Problems with Ecotech Marine Vectra M1 pump

nero0762 · May 15, 2017

nero0762 said:
I replied to my open support case with Ecotech this morning and asked for a new controller with the latest firmware and a new power supply... the only pieces I haven't swapped out yet. We'll see what they say.

Wow, well that sucks. Here's the response I got from EcoTech:

Caesar,
My name is Alex Young and I am the Customer Service Manger here at EcoTech Marine and I appreciate you getting back to us. Please keep in mind, each case is unique and we send the correct replacement parts for your specific situation. If you continue to have issues, we can get you replacement parts but assuming everything is working fine you will not need a new power supply or controller. If you have any other questions, you will need to call in today.
Thanks again,
Alex

This was in response to my response to the open case. I said that the noise was still a problem, and that we should consider swapping out the other components (power supply and controller). Their response? "Call us if you have a problem."

Do I call them again or just work with BRS to see if they'll help me out with a straight up return?

mfinn · May 15, 2017

Call them.

nero0762 · May 18, 2017

Closing this out... I tested out the VarioS-6 tonight, and I'll be going with that. You can see my comparison here.
And a HUGE thanks to BRS. When I shared my frustration and disappointment with the M1, they offered to take it back in exchange for full store credit. Those guys are awesome!

Txdragonslayer · May 18, 2017

Mine is silent been running a yr now

nero0762 · Jul 21, 2017

In
Kijln

kingdog22 · Jul 21, 2017

That's unfortunate! I couldn't imagine trading my L1 or M1 for anything other then an Ecotech!
And their customer service has been absolutely beyond amazing. And I've been dealing with then for tears now. Man are you missing out on a bad butt pump.

Damien Buckley · Aug 4, 2017

I'm having the exact same problems with the M1. Had it 6 months and just replaced. Also silent with no back pressure but sounds horrible when connected. New one is no better - also had stuff on the impeller. If anything it sounds worse after cleaning. I also have a Red Sea Reefer but only the 250. This one is going back too.

3mm3 · Aug 4, 2017

On the reefer return plumbing the hose barb that screws into the hard pipe did you check to see if that's a restriction? I swapped that piece out with a less restrictive part.
Side by side comparison.

AcanthurusRex · Aug 4, 2017

Mine screamed for quit a while. I could here it across the house. Difficult to stay in the same room with the noise. I had it replaced by ecotech but the new one was really no better. I put a silicon pad under it and it helped quite a bit. I also installed a section if silicon tubing to the hard piping which helped a bit. Six months later and it no longer screams. I think the noise faded away gradually.

Damien Buckley · Aug 4, 2017

3mm3 said:
On the reefer return plumbing the hose barb that screws into the hard pipe did you check to see if that's a restriction? I swapped that piece out with a less restrictive part.
Side by side comparison.

Thanks but no, I haven't looked at that. Ultimately if the Vectra is going to whine, it can go back - I don't really want to start messing with the Reefer plumbing. The weird thing is that the noise changes over time as the other poster above has mentioned.

Also, wouldn't dialling back the power solve that if it was just restrictive plumbing?

My Eheim 1262 is quieter…

Damien Buckley · Aug 4, 2017

AcanthurusRex said:
Mine screamed for quit a while. I could here it across the house. Difficult to stay in the same room with the noise. I had it replaced by ecotech but the new one was really no better. I put a silicon pad under it and it helped quite a bit. I also installed a section if silicon tubing to the hard piping which helped a bit. Six months later and it no longer screams. I think the noise faded away gradually.

Yeah, I can hear mine at the other end of the house too. The odd thing is, the first one I had did get quieter, but then it came back after about 6 months use. I stripped & cleaned it and it was worse lol. That's why I returned it. For supposedly 'silent' pumps, I just think Vectra's are lemons frankly.

Damien Buckley · Aug 4, 2017

nc208082 said:
What pump are you comparing the noise level to?
I've heard the vectras and they are pretty darn quiet compared to a mag or other bulky return pumps. They are not silent but very quiet I would say.

I've used eheim 1262 before which is a great pump and fairly quiet.

Right now I'm using a tunze silent 1073.004 I think and it is very quiet.

These last two are not dc or controllable but are rock solid and fairly quiet.

