Take one look at the Panta Rhei Hydro-Wizard and it’s clear you’re dealing with something different. Pick up the hydro-wizard and the controller and the units feel as different as they look. This certainly isn’t a bad thing, the Panta Rhei pump wreaks quality from the time you open the box. From the dense packing foam (similar to what is found on a Parrot drone) on up to the unique design of the controller, it’s clear to see that Panta Rhei has truly “finished” this product. The pump’s guts are encased in high-quality acrylic and the entire thing looks and feels as though whomever constructed it methodically implemented each detail. While as aquarists we might expect every product to have such a polished, quality finish – more often than not we are disappointed. As a pump:
It’s sad but true, the reef aquarium hobby is plagued by sub-par products, poor performers and overpriced gimmicks. There are several strong contenders who release consistently good products, but once you step outside of that tier, quality takes a nose dive, along with performance and durability. Within seconds of removing the Panta Rhei pump, you notice a stark difference in finish which is certainly welcome among reef aquarium equipment. Many aquarists are unfamiliar with German company Panta Rhei and it’s understandable. Usually Panta Rhei is building powerful water movers for public aquariums, such as the 52,000 gallon per hour hydro-wizard ECM 75. In 2014 the company envisioned a new type of home aquarium circulation pump, which has become the hydro-wizard ECM 42, which is capable of moving 5,000 gallons per hour. As a fully adjustable pump, the ECM 42 offers a wide array of capabilities for aquariums of all sizes. A little research into Panta Rhei as a company makes it clear that they should know how to make a great water mover for home reefs, but as always, aquarists are mostly concerned with how the ECM 42 performs. The ECM 42 doesn’t look like traditional circulation pumps. It’s not a simple propeller, though it’s not as strikingly “out of the box” as a Maxspect gyre either. The motor, along with everything else mounts in the aquarium, unlike Ecotech’s Vortech which keeps the motor outside the tank. If electrical consumption is any indicator of heat, then it’s likely the ECM 42 runs cool, as it uses a scant 22 watts of power. In my tank, after running the ECM 42 I haven’t noticed even a slight increase in overall temperature.… More:
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