Ecotech Versa - Honest Review 1 month Later

So it has been a month since I installed my Ecotech Versa and I have had a good opportunity to put it through it's paces in a real-life scenario.
What are my thoughts about the unit now? Bust or best thing ever???

[@ParkersReef]

A much more switched on viewer than I has pointed out that 200ml a minute is actually 12 litres an hour - I was clearly struggling with isolation related maths problems when I calculated that LOL

[@BodgieFromStraya]

love your product reviews man! you really put it through all the tests so we get the best review! love it!

[@ParkersReef]

You da man, cheers Bodgie!

[@RogueAquariums]

Very nice review Sam. I do plan on purchasing one once they’re off of back order. Will be using it for my CaRx I plan on setting up in the next two months. 😁

[@ParkersReef]

Good choice! I'm doing a review on the Kamoer FXSTP-2 right now that you should perhaps wait and see if you prefer it more...

[@mcclown]

Hey, it's been a while :) I just picked up two for AWC and I'm just testing them at the moment...impressed so far. Looking forward to when I have them fully up and running

[@ParkersReef]

Good stuff!!

[@Halfwire]

They are a banging pump. Ive got mine setup for waterchange and couldn’t be happier . I was sold on them after your torture test.

[@ParkersReef]

Torture test surprised me, I was thinking these wouldn't be able to move water that far. But once I saw it move it 30m without sweat, I was sold too

[@danielrossi3465]

Nice review! - There is a version of that Kamoer Dosing Pump that you put the pic up of that is now WiFi

[@ParkersReef]

Currently have my hands on one right now and reviewing directly against the versa :D

[@jkturtle6384]

Perfect timing on the video!

[@ParkersReef]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@simmo56able]

Thanks for the great review Sam. I'm saving the pennies for a couple of them for water changes.

[@ParkersReef]

Good choice! I think they have carved a market of their own. That being said, I am currently reviewing the much more expensive Kamoer FX-STP2 which will be worth a watch if in the market :)

[@simmo56able]

@@ParkersReef the Versa are better placed price wise so today I have asked my LFS to get me a couple, apparently they are hard to get at the moment

[@ParkersReef]

You won’t be disappointed. I heard more are coming to retailers this week too

[@uglymansreefing1862]

Awesome review Sam, I was actually stressing it was going to be a thumbs down from you for the versa but now at least I know it's still going strong for you and only issue seems to be software but I already felt the same about the software so all good.

[@ParkersReef]

Software is fine if you are using as a constant feed. And if you want to do something more complex - at least you only have to do it once 😅

[@BlakesAquatics]

Nice review 👍

[@ParkersReef]

Thanks! 👍

[@volteface69]

Merci pour ta vidéo PARKER !!! 👍👍👍

[@ParkersReef]

Merci!

[@Fullion-CA]

I wound up getting a pair of Versa pumps a couple months ago instead of a Neptune DOS. Will be using them to run auto water changes in a tank on a different floor and roughly 10M away.

[@ParkersReef]

Nice one. Working well?

[@joeassi7090]

Nice review mate. I agree on all fronts. Set mine up a similar time to you at 28ml/min feeding my calcium reactor and it's going strong.

[@ParkersReef]

Cheers Joe! I have my hands on the Kamoer FX-STP2 to do a comparison on now. It has a couple of advantages, but a number of disadvantages too

[@joeassi7090]

Parkers Reef look forward to the review

[@ParkersReef]

It’s out mate!

[@joeassi7090]

Parkers Reef yep I’ve seen it. Posted that before it came out.

