Return pump losing power. Why ?

[Idech]

This is my first sump so I am still learning. This tank is an upgrade and has been running for about a year. Up until 3 weeks ago, the pump was set at 50% and there was stability in the « up and down » flow so I didn’t have to adjust it constantly.

I was away for 5 days during the Holidays and when I can back, the pump was only running at 25%, probably due to a power failure and the battery back-up kicking in. Ever since that time (it might be just a coincidence) I have not been able to return to the previous stability and kept having to adjust the gate valve multiple times a day, every day.

I did a complete maintenance on the return pump but it didn’t help. So I turned the pump down to about 42% power and now it’s okay. It just hit me that maybe the pump calibration went down the drain with the power failure and I should do it again ?

Or is this due to gunk build-up on the pipes after a year ? Does this mean we actually lose pump power a little bit every year ? If so what’s the best way to avoid it ?

Thanks

 

[disaster999]

Would help if we know exactly what pump you are running

 

[Miami Reef]

He’s using Echotech Vectra M2.

 

[Idech]

Would help if we know exactly what pump you are running

Yes, Vectra M2.

 

[00W]

He’s using Echotech Vectra M2.

She.

 

[00W]

This is my first sump so I am still learning. This tank is an upgrade and has been running for about a year. Up until 3 weeks ago, the pump was set at 50% and there was stability in the « up and down » flow so I didn’t have to adjust it constantly.

I was away for 5 days during the Holidays and when I can back, the pump was only running at 25%, probably due to a power failure and the battery back-up kicking in. Ever since that time (it might be just a coincidence) I have not been able to return to the previous stability and kept having to adjust the gate valve multiple times a day, every day.

I did a complete maintenance on the return pump but it didn’t help. So I turned the pump down to about 42% power and now it’s okay. It just hit me that maybe the pump calibration went down the drain with the power failure and I should do it again ?

Or is this due to gunk build-up on the pipes after a year ? Does this mean we actually lose pump power a little bit every year ? If so what’s the best way to avoid it ?

Thanks

This is my first sump so I am still learning. This tank is an upgrade and has been running for about a year. Up until 3 weeks ago, the pump was set at 50% and there was stability in the « up and down » flow so I didn’t have to adjust it constantly.

Sounds like a royal pain.
I have never used this pump.
In all my years I've never had a return pump go weird like this.
It either fails or works.
Yes. Some of them do slow down over the years maybe due to the plumbing as you mentioned but mainly from worn bearings, shafts and magnets.
None of what I just said is probably the least bit helpful but I think now would be a good time for a backup pump.
I bought a jebao 5 years ago or so.
My first dc pump but I have my eheim ready and plumbed exactly the same so I can change it out in about 5 minutes just in case.

 

[Miami Reef]

She.

My bad. I didn’t know.

 

[00W]

My bad. I didn’t know.

It's all good I found out the hard way too.
That's how I know.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

My bad. I didn’t know.

Haha, this seems very familiar:

Post in thread 'Why are reef tank rocks devoid of life?' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/why-are-reef-tank-rocks-devoid-of-life.1089804/post-13182102

 

[Miami Reef]

Haha, this seems very familiar:

Post in thread 'Why are reef tank rocks devoid of life?' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/why-are-reef-tank-rocks-devoid-of-life.1089804/post-13182102

I know. I cringed because I remembered that whole situation. Cringe cringe cringe.

 

[Idech]

She

Thanks, I don’t always tell.

Sounds like a royal pain.

It is.

None of what I just said is probably the least bit helpful but I think now would be a good time for a backup pump.

I like this pump because I can hook a proprietary battery back-up to it. I’ll just change it when it dies. I bought it brand new last year.

My bad. I didn’t know.

It’s okay, I don’t mind really. You can’t know if I don’t tell.

It's all good I found out the hard way too.

Oh, sorry about that.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I know. I cringed because I remembered that whole situation. Cringe cringe cringe.

For me, I stopped correcting people a long time ago.

 

[00W]

Thanks, I don’t always tell.


It is.


I like this pump because I can hook a proprietary battery back-up to it. I’ll just change it when it dies. I bought it brand new last year.


It’s okay, I don’t mind really. You can’t know if I don’t tell.


Oh, sorry about that.

No worries.
You were super nice to me about it!
None of us really know unless we just state it up front.
I'm Joel.
Nice to meet you.
And, I'm a male.

 

[Miami Reef]

And, I'm a male.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

@Idech
I have a L2 that is finicky at times, and I always suspected the software being the culprit. For the fact that a simple power cycle usually solved the issues.