How does the Tunze compare to the Vectra (and 1262) in your opinion? Also, have you seen/heard the DC Tunze silence by any chance?

I 'upgraded' to an M1 from an Eheim 1262. With the 1262 I just get the low sort of grumble that you expect with a large AC pump but the Vectra whines, loudly. Reading this full thread it seems like perhaps the Reefer plumbing is restrictive and people who have success with. Vectra's have hard plumbed them which I'm really not keen on getting into.

Question is, do I send it back again, try different plumbing, go back to my 1262 or try something else entirely?

I think blaming the tank plumbing is a bit of a cop-out - Ecotech know how these pumps are used and claim 'silent' but it seems that Vectra's are really not fit for purpose with soft hose plumbing and any degree of back pressure.

racin2438 · Aug 4, 2017

Ours is super quiet , no noise at all...

I would recommend that you install the cage that goes over the inlet....small stuff can get in there and possibly damage the impeller ...
also, my controller had the green light that fades in and out not steady like yours....

chgoblknazn · Aug 5, 2017

Mine is dead silent, even when at 100% on 3/4" plumbing for my 50 gallons.

nero0762 · Aug 6, 2017

3mm3 said:
On the reefer return plumbing the hose barb that screws into the hard pipe did you check to see if that's a restriction? I swapped that piece out with a less restrictive part.
Side by side comparison.

I love my Reefer, but the return plumbing is a real disappointment. There's the piece you talk about here, and the final elbow in the overflow just before the return outlet is ridiculous. That bend is 1/2" a best, despite the plumbing before and after being ~3/4".
I'd love to figure out how to replace this. I have no doubt flow would go up and strain on the pump would go down.

Damien Buckley · Aug 6, 2017

nero0762 said:
I love my Reefer, but the return plumbing is a real disappointment. There's the piece you talk about here, and the final elbow in the overflow just before the return outlet is ridiculous. That bend is 1/2" a best, despite the plumbing before and after being ~3/4".
I'd love to figure out how to replace this. I have no doubt flow would go up and strain on the pump would go down.

Yeah, I think this is a big problem. In other news I think my replacement M1 is better than the last one. I'm trying to figure out how I can change my plumbing a bit to take the pressure off a bit.

Currently I pump into my chiller and this is connected to the return hose. People have suggested t-ing off to the chiller and back into the sump but I don't really see how this is more efficient as only a portion of the water will pass through it. Any thoughts?

Reefltx · Aug 7, 2017

Damien Buckley said:
Yeah, I think this is a big problem. In other news I think my replacement M1 is better than the last one. I'm trying to figure out how I can change my plumbing a bit to take the pressure off a bit.

Currently I pump into my chiller and this is connected to the return hose. People have suggested t-ing off to the chiller and back into the sump but I don't really see how this is more efficient as only a portion of the water will pass through it. Any thoughts?

Because you don't need that much gph going to the chiller. I have mines Teed off and runs back to the drain chamber on my reefer.

Forsaken77 · Aug 7, 2017

Damien Buckley said:
How does the Tunze compare to the Vectra (and 1262) in your opinion? Also, have you seen/heard the DC Tunze silence by any chance?

I 'upgraded' to an M1 from an Eheim 1262. With the 1262 I just get the low sort of grumble that you expect with a large AC pump but the Vectra whines, loudly. Reading this full thread it seems like perhaps the Reefer plumbing is restrictive and people who have success with. Vectra's have hard plumbed them which I'm really not keen on getting into.

Question is, do I send it back again, try different plumbing, go back to my 1262 or try something else entirely?

I think blaming the tank plumbing is a bit of a cop-out - Ecotech know how these pumps are used and claim 'silent' but it seems that Vectra's are really not fit for purpose with soft hose plumbing and any degree of back pressure.

They definitely take back pressure into account. Vectras have one of the highest head heights available for DC pumps. Maybe you should be using the L1 if you want to go straight off the pump with 1" barb. You would need the L1 barb and cage kit though. That's the pump I'll be using on my 180 because the tank has 1" dual returns.

I thought about doing 1.25" from the pump, through both UV's and have the output of the UV's go back down to 1" to connect back to the tank. I thought it would help with head pressure but I didn't want to bottleneck the flow. Rather keep a 1" connection all the way through.