[@IleneMougel]

I have to admit I thought a lot of your reviews and took the plunge buying the 4 pumps in the dock because I couldn’t buy 2, which is all I really needed to dose calcium/alkalinity as they have been sold out. The pumps are beautiful - set up is pretty easy. They actually worked well for about 2 - 3 months. One night,instead of dosing 45 mls, it dosed the entire contents that was in my container without warning. Of course it happened the day after I filled it completely - so all 32 oz of alkalinity dumped in the middle of the night. I just happened to wake up and heard a loud shrill to find the pump spinning at full blast. Since I had 2 extras, I stopped using the one the faulted and switched it out for a “new one”. Then about 2 - 3 weeks later the calcium did the same thing. Full 32 oz dump. I am working with Ecotech Marine to send back the package...they are supposed to be sending me another set of 4. I am back to manual dosing while I am waiting. It’s been 10 days and I am still waiting for shipping notification. Not sure what I will actually do once I do get the replacement. Right now I am tempted to sell them at a substantial loss because sometimes it is not worth the stress. Anyone in the Dallas Texas area feel free to contact me.

[@ParkersReef]

Ah mate that’s terrible :( I have heard people having trouble with them being loud and I’ve had a hose split on one after only 4 months usage, but never heard of them going rogue (till now) I hope your tank is doing ok?

[@IleneMougel]

Parkers Reef As far as I can tell, it is but had to do several water changes to make sure. It really stings to pay $600 US and have it not work correctly. Doing 150 gallons of water changes wasn’t cheap either. They can’t diagnose it either.

[@ParkersReef]

That really sucks, sorry to hear mate :(

[@ldballoon4]

Thank You!

[@ParkersReef]

You're welcome!

[@mattdiscus]

another awesome video mate!! just to confirm, if i wanted to do a water change on 2 tanks, i would need 3 of them? and i guess the type of pump it is i wouldn't need to worry about back siphon?

[@ParkersReef]

You are correct. 3 pumps will do two tanks if you are daisy chaining them. New to tank 1 Tank 1 to tank 2 Tank 2 to drain Peristaltic pumps should not siphon no

[@mattdiscus]

@@ParkersReef ok cheers mate, future project coming up:)

[@ParkersReef]

Haha good stuff

[@joshuaheudes1659]

Hey, great video. Is there and features that stops it from malfunctioning and overdosing when I'm not home ?

[@ParkersReef]

No it doesn’t :)

[@houseofsharpeis9366]

None of them have that unless the motor locks up then you get indication. Even the Neptune dos doesn’t but nearly all high end dosers won’t overdose unless you set them up wrong.

[@smilersreef3943]

Nice review, unfortunately not my experience, ending going back to fx-stp, I do however have a new one here to try again, hopefully it will be like yours as they have great potential.

[@davedudley5515]

I hear you. My pump lasted less than a month feeding a CalReact at a rate of only 10mls a minute. It seems the gears have failed. Has been sent back to the supplier. Waiting for a new one

[@ParkersReef]

@@davedudley5515 wow - wonder what went wrong?

[@smilersreef3943]

Dave Dudley mine was plugged in switched on, video taken and packed back up, getting replaced today.

[@guille85defy]

Hello.. for a calcium reacotor, which pump do you recommend, the kamoer x1 pro T or the versa? It's my country, there are only those two. thank you

[@ParkersReef]

I’d recommend the Kamoer x1 pro-t. The versa has far superior software, it the pumps are plagued with long term issues

[@ReefDudes]

H had the gen1 of the kamnoer before. great pump but i found the versa to be quieter for running my CaRx

[@ParkersReef]

Mate you have versas coming out your ears! Love your channel by the way :)

[@ReefDudes]

@@ParkersReef haha i dont have that many! :P thx! and likewise!

[@epicnas12342]

In terms of a dosing pump (not for continuous duty) would you recommend this or the Kamoer X4 pro single I only need 2 pumps. My current is an old aqua medic that keeps back syphoning not matter what I do, so its important that it doesn't do that.

[@ParkersReef]

If you need two pumps, go the Kamoer x1 👍🏻 Made for the job, small and affordable

[@epicnas12342]

@@ParkersReef Ok great thanks for that

[@Macca_75]

Any idea how performance/price/noise compares to GHL Maxi Dosers? Slightly different uses but somewhat comparable I would have thought.