In your case it sounds like you might have battery backup set to 25%. Which means the 1st thing to check is to ensure that the power supply for the vectra driver has power and check the connection as well.

If, once, you established it's not the power supply, I would go into mobius and ensure that there's nothing corrupted due to a power outage. Settings > troubleshooting > verify settings.

If it comes back as corrupted, it should prompt you to solve it. If not then go in and manually verify your settings and fix what needs to be fixed.

After all that, and you're certain the pump is running at 50% and its still not maintaining steady flow, then it would be time to clean it by removing the volute and ensuring that there aren't any obstruction. I do believe the the M models have an anti lime bypass (a little port that is parallel to the bore that houses the magnet and directs water to the rotating armature). You'll want to run a long Allen wrench down the hole to clean it out.

After that everything should work as good as new.

 

[Pod_01]

FWIW I used to use the Vectra S1 pump and after 2/3 years the flow dropped off substantially. Little while after that the pump stopped working. I didn’t investigate and just got new pump, it was out of warranty and all.

Since yours is under 1 year the warranty may be valid so I would contact Ecotech and get support ticket going. It may be software, but it can be flaky electronics as well.

Also I been told most of these DC pumps loose power over time. It may be anecdotal but perhaps there is something to it.

I do love the DC pumps for the silent operation, but from my experience they don’t seem to last.
Since 90% of them are made in China, I suspect it is same internal pump parts in different cases. Just my opinion.

Good luck,

 

[Idech]

For the fact that a simple power cycle usually solved the issues.

Thanks for your help. What is a « power cycle » ?

In your case it sounds like you might have battery backup set to 25%. Which means the 1st thing to check is to ensure that the power supply for the vectra driver has power and check the connection as well.

That’s what I thought too but I lost power again 2 days ago but this time it the battery back-up kicked in at 100%. It was in the middle of the night and I had to dial it down to 6/12. I am sure the power supply is working as I have checked it.

If, once, you established it's not the power supply, I would go into mobius and ensure that there's nothing corrupted due to a power outage. Settings > troubleshooting > verify settings.

I don’t use Mobius. I tried once or twice, but every time it would literally change my settings out of the blue, without me doing anything.

Maybe they have fixed some bugs and I should try it again ?

After all that, and you're certain the pump is running at 50% and its still not maintaining steady flow, then it would be time to clean it by removing the volute and ensuring that there aren't any obstruction.

I just did a complete clean. The only thing I could not remove is the yellow cap because there is a metal piece holding it and I don’t know how to remove it without breaking it.

I do believe the the M models have an anti lime bypass (a little port that is parallel to the bore that houses the magnet and directs water to the rotating armature). You'll want to run a long Allen wrench down the hole to clean it out.

Is this under the yellow cap that I wasn’t able to remove ?

Since yours is under 1 year the warranty may be valid so I would contact Ecotech and get support ticket going. It may be software, but it can be flaky electronics as well.

When you’re in Canada, it’s very hard to get service from US manufacturers. They send us to their Canadian dealers, who are useless most of the time. This sucks. I thought I was buying the best pump on the market but it really is a pita.

 

[Pod_01]

When you’re in Canada, it’s very hard to get service from US manufacturers. They send us to their Canadian dealers, who are useless most of the time. This sucks. I thought I was buying the best pump on the market but it really is a pita.

You nailed it sister.
Many US manufacturers are clueless on how to deal with Canadians with respect to support. I think they assume we are the 51 state or something.
But they sure love to take the money and promise golden support etc…

I love it when they say, just mail it to us in US so we can investigate… like there is no duty, brokerage fee etc…

Now the best pump in my opinion would be Abyzz pump, 10 years warranty. I just cannot justify the price, also I am not sure about support in Canada. They probably say send it to Germany or US…

At this point for the return pump I am buying reasonably priced DC pump and replace them when they fail “Maxspect Jump at the moment “. Sad these Chinese made pumps only seem to last 2 years or less and higher price doesn’t get you longer service or better warranty.
I keep noisy AC pump as a backup, when the DC pump fails I have something that can move the water till replacement shows up, done the rodeo few times now.

Hope you get it sorted, it is real shame for the money how unreliable / unrefined these Vectra pumps are.

 

[Idech]

At this point for the return pump I am buying reasonably priced DC pump and replace them when they fail “Maxspect Jump at the moment “. Sad these Chinese made pumps only seem to last 2 years or less and higher price doesn’t get you longer service or better warranty.
I keep noisy AC pump as a backup, when the DC pump fails I have something that can move the water till replacement shows up, done the rodeo few times now.

Can you show me what you use for back-up with those pumps ?