When will the foam covers be ready??

[Fliger]

I lost a really healthy fish this morning, my CBB that I'd had for awhile. I'm using the pulse mode and have the high set to 100%, the suction was just too strong. Do you know when these covers are going to be ready to ship? I have other tangs that I worry about.

Thanks.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/dfliger/Elos%20160XL/100_1756.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/dfliger/Elos%20160XL/100_1757.jpg

[MSHUR]

Occhhh..Sorry about you r lost David....I am kind of worry as well.
I have set my pump for 100% . Do you think suction is so hard it can kill the fish?

m

[Fliger]

Thanks bro. I think fish with these types of bodies are really vulnerable. I've had this fish for a long time, even with 6100's at full blast - but the VT's only went to 100% a few days ago. I'm certain this guy was 100% healthy - he ate like a pig. I lost a fish to a 6200 a few years ago in my 340, its not just VT's - but at full blast these things have a LOT of suction

On a side note I just read your tank - I'm also running the 400W Aquaconnects off IC - man I love it!

[MSHUR]

Wow,,,,I hope this cover come out soon...But you the first one i see who report this problem..

I use to run them off HQi and color was unreal. Corals use to love it. I am trying IC :)

[sfsuphysics]

I had the same thing happen one of my very first fish in saltwater ever (of the two I originally bought), granted it was "just" a blue damsel, but it was a rare one in that it didn't attack any other fish.

Hopefully the pulsing action of the WWD allows the pump to ramp down enough that any caught fish to swim free.

Another option would be to have a secondary plastic grating sleeve over the pump, so that there's no loss of flow, but it doesn't keep fish stuck to it.

[reefsafe]

Blue Spot Jawfish

:(


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/96979P1010019.JPG

[mako199]

I just bought a new mp40w and it came with the foam cover....so they already have them.

[smklaw]

I just got the 2 MP40w w/ battery package from Reefgeek and they both had the covers.

Any idea how close to the surface you can place these with blowing water all over the top in Lagoon mode?

[smklaw]

I just got the 2 MP40w w/ battery package from Reefgeek and they both had the covers.

Any idea how close to the surface you can place these with blowing water all over the top in Lagoon mode?

[Fliger]

Uggh. My CBB and I would have loved to know about this sooner. :( Can you guys take pix, I'd love to see how they work. Do they restrict flow at all?

And can ETM please comment when these will be ready for current customers since the first ones seem to only be available to new customers?

[JRaquatics]

There is nothing special about the covers. It just looks like the foam that you get for room humidifiers in a slight cone shape. When I opened my box last night I thought is was for packing at first.

[joelk835]

I lost my healthy purple tang and almost lost my hippo tang but saw his stuck on it just in time. I also asked if I could get these and was told I would have to wait even though they already had them. Right after they told me is when I saw my hippo stuck so I was little ticked off as that could have been another disaster.

[reefsafe]

I am a huge fan of Ecotech and everything they have done but this situation disappoints me. I would gladly pay the $5, $10 whatever to get the foam covers but it looks like new customers are the priority and not the existing base. I should have not used the pumps until I had the covers...an expensive mistake.

[EcoTech Marine]

We are doing absolutely everything we can. Anyone who is looking for a foam cover please email me at [email protected] and I will try and wrap this up this week as a top priority.

We were waiting until the final packaging was done but I agree with you all, it's just taking too long.

-Tim

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11025423#post11025423 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mdrumm
I am a huge fan of Ecotech and everything they have done but this situation disappoints me. I would gladly pay the $5, $10 whatever to get the foam covers but it looks like new customers are the priority and not the existing base. I should have not used the pumps until I had the covers...an expensive mistake.

I find it hard to belive a healthy fish would get stuck to this pump. I have small fish swim around it all the time and they never get sucked in. My small scopas tang even picks algae off of the pump when it is running at 100%. Also, if it is sucking the fish to the pump, I don't think the foam pad is going to help unless it lowers the output of the pump enough by restricting the flow. The fish will just be stuck to the foam pad.

[TrouzerTrout]

I completely agree. People posted actual pictures of their post mortum fish that they had spent $30-$60 on and their answer is to paypal $15 to them for foam that should be sent out as part of a recall. The only reason I pulled the trigger on this pump was IceCap's affiliation with it. EcoTech Marine should take some plays out of Tunze's playbook. Their customer service is very lacking and leaves much to be desired. They just don't get it. You don't have to give the store away to make people happy. Ask IceCap or Tunze how they do it.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11025423#post11025423 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mdrumm
I am a huge fan of Ecotech and everything they have done but this situation disappoints me. I would gladly pay the $5, $10 whatever to get the foam covers but it looks like new customers are the priority and not the existing base. I should have not used the pumps until I had the covers...an expensive mistake.

