Please help me find a Vectra M2 alternative

[kevin voyson]

My tank uses 2 Vectra M2 pumps.

They keep breaking and need to be sent to repairs 1-2x per month (not exaggerating) .

I hate having one return pump running while the 2nd is being repaired because I have to adjust the overflow and retune the system, so I bought a 3rd Vectra M2 pump as a backup for the backup.

You guys won’t believe that I’m sending and receiving return pumps 1-2x per month.

I feel like a juggling monkey. I hate this.

Last week, my return pump broke again, so I sent it for repair. Now another return pump that just came back from repair also got the same issue!

The pump just stops working. I saw the downfall myself.

I’m so done. The only reason I haven’t changed it is because I’m not sure how I can find a return pump that will fit my plumbing. I don’t want to redo or replumb things. Frankly, I don’t know which return male to fit the female threads from the Vectra M2.


I really hope someone can help me. I don’t care if it’s AC or DC. I just want a simple return pump that can push water and not break every month.

What part is breaking?

 

[Miami Reef]

What part is breaking?

It’s different almost every time.

 

[Miami Reef]

Update:

Echotech thinks the issue with the pump is because of the powercord. I am sending the pump back with 2 of the power cords.

The other pump they have will also be repaired free of charge and will be sent back to me.


Despite the problems I’ve had, I’m grateful they are taking care of me. Hopefully these issues will be fixed for good.

 

[piranhaman00]

Definitely sell them. I sold my ecotech pump and bought 4 Jebao , still in service 3 years later

 

[UMALUM]

Update:

Echotech thinks the issue with the pump is because of the powercord. I am sending the pump back with 2 of the power cords.

The other pump they have will also be repaired free of charge and will be sent back to me.


Despite the problems I’ve had, I’m grateful they are taking care of me. Hopefully these issues will be fixed for good.

My M2 went out twice in 3 months so I told them they could keep it. I do have a brand new controller and pack sitting here your more than welcome to have if you like.

 

[Miami Reef]

My M2 went out twice in 3 months so I told them they could keep it. I do have a brand new controller and pack sitting here your more than welcome to have if you like.

That’s very kind of you.

I’m receiving a pump from service tomorrow, and I really have a good feeling about this one. This is what they said:

“We found sand inside the motor block, and around the impeller magnet, preventing the impeller from advancing properly inside the motor housing.”

This could be from the high pH my tank has been having lately. I reduced my dosage, and I think this would prevent that issue in the future. I will also soak the pump in muriatic acid occasionally to ensure there isn’t calcium carbonate buildup.

This issue seemed to happen to this pump because I added it very recently; the new surface acted like a seed crystal for CaCO3.

 

[Miami Reef]

We will see what issue caused pump #1 (that I had to send back a second time) to stop working quickly after receiving it.

I think it might have been power supply issue. They are sending a new power supply with the pumps.

 

[UMALUM]

That’s very kind of you.

I’m receiving a pump from service tomorrow, and I really have a good feeling about this one. This is what they said:

“We found sand inside the motor block, and around the impeller magnet, preventing the impeller from advancing properly inside the motor housing.”

This could be from the high pH my tank has been having lately. I reduced my dosage, and I think this would prevent that issue in the future. I will also soak the pump in muriatic acid occasionally to ensure there isn’t calcium carbonate buildup.

This issue seemed to happen to this pump because I added it very recently; the new surface acted like a seed crystal for CaCO3.

Gotcha, well there not doing me any good so if you want a couple backups shoot me a dm.

 

[Miami Reef]

Update! The pump came back, and it’s working perfectly.

I feel happy now. I’m awaiting on one more pump from service; that’s the one I received nonfunctional from repair, so I’m interested in knowing what the problem was.

They said the pump and controller were working fine in service, so I sent them both of the power supplies to test out.

 

[MikeyG]

Jebao is better in every way. Sold my Ecotech and moved to all Jebao return after initially trying them. I have 2 DCP 8000 that have been running at 100% for 3 years straight now without issue

I am in the same bucket with the Jebao or some of the other Chinese knockoffs. I had similar problem with the Neptune CRO20 pumps and switched to Reeflo

Hammerhead/Barracuda Hybrid 6000/4590 GPH External Pump​

 

[thamnasteroid]

PVC and glue

Then remove them.

Well yes, ecotech uses proprietary threads because they are junk. You will need to do some minor adjustments, very easy.

All union threads are proprietary, I think. Union nut threads aren't standardized.

 

[DanyL]

All union threads are proprietary, I think. Union nut threads aren't standardized.

I don’t know about American unions, but at least for metric ones they are standardized.

See my comment below:

You can screw a standard metric union to the Jebao. It’ll be either 25mm or 32mm depending on the size of the pump.

(Same goes for the Maxpect in case anyone reads the message in the future)

 

[thamnasteroid]

Sicce Syncra (normal). No bells and whistles, but ***** reliable

 

[Miami Reef]

Don't take this the wrong way but have you considered that it is your installation that is causing the issues? I've not read elsewhere monthly failures of these pumps. It is like you are experiencing cavitation or something that is causing pressure fluctuations. I only say this because if it is setup driven you may experience similar problems. Intake proximity to sump sidewall, improper outtake size, etc.

I am not saying that is the case and the new pump may be smaller so less restrictions but figured I'd throw that out there.

UPDATE!

They received both of the power supplies, the pump, and the controller, and they saw that BOTH power supplies were faulty.

I’m very happy we found the culprit!