Vectra pumps are unreliable

[Redsoxclover]

So I just had to send back my third Vectra L1 pump within 8 months. This one was only a month old. I told customer service I wasn’t happy about them making me pay to send it back this time ($20). They tried to tell me it was no longer under warranty and they’ve already replaced it twice even though I didn’t register this pump until Late April of 2017 which is when I purchased it . I have pictures to prove that. What $500 product should need to be replaced three times within less than a year? I know two other reefers in my area that had 2+ replacements on this same pump. One of them switched back to an older pump. The features are nice (when the reeflink works) but the overall pump is just not good. Anyone else have problems? All of my other ecotech products work great.

 

[ps2cho]

This is why i stuck with sicce because the LT reliability of the Vectra pumps are garbage for a high end product. Products looks and features are great, but in the Reef world reliability is the only real feature you should care about.

 

[Zack K]

I know multiple guys who are running Vectras (myself included) and nobody has had a problem. In fact 2 of them have the M1 pumps from when they were released. Sorry to hear about your bad luck!
-Zack, who likes his S1

 

[Redsoxclover]

I know multiple guys who are running Vectras (myself included) and nobody has had a problem. In fact 2 of them have the M1 pumps from when they were released. Sorry to hear about your bad luck!
-Zack, who likes his S1

Just curious, are they running them submerged or out of sump ? Also what percentage ? Only one of the tanks in the group has not had to replace a single pump .

 

[Mandelstam]

So I just had to send back my third Vectra L1 pump within 8 months. This one was only a month old. I told customer service I wasn’t happy about them making me pay to send it back this time ($20). They tried to tell me it was no longer under warranty and they’ve already replaced it twice even though I didn’t register this pump until Late April of 2017 which is when I purchased it . I have pictures to prove that. What $500 product should need to be replaced three times within less than a year? I know two other reefers in my area that had 2+ replacements on this same pump. One of them switched back to an older pump. The features are nice (when the reeflink works) but the overall pump is just not good. Anyone else have problems? All of my other ecotech products work great.

They had to replace the pump THREE times and they are charging YOU for it? They should be sending you a courtesy backup pump free of charge IMO....

 

[Redsoxclover]

They had to replace the pump THREE times and they are charging YOU for it? They should be sending you a courtesy backup pump free of charge IMO....

The first two they sent a replacement pump and a label with it to send the broken one back. This time they told me to send it in and they’ll look at it. Customer service is acting annoyed with me . I’m saving the emails where I’m calmly replying back so I can show people in my reviews. I’ve spent $5000 on my current 210 on ecotech products . This is really ridiculous .

 

[Zack K]

Just curious, are they running them submerged or out of sump ? Also what percentage ? Only one of the tanks in the group has not had to replace a single pump .

3 guys in sump and 2 out. 1 guy also has a closed loop. I’m not sure what percentages but they vary through the day I do know that.

-Zack

 

[Redsoxclover]

Looking at ratings almost every ecotech product is 5 stars or close to except the Vectra pumps which are 3 stars . I might just switch out to something else.

 

[Zack K]

Looking at ratings almost every ecotech product is 5 stars or close to except the Vectra pumps which are 3 stars . I might just switch out to something else.

It’s definitely Hit or Miss with the Vectras it seems like. Unfortunate, I like the way EcoTech makes their equipment.
-Zack

 

[Sleepydoc]

Ecotech makes some good products, but the Vectras are not one of them, IMO. They are expensive pumps, run hot, can't be controlled with a controller and I've seen multiple reports of failures like yours. There are other good pumps on the market in the same price range or even a little cheaper, so I can't see shelling out the money for a Vector.

 

[Pntbll687]

Whats the appeal of a vectra pump? Is it controllable and what not?

I keep my system as time as I can. I pretty much use danner mag drive pumps for all applications. Never had a problem with them.

I do have my eye on a couple of current USA's new return pumps, but want to see some more reviews before I pull the trigger on getting one, or two.

 

[Zack K]

Whats the appeal of a vectra pump? Is it controllable and what not?

I keep my system as time as I can. I pretty much use danner mag drive pumps for all applications. Never had a problem with them.

I do have my eye on a couple of current USA's new return pumps, but want to see some more reviews before I pull the trigger on getting one, or two.

They are Ecotechs’ Return pump. They have the power to run closed loop or RP, you can program it to correspond to your EcoTech MP’s as well as the radions. It is controllable thru the Reef link, or controller it comes with. Excellent pump IMO

-Zack, who is a fan.

 

[ca1ore]

It certainly does seem that the L1 particularly has reliability problems. I have had the M1 since the day it was released without any issues, but I run it as a closed loop and only to about 60% capacity. The features of the Vectra seem completely wasted as a main return pump; plus I just don't trust any of the DC pumps to give me the reliability I require in a main return pump.

 

[Garbonzo]

I'm on my second Vectra, but Ecotech has always had great CS imho. I've never paid anything for shipping, and they have always taken care of me with a quickness with replacements.

 

[Pntbll687]

They are Ecotechs’ Return pump. They have the power to run closed loop or RP, you can program it to correspond to your EcoTech MP’s as well as the radions. It is controllable thru the Reef link, or controller it comes with. Excellent pump IMO

-Zack, who is a fan.

This is one of the first times I'm hearing of them. I guess cause I don't have a need for return it closed loop pumps. I've been running the same mag drives for a few years with only cleaning them once a year.

Theoretically couldn't any pump run a closed loop?

Maybe in a few years when we move I'll be in the market for some pumps. Or if I get a new tank...

 

[Mrx7899]

It seems like every other week you see a post like this you would think eco tech would of worked the bugs out of the pump by now.

 

[lbacha]

Does anyone know why the pumps fail. I have vortechs and a s1 would be great as I use a reeflink and feedmode would be nice for the return as well.

Is the issue tht it is only reliable with a certain setup (poor design) or is it random (poor manufacturing).

Some pump aren't designed to handle pressure, running out of water, debris, etc.

I'm just interested in why peoples pumps have failed and if it's usually the same reason

 

[ca1ore]

Theoretically couldn't any pump run a closed loop?

Yes, any pump that can be run externally can power a closed loop. The nice thing about the Vectra (maybe it's true for other DC pumps as well) is that it can be ramped up and down just like the vortechs do, thus providing a variable, chaotic nature. Lots of devices have come and gone to do this in the past - SWD, oceans motion, random flow educators, aqua sweeps (blanking on the name of those devices that sit on the rim of the tank with the oscillating return nozzle). Anyhow, they're all mostly aesthetic monstrosities IMO.

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

It certainly does seem that the L1 particularly has reliability problems. I have had the M1 since the day it was released without any issues, but I run it as a closed loop and only to about 60% capacity. The features of the Vectra seem completely wasted as a main return pump; plus I just don't trust any of the DC pumps to give me the reliability I require in a main return pump.

I couldn't agree with this post more. Production issues aside, DC pumps run much tighter impeller clearances than AC pumps, so even in the best cases, they require more frequent cleaning and are more prone to blockage.

 

[ihavecrabs]

I'm surprised to see this feedback on these pumps. I've been running the same M1 for two and a half years without problems.

Runs efficient and doesn't run hot.

I run mine submerged.

Hope they get it fixed for you!