Mp20
- Thread starter CoralShop
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You'd have to ask EcoTech, but my guess is that it wasn't necessary and was too expensive to maintain that additional product. The MP40 fits everything that an MP20 would ever want to do. Yes, it's a touch more expensive, but it's easier to have an MP40 dialed down than a smaller pump cranked way up.
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The cost went up because they knew people would still pay. Pretty good marketing strategy.
As a former product/process R&D guy I can tell you one thing, rare earth magnets not withstanding, the Vortech power heads have extremely healthy profit margins (with respect to raw material costs, anyway)
I'm sure they have a substantial research budget, that may eat up some of that profit too.
I'm sure they have a substantial research budget, that may eat up some of that profit too.
Bill,
I know that the MP40 power source was a higher wattage than the MP20s, and that an MP20 converted over to an MP40 spun at significantly higher RPMs than an MP20. An MP40 run on an MP20 power source seems anemic.
My first Vortech was an MP20, and after a year and a half or so I converted it over to a 40wES.
I don't know if that translates into higher flow, but there was definitely an operational difference, if not a flow increase.
Dave-
Here is an article that reviews both the 20 & 40. I don't know if it is 'the' article that I mentioned, but it shows the max flow of the 20 is ~70% that of the 40. Also, the MP10 is rated at ~75% of the max flow of an MP20.
As I recall, advanced testing showed the two models (20 vs 40) to be even closer in flow.
http://www.aquariumproductreviews.com/Powerheads/Vortech-Pump-by-Eco-Tech-p-1468.html">http://www.aquariumproductreviews.com/Powerheads/Vortech-Pump-by-Eco-Tech-p-1468.html</a>
Also, when they came out with the MP10, it was apparent that two things would(were) occur(ing).
1) many people would upgrade their 20's to 40's (which I have done, btw)
2) there was not enough performance separation between the 3 models to justify continued production of the MP20.
In light of this they decided to go with the 10 & 40 models.
Below is the announcement by Reefbuilders with related comments.
[IMG]http://reefbuilders.com/2010/06/18/ecotech-marine-bids-adieu-vortech-mp20-ceasing-production/">http://reefbuilders.com/2010/06/18/ecotech-marine-bids-adieu-vortech-mp20-ceasing-production/</a>
The MP20 was always kinda marketed as a budget 40, IIRC. One of the side effects of converting mine over to a 40, was that soon after the conversion I had to replace the bearings inside the dry side of the pump. Not sure if bearings get worn in within a certain RPM range, but that range was definitely higher and more varied (with the new Ecotech programming) after the conversion, and did not seem to sit well with them.
But I see the 1/3 higher flow rate of the MP40 (3000gph) vs the 20 (2000 gph) as pretty significant, particulary to someone with SPS, that is alwys looking for higher flow, hehehe!
But I see the 1/3 higher flow rate of the MP40 (3000gph) vs the 20 (2000 gph) as pretty significant, particulary to someone with SPS, that is alwys looking for higher flow, hehehe!
