It is somewhat of a mystery why they have not stolen those from the VorTech - my guess is that the materials are too expensive to make a cheap knock off work.

Yah, agree, I always figured that the physics of 'remotely' coupled pump parts is hard to do when the parts budget is low.

 

[ca1ore]

Ecotech holds the patent on magnetic coupling through an aquarium wall so you won't see contenders any time soon. How they got it is a mystery but that IP locks out the competition.

Not sure I see the mystery. Unique idea and willingness to pay for the patent process .... I seem to recall the 20 year run ends soon (2025 maybe).

 

[ca1ore]

They were just granted an improvement patent on 5/26/2020 so we shall see how that all works out legally.

I wonder what for?

 

[dhnguyen]

Not sure I see the mystery. Unique idea and willingness to pay for the patent process .... I seem to recall the 20 year run ends soon (2025 maybe).

Might not be as "unique" though

EcoTech Marine's Patent on the VorTech Pump | AquaNerd

The patent on the magnetically coupled VorTech pump from EcoTech Marine is being re-examined by a Houston-based law firm for possible infringement.

aquanerd.com

 

[FBAA]

I wonder what for?

No idea but that's how you hold onto patent features. Make a small change, call it an improvement and re-file.

 

[FBAA]

Might not be as "unique" though

EcoTech Marine's Patent on the VorTech Pump | AquaNerd

The patent on the magnetically coupled VorTech pump from EcoTech Marine is being re-examined by a Houston-based law firm for possible infringement.

aquanerd.com

I wondered how they pulled it off. Magnetic coupled pumps have been around for years. One thing I did notice is they call it a bracketless pump because the magnets hold the wet side to the wall/glass. That may be their in.

 

[dhnguyen]

I wondered how they pulled it off. Magnetic coupled pumps have been around for years. One thing I did notice is they call it a bracketless pump because the magnets hold the wet side to the wall/glass. That may be their in.

Right and I think that may be why their patent was being re-examined for infringement. You can't just take an existing idea and slap a new name on it and patent it as yours. Wish I could find something about what came of that patent re-examination.

 

[ca1ore]

Might not be as "unique" though

EcoTech Marine's Patent on the VorTech Pump | AquaNerd

The patent on the magnetically coupled VorTech pump from EcoTech Marine is being re-examined by a Houston-based law firm for possible infringement.

aquanerd.com

OK, but that was 10 years ago ...... apparently nothing came of it.

 

[DWill]

Yah, agree, I always figured that the physics of 'remotely' coupled pump parts is hard to do when the parts budget is low.

Not that hard. It’s basically a magnetic stirrer.