VorTech's Aren't That Great

[camaroracer214]

I recently purchases an EcoTech VorTech MP40W to put in my 90. I had been previously using 3 Koralias (one #4 and two #3s), so I decided to take out one of the #3's and replace it with a VorTech. I had the VorTech in there for maybe three days at most and it already failed on me. EcoTech told me to send it in to IceCap and they'll send me a replacement. So, in order to avoid all the excess hassle, I told my boss about it (I work at a LFS) and he told me to bring it in and he'd send it back in for a replacement. I have also come to the conclusion that I'll try out the new Koralias instead of getting the replacement VorTech. My store has them in stock with the wavemaker and it will all come out to be virtually the same price. I've decided to go with the wavemaker and two of the new Koralia #4's. I'll sell the old #4 that's currently in the tank, and replace it with two new controllable #4's...this should give me two controllable #4's (one on the left and one on the right) and one normal #3 (in the middle)...it will be similar to my current setup, but will be more flow and controlled.

Good idea???

 

[Len]

Just curious: what part of your vortech failed? Or another way to ask is, in what manner did it fail?

 

[Anonymous]

Vortecs are great, however they aren't the second coming of Jesus in reefkeeping I'll agree

They're very pricy, they do have parts that do need to be regularly replaced (kind of sucky for their price), and multiple other pumps that are cheaper can do very similar if not better things. However the one thing I do like about them is their lack of obtrusiveness in a tank. That is all, not going to defend them

 

[Ben1]

I really like my vortech, I got one as soon as they came out. I just finished replacing the old controller for the new one. I thought this was very cool to have the old driver be able to be swapped out so easy for the new version. You gotta love the low profile no cords in the tank loos also.

In anycase mine has never failed. I've never been more pleased with a powerhead.

I also had a Koralia 4 in the tank and I didnt use the extra volute thing for the end of it but thought the flow was very heavy on certain spots and not on others, I dont think I was getting the even flow I got from tunzes or vortechs. I did like the magnet mount that allowed you to position it to any spot and swivel it however you liked. Other things I didnt like were the size in the tank and having a cord in the tank. Other then that I was pleased with it for the short time it was in my tank.


Good luck!

 

[camaroracer214]

the wave driver is what failed, not the actual pump itself. these pumps are too expensive to fail so quickly, after only a few days of light use. i understand that not every single item produced by a company is going to be perfect, but absolute failure after the first few days is inexcusable, especially since so many other companies produce products to do virtually the same thing.

i'm going to try out the new koralias and see how they go. i've owned 7 koralias and i've been extremely pleased with each one of them.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow you're really harsh on this. Obviously what you have is some sort of manufacturing defect issue that is very rare, even if you go to the RC forum for EcoTech you don't hear all the other users asking about a failed wave driver.

I mean I'm sure there has NEVER been a Koralia pump that didn't work after a couple days :roll:

 

[trido]

these pumps are too expensive to fail so quickly, after only a few days of light use.

Not to pick a fight with you or defend votech because I dont have one but.....
I have been a residential remodeler for some time now. Many times Ive taken high end pieces of equipment (sub zero refrigerators, viking ovens, etc that are far more expensive than any reefing equipment) out of the box and plugged them in only to have them not work. Do you think that it would be a fair assesment of mine, and then to post on a forum that they suck, because the one I bought didnt work.
Or in the world of reefing...... Say I bought an IceCap balast that didnt work straight out of the box. Would it be fair for me to say that all IceCap ballasts suck?
And for a real example. My temp probe went bad on my AJ Jr after 90 days. Does this make neptune a crappy company.
Or my impellars on my Bubble master are wearing out prematurely. Should I tell EVERYONE not to buy a bubble master because Im having problems with mine?

 

[Anonymous]

these pumps are too expensive to fail so quickly, after only a few days of light use.

Not to pick a fight with you or defend votech because I dont have one but.....
I have been a residential remodeler for some time now. Many times Ive taken high end pieces of equipment (sub zero refrigerators, viking ovens, etc that are far more expensive than any reefing equipment) out of the box and plugged them in only to have them not work. Do you think that it would be a fair assesment of mine, and then to post on a forum that they suck, because the one I bought didnt work.
Or in the world of reefing...... Say I bought an IceCap balast that didnt work straight out of the box. Would it be fair for me to say that all IceCap ballasts suck?
And for a real example. My temp probe went bad on my AJ Jr after 90 days. Does this make neptune a crappy company.
Or my impellars on my Bubble master are wearing out prematurely. Should I tell EVERYONE not to buy a bubble master because Im having problems with mine?

if it was IN YOUR OPINE that the product was built poorly, or used low grade materials, then yes, it is after all YOUR OPINION.
Thats what a review is- an opinion given by the testor.

 

[camaroracer214]

the thing is that i know a lot more people are having problems with their vortechs. i mulled over buying it for some time, i sought out experiences and advice and they were all mixed. but i figured a $420 pump should work pretty well for at least a while, enough for me to at least get my own working opinion of it. even as i left my job at the lfs, a guy that owned one was telling me how much he hated his. i took the chance anyways. got it home and i initially loved it. lot of good flow and didn't take up a lot of space. after like 2-3 days it crapped out on me. it's certainly frustrating to have that happen. and until they work out the bugs i'll just stick with my koralias. out of all the koralias that i've owned personally, all the koralias up at my lfs, and all the koralias my friends own, i've heard only one problem. a guy's pump froze up after about 3 months of use. no problem...just replace it with another koralia that's only $55 (here anyways).

 

[Anonymous]

I had two koralias freeze on me within a week of use.

 

[Anonymous]

I've had 4 Tunze Nano Streams fail on me....looks like failure isn't just limited to Vortecs.

I can't even count the amount of Rios that have failled on me. I've even had maxi-Jets fail over time.

The most vocal of people are the ones with problems thus it's what you mainly hear and see posted

 

[JeremyR]

I think the general problem is that everyone is making crappy equipment these days in order to keep costs down. Sometimes I think the more expensive something is, the more likely it is going to break.

 

[Anonymous]

If my aquascaping made sense with vortechs, I would use them in a heartbeat.

 

[Anonymous]

Have to admit, in all the years I was reefing, my vortech was one of the best pieces of hardware I ever purchased. If I had an application where one would be useful, I'd buy one again in a heartbeat.

 

[Anonymous]

I got a used vortec from a local guy and I love it. Six months of usage when I got it an no issues. In the month I have had it.