[EcoTech Marine]

We do not feel that the VorTech pump is a danger to healthy fish. However, just like any pump there is an opportunity for fish to get stuck to it, especially when you're pumping 3,000 gph.

However I agree with some of your sentiment and I am sorry for the delay in putting these foam covers on the shelf. Therefore anyone who emails me today with their address will receive a free foam cover for each of their pumps via USPS first class mail. Honestly, I should have done this from the beginning for those of you who had a problem with a fish and are now nervous. I apologize for not being on top of this.

For those of you who have contacted me already, I will refund your money unless you want to order spares.

-Tim

[Fliger]

raynist - I can assure you my CBB was 100% healthy. It happened overnight. My tangs also swim pretty close and no problems, but I think there are just some fish that are more prone than others. Even though my CBB was perfectly healthy - it does doom fish that might be weak at one point or another. In 20 years of reefkeeping I've nursed a LOT of fish back to health that during their recovery would not be able to wishstand this type of suction.

Can we get a picture of the foam pad? I'd love to see how it works, if it just increases the surface area, will it need to be cleaned frequently, etc?

I'm also very pleased with my VT's - just want to get these pads out. As a marketing/ad guy, I understand all the P's - and packaging can be a pain. But in this case I really think packaging should be skipped altogether.

[joelk835]

Awesome deal sent email your way with address. Thanks

[Labman48076]

Thank you for posting this and sorry for your loss I lost a black Durgeon trigger myself I heard my pump making noise too turn around and see him stuck to the vortech about 3 days latter he dies badly bruised. he was my favorite fish he would allow me to pet him and not I am not joking I rarely did it because I was afraid it might cause him harm. but the fact is he seemed to enjoy it. emailing now thanks again and sorry! I do know how it feels. oh and thank you ecotech

[SALT WATER CRAZ]

Sent email

Thanks
Brian

[ReefRockerLive]

Lost the Chevron tang to the vortechs a few hours ago. :( Sent an email.

[naruto_kun]

Email sent.

I've lost 2 mandarins, 3 clowns, and several anthia's already since I've had the vortechs (got them when they first came out).

[raynist]

I have 4 vortechs in my 120 (all running at full blast) and have never had a fish get stuck to the side. I 'strongly believe' these fish died first and then were stuck to the vortech as they floated around the tank. There might be the odd case where this actually happened, but If they really sucked fish in like some people are claiming there would be many more cases (although now that they are giving away the sleave to people with problems it seems people are coming out of the woodwook, not accusing anyone in particular, just my observation).

I would like everyone as a test to turn your vortech's to max speed and put your hand near the intake grates. There is virtually no suction at all!!!

I feel bad that Tim is being bullied into giving these away for free with some people insinuating that this is an epidemic and they should have known better. Seriously, put your hand next to the intake area, it is not sucking in a healthy fish of any species.....

[Fliger]

Ok sure raynist, you are smarter than all of us, and you know our tanks, fish better than we do. Thank you so much for "telling us" that we're all wrong and you know so much more! I'll be sure to run all my questions past you from now on, thanks again!!!!!

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11030996#post11030996 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fliger
Ok sure raynist, you are smarter than all of us, and you know our tanks, fish better than we do. Thank you so much for "telling us" that we're all wrong and you know so much more! I'll be sure to run all my questions past you from now on, thanks again!!!!!

Seemingly 'healthy' fish die all the time, it happens.

I was not speaking directly to you so I am not sure why you are taking such offense.

[Fliger]

Like I said, you are so sure in your post that you are right and we must be all wrong.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11030874#post11030874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raynist
I am telling you that your fish died first and then were stuck to the vortech as they floated around the tank.

You post this in a thread that I started, with others posting similar experiences - and you say you're not speaking to me? Does it really matter, since we all had the same experience?

And I certainly did not "bully" anyone into sending me foam covers. Tim has been excellent, is sending me covers - I offered more than once to pay but he wouldn't take my money. Thank you for the excellent service, Tim.

Anyway - no need to drag it out, thanks again ETM for reacting so quickly. Mods could close the thread if they'd like. :)

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11031116#post11031116 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fliger
Like I said, you are so sure in your post that you are right and we must be all wrong.



You post this in a thread that I started, with others posting similar experiences - and you say you're not speaking to me? Does it really matter, since we all had the same experience?

And I certainly did not "bully" anyone into sending me foam covers. Tim has been excellent, is sending me covers - I offered more than once to pay but he wouldn't take my money. Thank you for the excellent service, Tim.

