Is the EcoTech VorTech worth it for the price?

[LIScubaDivers]

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?

 

[Crabby48]

Hard to say if it’s worth it. They all produce different flow patterns. Some are more wide spread flow. I love vortex because of no cord in tank. I have extra wet sides so I can swap out dirty ones and clean them when I have time. Small tanks I don’t mind aqua illuminations because they are little smaller but cord still in tank. Also I do like having an adjustable pump speed and different flow patterns like the vortex.

Also a big thing for me is where pumps are made because I like my money to not go to China for copies or junk from China

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

No doubt, you can move water with a pump far cheaper.

How much of the vortechs success is due to marketing? Or is it a superior pump?

I think the big claim to fame is the unique magnetic coupling to keep the cords and heat out of the water.

But when you peel it back, you can achieve water movement without the high price tag.

So the real question is, do you care if when people look at your tank there's a feeling of envy because of your pump purchased? Or not?

 

[exnisstech]

Worth it to me for many of the same reasons as @Crabby48 . I love being able to swap wet sides when its time for cleaning. I have some neros also and they work fine but the long cord attached to the motor makes them a pain to clean.

 

[landlubber]

I ran gyres for the majority of the past 10 years and switched over to mp40's a couple of years ago and can confirm they are a substantially better pump.
-less maintenance required
-quieter (they have been essentially silent since day one)
-app has been flawless for me
-cleaner look
-easier to clean (especially if you invest in another set of wet sides)

 

[vabben]

If its a display tank, I think they are worth it. I have four MP40's on my DT and love them, easy to swap and clean wet sides. On my frag tank I have gyres, move a lot of water but a massive pain to clean.

 

[Crabby48]

Worth it to me for many of the same reasons as @Crabby48 . I love being able to swap wet sides when its time for cleaning. I have some neros also and they work fine but the long cord attached to the motor makes them a pain to clean.

And that’s why I traded a Nero for mp10 lol. Hate cords

 

[paragrouper]

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?

Essentially yes, the cordless feature is the main reason. If you don’t mind the cord running through your tank then there are much less expensive options. For myself, I chose to save the money and live with the cords in the tank.

 

[areefer01]

I think the big claim to fame is the unique magnetic coupling to keep the cords and heat out of the water.

But when you peel it back, you can achieve water movement without the high price tag.

Magnetic coupling was a great idea on their part. Cord is out of the water but still visible sadly unless behind the display or hidden by other means. Still, one has to say that design was smart. At least in my opinion.

Never owned one but I've always wondered how the fall off compares to the "cheaper" solutions as they become dirty. I've owned a few different cheaper solutions and the fall off is noticeable. Of course I don't speak for all hobbyist or brands but to me sometimes the "buy-in" price is misleading when it has to be serviced more frequently.

 

[C_AWOL]

If comparing similar profile powerheads then it comes down to cords vs no cords, overall maintenance, and longevity (vs jebao).

Most of my tanks have full perimeter bracing so it amplifies the effects of cords being unsightly.

It's generally less work to do maintenance on vortechs where its just pulling out a wetside compared to pulling out an entire tunze with the cord.

I think the longest I've used a jebao powerhead is 2 years (their dc return pumps last much longer). Either the controller ends up failing (most common ime) or the motor block fails (mostly older models)
Compared to that, I still have vortechs from 2011 in service with the original parts (the noisy non qd ones) and first gen qd from 2015 when they were first released.
As a bonus, ecotech service if needed has been amazing.

Of course this is not really indicative of other brands quality/longevity but as you consider neros/tunze, I feel it becomes much easier to justify the price of vortechs vs something very inexpensive (in comparison) such as jebaos.

If we throw gyre style powerheads into the mix then it gets a bit more complicated.

You overall get a a lot more flow for the money (can essentially halve the powerheads depending on application) but you have the trade off of significantly more frequent and difficult maintenance.

From the gyres I've used (pre 2020) they have all been headaches as far as maintenance is considered and they're easier (for me) to break during cleaning along with not fun to reassemble.

There might be better revisions/quality of life improvements in newer ones but I have no reason to use anything besides vortechs or closed loops currently.

 

[Extremeengineer]

I love my 2 MP10, and am planning on buying one extra wetside so I can rotate for cleaning. I like the app, but then I have Radions on there too, but I'd definitely buy them again.

 

[ca1ore]

Vortech certainly was/is worth it to me at the admission price. I really like the aesthetic, and it works a whole lot better for me than any of the other 'budget' circulation pumps. If you think the vortech is expensive, check out the Panta Rhei Hydrowizard pumps.

 

[areefer01]

Vortech certainly was/is worth it to me at the admission price. I really like the aesthetic, and it works a whole lot better for me than any of the other 'budget' circulation pumps. If you think the vortech is expensive, check out the Panta Rhei Hydrowizard pumps.

The Hydrowizard is bulky and in most home aquariums an eye sore. In my opinion.

 

[Crabby48]

One other thing to consider is years down the road when they fail. Ecotech will sell or service anything they made no matter then gen. Can’t say that for all companies.

 

[Solo McReefer]

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?

Yes

No cable in the tank
No pump motor in the tank, heating the water

I use and have used many different cheap options

They don't replace gyres, though

They need to invent a wireless gyre, or someone needs to

 

[ca1ore]

The Hydrowizard is bulky and in most home aquariums an eye sore. In my opinion.

No idea what you mean …..

 

[areefer01]

No idea what you mean …..

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

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Funny reading this thread and I just pulled two MP40's out of my cube tank and went back to a cheap chinese gyre (temporarily). Had them in service previously, and retired them back when the Nero 5's hit the scene. Tried them again and still dont care for them.

Just not sold on them, I seriously tried to embrace them. Nothing severe, just nitpicky issues for me... If they arent aligned perfectly, noisey buggers. Wet sides arent cheap, cord management can be a pain when placed on side panels, mobius is for the birds, etc....

Would I buy them @ 469$ a pop with current 2024 prices. Hard pass. Think I paid 249 back in 2015 and they were 1st gen Qd's with reef link. Ill give ecotech credit when/where its due, they gave me a wetside for free when I sent one in to be rebuilt, about 2 years ago. Thus I'm one for two with their customer service. Now the vectra, you couldnt give me another one of them for free, long sour taste in my mouth from that craptacular experience.

Mine MAY be for sale.

 

[rtparty]

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.

 

[piranhaman00]

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