Malificent I got from @Andrew_bram:
under blues
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under halides
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under blues
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under halides
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The155BowFrontBuild
- Thread starter TheRealChrisBrown
- Start date
I finally got around to swapping out the peristaltic hose that Ecotech sent me for the Versa pump. I am going to be very cautious this time around, and let it move water from one side of my sump to the other for a few weeks. Make sure it is running issue free for a while. If that works I might give pushing through the CaRx a try. It does seem to be working well at the moment though.
And..........the Ecotech Versa is back in the box. Hopefully going back to Ecotech as a warranty return.
I can't in good faith recommend this pump in it's Version 1 state. If you are wanting this pump, I'd wait for version 2.0.
So I replaced the peristaltic tube per Ecotech's recommendation. That was supposed to stop the pump losing prime and the lines running dry. That actually seemed to work. I have not experienced that issue since the replacement. However somewhere around the 48 hour mark of testing the pump with new peri tube, the unit was just stopped in place, not rotating the roller assembly. I opened the app on my phone and manually fast forwarded/backwards the rollers. After about 60 seconds, I stopped and the pump was running again. But after a couple of minutes I heard it come to a grinding halt! So I removed the roller assembly, and used the Ecotech supplied Molykote111 grease on the drive gear, planetary gear, and the middle gear, reassembled it and everything felt smoother and it was running again. Yay! It actually ran for the better part of 3 days and I was getting hopeful that all was right in my peristaltic world. Well, it hung again. This time I tried to advance the rollers by hand as Ecotech instructed me to, and I could definitely feel a catch in the gears or motor. I followed their instructions and it's pretty bad:
You can see it going through fast forward and rewind function of the app and then it failing to operate normally. At this point I am hoping it can be returned to Ecotech, I am working with support on that. I've found 2 other guys on the FaceBooks who are in Colorado who are also experiencing issues with the Versa pump. I'm no Rocket Genius but I am beginning to feel like version 1.0 is a dud, and that is a known risk with early adaptation. That's why I'd hold off if I were looking at buying one, wait for 2.0 and hopefully the bugs will be worked out.
I can't in good faith recommend this pump in it's Version 1 state. If you are wanting this pump, I'd wait for version 2.0.
So I replaced the peristaltic tube per Ecotech's recommendation. That was supposed to stop the pump losing prime and the lines running dry. That actually seemed to work. I have not experienced that issue since the replacement. However somewhere around the 48 hour mark of testing the pump with new peri tube, the unit was just stopped in place, not rotating the roller assembly. I opened the app on my phone and manually fast forwarded/backwards the rollers. After about 60 seconds, I stopped and the pump was running again. But after a couple of minutes I heard it come to a grinding halt! So I removed the roller assembly, and used the Ecotech supplied Molykote111 grease on the drive gear, planetary gear, and the middle gear, reassembled it and everything felt smoother and it was running again. Yay! It actually ran for the better part of 3 days and I was getting hopeful that all was right in my peristaltic world. Well, it hung again. This time I tried to advance the rollers by hand as Ecotech instructed me to, and I could definitely feel a catch in the gears or motor. I followed their instructions and it's pretty bad:
You can see it going through fast forward and rewind function of the app and then it failing to operate normally. At this point I am hoping it can be returned to Ecotech, I am working with support on that. I've found 2 other guys on the FaceBooks who are in Colorado who are also experiencing issues with the Versa pump. I'm no Rocket Genius but I am beginning to feel like version 1.0 is a dud, and that is a known risk with early adaptation. That's why I'd hold off if I were looking at buying one, wait for 2.0 and hopefully the bugs will be worked out.
My MP60’s all have rusty impeller shafts. My gen 1 vectra’s are all melting through the plastic housing where the impeller magnet spins with a couple failed pumps. My Ecotech Reeflink crapped out.
Not to dump on Ecotech but facts are facts. I hope they get their “stuff” together. I really want to like their products but it seems like they have a serious issue in the quality of materials going into their equipment in the last few years.
Not to dump on Ecotech but facts are facts. I hope they get their “stuff” together. I really want to like their products but it seems like they have a serious issue in the quality of materials going into their equipment in the last few years.
Finally got through to customer service, and I am going to try their product replacement plan where they send a brand new unit out and I ship them my defective one. Being the pessimist that I am I'm already worried they are going to find an out and say "nope, that's not covered" and then they will charge me for another Versa. I'm just wired that way though, hopefully it will all work out fine.