Anyway - no need to drag it out, thanks again ETM for reacting so quickly. Mods could close the thread if they'd like. :)

I'll agree that was a bad wording, I edited my post to say 'I strongly believe'.

--Ray

[Fliger]

Sorry Ray. I know you have good intentions. I was just super bummed when I saw one of my favorite fish today dead. I really do agree its not the norm, but it can happen. I watch my fish at night sometimes and they look like they did too many shots of jaeger. It was my son's favorite fish also, and my aiptasianator. :( Sent you a PM. Sorry again. I'm like Cybil. ADD, OCD and Bipolar are a terrible combination. :)

[sfsuphysics]

If there was "no virtually no suction" you wouldn't see the indentations from the grill along the side of the fish from an overnight stay.

[joelk835]

I heard about this happening to others but I didn't think I would have any problems either and didn't for a long time until recently when I lost my healthy purple tang and he was still alive when I pulled him off but died that night. That is when I posted about the sleeves but at that time was told they packaging was not ready and I couldn't get any. Than one week later I see my Hippo tang caught to it. I saw it just in time and was able to save him and he is doing well but had I not seen him he would have died also. That being said I was more than willing to pay for the covers but think it is great that we were offered them for free. My fish were not dead or sick I have had them forever and they were doing fine just unlucky I guess. I also posted this way before they were offered free on another post so i take a little offense to the evrybody is just coming out for free foam covers post earlier.

[naruto_kun]

I know this happened to others as well, but I think my issue was due to small fish or fish that do not have fast swimming speed (i.e. mandarin goby). as for the free foam covers. I did not realize they had foam covers for it, but am more than willing to pay if this will help prevent anymore of my smaller fish from getting sucked in.

[Labman48076]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11032587#post11032587 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sfsuphysics
If there was "no virtually no suction" you wouldn't see the indentations from the grill along the side of the fish from an overnight stay.

good point and I am just glad Ecotech is trying to work out a solution

[WeMa]

I just wanted to say thanks to EcoTech for stepping up and taking care of this, THANKS!

[reggiepe]

They were offered for free? My email was replied to with a charge of 3 for $10 and $5 for shipping. I think I was standing in the wrong line.

[EcoTech Marine]

Hi Reg-

I'm still trying to figure out how to refund money using paypal. There were three customers that paid (you were one). You'll get refunded, don't worry, and your foam covers will ship.

-Tim

[reggiepe]

Thanks Tim....however, I hadn't paid you for them yet. I just read the email yesterday and hadn't gotten around to Paypal you the money yet today. Just happened to look back in on this thread. No harm no foul....I just wanted to make sure I was in the right line :)

[liver]

Tim did the same thing for me and I certainly wasn't asking for the covers for free. All I can say is that if we have learned anything over the last year with Ecotech it is this:

GIVE ECOTECH MARINE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

They have proven over and over again that they will bend over backwards for their customers. Great product and great support!

[spike78]

Has anyone installed the covers yet or have pictures of what they look like installed?

[HBtank]

I can't see them being anything but a PITA.

I really hope raynist is correct.

My fish seem to swim around the pumps all the time, snails seem to be totally unaffected by them, and it sure feels like there is no major suction when I checked them with my hand.

These stories make me worry about my fishy buddies, though.

[extinguishfire]

How can we get these foam covers?

[jthnhale]

Fliger I'm sorry for your loss :(

I made my own covers a while ago. I lost a CBB as well to my vortech and posted about it, Tim mentioned the foam covers.

I did not want to wait so I took some phosphate pads and zip ties and wrapped the vortech in them. Since I was only running the pump at 75% or so, I just turned it up to 100% to compensate for the loss in suction.

This solution works for me I'd rather have a slight decrease in flow vs. more dead fish.

For people not believing the pumps can kill fish, I hope it does not happen to your fish, but my CBB was alive and well when he got stuck to the pump. It does happen.

[CJ]

Just got my filter in the mail, thanks Tim.

[rmougey]

I'll second that, thanks Tim!! Prompt shipping and great customer service.

Thank you again!

-Rob

[Joe]

Thanks for the foam covers!!!!!

:cool:


Joe

[Sparkss]

Still none here yet.. but we are further out than you guys, so maybe just a couple more days (hopefully).

[reefsafe]

none for me as well

[sfsuphysics]

Mine came in the mail today, quite a simple design too, don't know why there were so many issues with getting them out. They seem porous enough that they should interfere with water flow, although this is a bandaid until I get my wireless driver, then hopefully the pulse will go low enough that if a fish does get caught he has a shot to get free.