Nice bit of kit!

[instantsquid]

I've heard mixed reviews of the Vortech MP40w pumps - but given their performance per watt on paper, I was still keen to get my hands on one.

The pump arrived last Friday (cheers Jon) so I fitted it at one end of my 7' tank on Saturday morning. As per the instructions, I turned the pump up to full power and adjusted the positions of the two halves until there was no discernible noise.

I'm seriously impressed with this piece of kit. I've got it running on "Reef Crest" mode which randomly alters the power output - on full power the "pull" towards the pump is almost more impressive than the water it pushes away. I don't know if I'm one of the lucky ones but this thing is whisper-quiet. There's other pumps, fans, etc. around my tank anyway, but I honestly can't hear any noise from the Vortech without putting my ear right on it.

Just one very minor cause for concern however. Straight out of the box and the wires going into the controller from the pump look like this:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q3/VORTECH.JPG
Now it might be that "they're all like that, sir" - in which case it's not wonderful but I'll live with it. I've not seen any others to know if that's "normal" (It doesn't look it to me, but I've got nothing to compare it with).

[bazman]

Hi the wires should not be like that at all mine was all neat and tidy and wires all secured in the controller. Get a new 1 i feel :thumbsup:

[Lost Boys]

Does not look good to be honest Ian, any water that may go down the cable by accident will run straight into the box and the grommet that was fitted to stop this happening is doing nothing now, can you not push the outer sleeve back into the grommet?

:)

[instantsquid]

can you not push the outer sleeve back into the grommet?Yes, and it comes straight out again - there's nothing to keep it in there.

[Lost Boys]

Yes, and it comes straight out again - there's nothing to keep it in there.

Could you pop a little bit of glue around the outside of the sleeve, some cyanoacrylate glue is best, your hold it there for a minute and then it will be glued into place and then you could pop a small bit around again to make sure.

If your going to send it back it's best not to do this.

:thumbsup:

[~Tony~]

I'd get a new one. Water will get in, the unsupported inner cables will flex and break over time, or the internal connections may fail if strained.

I don't know the pump, but any cable going through a grommet should be fixed inside with a clamp, a tie-wrap around the cable, a knot in the cable, or similar, to stop it pulling through.
IMO this is either a manufacturing fault or a design fault. I hope it isn't the latter.

[jez]

Hi
Looking at it it would seem that the insulation has been cut back too far so it does not fit the grommit when installed.

Ian I have reported this issue to Tim director of production at Ecotech.....

We have more MP40w's latter part of next week I will arrange to get it swapped as soon as they are in. If you can bear with it for the next week.

Thanks for letting us know

Regards Jez

[instantsquid]

That'll be superb, Jez - as I said I'm totally chuffed with the performance of the pump but was just a little concerned that the connector didn't look right. I'm sure I can live with it until next week :)

[instantsquid]

Just to close this thread off - Jez supplied a replacement pump which I'm over the moon with. I thought it was going to be noisy when I first installed it but I needn't have worried - it's now extremely quiet and I'm a happy chappy! Thanks once again for top-notch service, Jez :)