It seems like when Ecotech Marine releases a new product, it immediately becomes a hit. The Vortech circulation pumps have become the bar by which all circulation pumps are judged, and Radion lighting is often considered the high standard in LED lighting. So how does Ecotech fare in branching out to a less exciting product, the return pump? It’s not that return pumps aren’t exciting; it’s just that they aren’t really thrilling. They pump water from a sump back into the aquarium, and up until now most of them had a fixed gallon per hour (gph) flow rate. Although it could be argued that return pumps are a very under-rated part of reef aquariums. Think about it, the return pump is what dictates the water level in the sump. Faster returns pump water out of the pump chamber quickly, while slower units allow for a bit of dwell time. They also dictate the speed at which water is pulled through overflows, passed over mechanical filtration and spread across various chambers within the sump. In this regard they are vital, and perhaps one of the most important pieces of equipment on an entire system. In closed loop applications return pumps push water out a variety of outputs, creating a powerful, varied current within the aquarium. Like any Ecotech product, the Vectra isn’t just another return pump. In fact it’s a smart, high functioning piece of equipment with a lot to offer almost any aquarist. Though is it for everyone, and is it worth replacing a perfectly good return pump with the new Vectra? The pump’s aesthetics (if they even matter) :
Radion lighting is sleek, polished and futuristic and Vortech pumps (with their external motor) look different enough to catch most people’s attention. The Vectra on the other hand, well it looks like a return pump. It certainly isn’t ugly, but it isn’t something you would want to display for all your friends, and it certainly isn’t going to impress the ladies. It’s a pump; there is no question about that. Considering these units spend their lives tucked away in a sump or back end of a closed loop, it doesn’t really matter what they look like anyhow. The Vectra is solid, it certainly isn’t cheaply made, nor does it have any annoying gimmicks, such as a + or – slider switch to control flow. It’s a solid block with a large cable leading out to Ecotech’s familiar Quiet Drive driver.… More:
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