Chris' Reef

Yeah I am just trying to think if I want to have them just send a larger box to send both back and get a refund or if I will allow them to try to make it right but at this point I don't know that they can. Simply sending a new new one isn't going to cut it IMO now.

 

Do you only want one? You could go for broke and see if they'd take both back, send you a brand new one and sell you another brand new one at a large discount. It's worth a shot Imo.

 

Yeah I only planned to have one, and only ordered one. The 2nd one was supposed to be a new replacement for the original one I got lastweek because it wasn't functioning properly and has a wobble to it/ vibration noise despite being aligned (and is different then the not aligned vibration noise). I am to the point I don't know I even want the one I originally paid for.... which would still even need to be replaced.

 

Just got off the phone with ecotech..... apparently sanding the drycoat off is normal now on new units (althought it wasn't sanded off my original one that is 3 weeks newer) and I sent the pics over of both drysides and thats normal too. No explaination/ excuse for the scratches on the "new" driver tho LOL

Anyways I've got a couple weeks to run them both to see if either quiet down. He said there is normally a 2 week "break in period". The original still has about the same vibration noise it had, the new one has a slight vibration noise but the electric motor whine is much louder.... and is constanstly louder which is more annoying then the slight occassional rumble.

 

Well both pumps are still irritatingly noisy, but man the flow is nice..... only good thing I can say about them. I am not noticing any better PE like I have seen some say they get, but we will see.

It does seem the replacement pump is pushing more flow further, possibly due to placement/ not having to fight the return pumps measly couple hundred GPH

 

Hopefully they will quiet down or you. Are you running both of them at the same time. Like one on one side and the other on the other side? Man 2 mp40s would be nice. I hope they break in and quiet down for you.
I would give it a little more time and I think you'll get a better PE.

 

Yeah I am hoping atleast one will quiet down anyway lol. I am running them both together on opposite ends. The flow has greatly improved with the two to the point I find it satisfactory..... The replacement pump does seem to be pushing better then the original still, but it is still much louder. I am going to keep them where they are for a few more days and then play around with their position to see if that impacts flow more/ see if I can get the original to push more throughout the tank like the replacement. As far as flow is concerned the replacement mp40 is pushing enough on its own that I feel I could get away with only 1 and be ok (two would definitely be best tho as I can see there are a few low/real low flow areas that may be of concern down the road).

The corals all seem to be happy, not that any were unhappy before the switch to vortech tho.

 

That's cool. At least for now you have 2 running on your tank. I couldn't understand how 2 pumps that you get look different (sanded dry side) and both of them are having issues. Real disappointing and doesn't make sense to me. Hopefully it is just a break in phase.
I have been doing a lot of looking but I think I am going to try one of those jebao WP40 from china. Seen a lot of good reviews for big tanks. Yea it not as controllable as the mp40 but for the price it's worth giving it a shot. I would need 2 mp40s to get close to the flow I need. I really don't like my current powerhead set up. I am running 2 k3s, a k2 and a maxi jet 1200 and I am just not 100% satisfied. Not to mention 4 powerheads in the DT.

Keep us posted on the PE with the 2 mp40s. I really would like to know what happens.

 

I guess atleast they are having 2 different issues lol The original has the slight vibration, the other has a louder humming electric motor (and an occassional vibration). In their defense tho it doesn't seem to be a very common problem, so maybe I am just horribly unlucky (which is true lol). I am hoping they break in/ quiet down soon tho. I do like the flow of the two so eventually I may try to find a decent used one that I can inspect and hear running before I buy it lol.

I looked into the jebo/jeboa wp40s.... I wouldn't touch em with someone elses tank. The company is known for failure on many things and while yes alot of people are raving about them they are still a ~$80 pump (heard a rumor someone got a group buy for like $35-40 even) which honestly kinda scares the crap outta me.... Also, they are claimed to be knock offs of mp40's but really nothing like them except that they can move alot of water. They look and function more like tunze's (and yes you could create a wave with the proper tunzes and control methods/ timing). IMO the beauty of the vortech isnt that you can create a wave (which sure is kinda neat to watch for a minute or two), but the random flow you can create that is actually beneficial to your tank inhabitants and more natural. Yes in nature the surface you get waves, but deep down where many corals are it is more of a random current then a bouncing wave....... Also the big waves can and do cause unneeded extra stress on a tank and shortens its lifespan.

 

While I agree with you. I really don't want your thread to turn into a jebao debate but I want to let you know my thoughts. I think the vortecs are overpriced, I mean how much do you really think it costs the company to make it? (I know there's planning, marketing and so on). My plans to for the use of the jebao is to move water and create a more random flow. They are more a tunze and still the tunze powerheads are out of my price range. I would prefer to have either Over this but with my current set up the only thing that would concern me is stray voltage. If there is no stray voltage than it could only help me. My power head set up is not great and am looking for something more controllable. I don't plan to have waves in my living room I just want more flow and more controllability. These are just my opinions.

Maybe like someone posted and if both pumps seem to break in you can buy the second one. If they both quiet down and loose the vibration. That's cool that your getting good movement. 2 mo40s I'd definitely the way to go. Really wish I could go that route for sure.
Good luck with your and hopefully one turns out to be a keeper.