But here's the conundrum, do I try the new one on the CaRx? Except pushing it through this time? Or I could sell it? I could use it in another way, like auto water changes....?
But here's the conundrum, do I try the new one on the CaRx? Except pushing it through this time? Or I could sell it? I could use it in another way, like auto water changes....?
That's a tough one. What you are doing now is working so you might want to let a sleeping baby sleep.
I was hopeful these would be of good quality because the price point for a true parastalic pump sounded awesome and I was considering one for specific application.
If you sell I would do it on craigslist lol so you dont have to worry about someone yelling at you when it breaks.
Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk
I was hopeful these would be of good quality because the price point for a true parastalic pump sounded awesome and I was considering one for specific application.
If you sell I would do it on craigslist lol so you dont have to worry about someone yelling at you when it breaks.
Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk
The new Versa comes in tomorrow, so I'll need to decide something. I'm very much on board with the "It it ain't broke" bandwagon now. Maybe I could dose Acropower or something with it? My Nitrates are low, Phosphates are low so no need for something like NoPox or other carbon dosing.
I'm open to all suggestions at this point.
I'm open to all suggestions at this point.
No refrigeration required on phytoplankton. Seth used to have a great setup in Ft Collins years ago with 5 gallon carboys and different species. Just light and aeration and a nutrient source. Before the shut down Jodi took some phytoplankton out of the fridge poured into some salt water added lights and aeration and we had some nice color before we had to break it down.
Well, I gave up on the Ecotech Versa. I saw on Facebook this morning that they are out of stock and hard to find again, so I mentioned that I had a brand new one (my brand new replacement from Ecotech) and was able to sell it for $150 (cost of new). So it was one of those rare times that I actually broke even on a reefing gadget!
My calcium reactor is running with a small feed pump, and an adjustable crimp on the effluent line. Simple. Easy. Effective.
I was going to use the Versa to dose Acropower, but that started to seem like a lot of money for a small daily dose. Acropower instructions say you can just dose once a week, or take the once a week dose and divide by 7 for a daily dose. I figured it was just easier and cheaper to dose manually once a week.
In the end I don't know how I would rate the Versa pump? Ecotech said it is way better at pushing fluid than pulling fluid, but then the instructions don't ever say that. I've read other rumors or theories that the Versa handles a larger constant dose better than a smaller one. I was pulling a constant 5mL per minute, one recommendation I saw suggested 20mL per minute....but again the instructions never state that. If it were me, I'd wait on a version 2 of the pump. Although I feel like as a dosing pump for 2 part or a supplement like Acropower it probably works very well...but I never tested it out like that.
My calcium reactor is running with a small feed pump, and an adjustable crimp on the effluent line. Simple. Easy. Effective.
I was going to use the Versa to dose Acropower, but that started to seem like a lot of money for a small daily dose. Acropower instructions say you can just dose once a week, or take the once a week dose and divide by 7 for a daily dose. I figured it was just easier and cheaper to dose manually once a week.
In the end I don't know how I would rate the Versa pump? Ecotech said it is way better at pushing fluid than pulling fluid, but then the instructions don't ever say that. I've read other rumors or theories that the Versa handles a larger constant dose better than a smaller one. I was pulling a constant 5mL per minute, one recommendation I saw suggested 20mL per minute....but again the instructions never state that. If it were me, I'd wait on a version 2 of the pump. Although I feel like as a dosing pump for 2 part or a supplement like Acropower it probably works very well...but I never tested it out like that.
I replaced the 3 metal halide bulbs today. I went with the 14k Phoenix's again. I ran the last set of bulbs for 4.5 hours a day for 18mos. I think I might reduce the length of use on this new set, maybe in the 12-15mo. range. Was also a great excuse to clean the glass on the MH housings. That alone probably bumped the PAR by a bit!
Really interesting article I'm operating off of about MH bulb degradation over time.
Really interesting article I'm operating off of about MH bulb degradation over time.
Well, today was the culmination of over 4 months of work to install solar on my house. I can now run those 3 metal halides with a little less guilt! I fought with the city of Loveland over permits, shipping was supposed to take 4 days....it took 14, and right when install was going to start I had to go into a walking boot for 2 weeks!
But it is all in, tomorrow is final inspection day, and hopefully it will pass!
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But it is all in, tomorrow is final inspection day, and hopefully it will pass!
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