[@ParkersReef]

I haven't had a chance to get my hands on the GHL Maxi's but I can say that these are near silent under 80ml inside a cabinet. Run more than that and you can certainly hear them. If the GHL Maxi are anything like the Apex Dos, they are NOWHERE near as loud though :)

[@Macca_75]

@@ParkersReef Apex DOS and GHL Maxi's the same (similar actually - DOS is a 2 roller head, Maxi is the 3 roller version) so its likely the Maxi will sound like the DOS. Thanks

[@brandong3281]

Hey Sam, are you still using the pump and if so, how you finding it doing automatic water changes?

[@ParkersReef]

Yeah I still have a pair running. Works just fine, just gotta keep up the tube replacement is all

[@brandong3281]

@@ParkersReef I remember watching in a previous video that you bought your own tube and did the replacement using that. Are you able to give me the link where you get the tubing from?

[@ParkersReef]

@@brandong3281 I sure did. I'll find the link for you. Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYSneKWdh5KFeq8

[@JozefMZych]

Do you guys have any comments on the tase thermo 800? Is it any good in performance I believe I will have many anemonae fish & plants in mi 227 waterbox peninsula

[@ParkersReef]

never heard of it sorry mate!

[@thehumuyopi76]

Hello, do you know if Ecotech has made it possible for the Versa to work with Mobius via WiFi? regards

[@ParkersReef]

Via WiFi I don’t believe it is available yet but they are working on something for it.

[@johnfitzgerald5158]

I have the Kamoer wifi version. I can confirm mechanically it works great, but likewise the software has been beta grade clunky for me (Android version). I've had better luck with the manual adjustment and display screen.

[@ParkersReef]

Thanks for sharing! Im currently reviewing it now and comparing directly against the Versa - appreciate your input :)

[@cyprianlipski3724]

Pacific sun dosing pump is as much good as versa but comes way cheaper

[@ParkersReef]

I’m not sold on the pac sun software just yet.

[@deenice48]

Good afternoon maybe you can help me with my Versa pumps I like to do a 5 gallon water change once a week

[@ParkersReef]

sure you can do that. What did you need help with?

[@deenice48]

Try to setup a Water change with the versa dosing pumps A 5 gallon a week I'm trying to set them up I'm doing something wrong can you help me set them up for a 5 gallon a week Water change thank you

[@ParkersReef]

Where are you getting stuck?

[@deenice48]

How to set the time up the running time and how much to dose

[@ParkersReef]

Check this out, might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/foXGh4CHmrSljs0

[@craigsreef239]

Am going to be honest with you all I am very unhappy with my versa I'm dosing 5ml and the tubing is only lasting around 10weeks No warning and kh takes a dive

[@ParkersReef]

10 weeks? That’s terrible! I have mine running on continuous water changes and I swap the tubing out every 4 months

[@mikec9724]

I have both pumps and the kamoer is much quieter then the versa I actually stop using the versa because it was so loud at 70 mls

[@ParkersReef]

yep - hands down the Kamoer makes less noise

[@artscendence]

Are you selling the Versa Mike?

[@markwischmann11]

The kamour pump is very loud! I’m watching this video because I’m interested in getting rid of my kamour pump and replace it with a versa pump! It’s very annoying!

[@ParkersReef]

Im doing a review on the Kamoer as I type this - in my experience, it is MUCH less noisy - particularly at speed

[@stanleyw7620]

Sounds like a engine piston

[@ParkersReef]

Hahaha not a good engine piston!

[@markweldon744]

Mines on 15ml a min and door closed it sounds like a train

[@ParkersReef]

That certainly isn’t right, perhaps check with ecotech support?

[@Josh-oh2zq]

200 ml/min is 12 L per hour

[@ParkersReef]

Right you are!

[@franciscomorillo1108]

200 ml an hour is 12 liters an hour.

[@ParkersReef]

I think your comment goes to show just how easy it is to get that mixed up ;)

[@franciscomorillo1108]

@@ParkersReef yes, for sure easy to mix it up while doing 20 other things at the same time. Just noticed you put a comment with the right math. Enjoy a lot your videos by the way.