Add Flow Pump (Direct Drive)

Direct Drive allows you to connect a water pump directly into your HYDROS (MUST have a HYDROS WaveEngine, WaveEngine V2, WaveEngine LE, or IceCap WiFi Dual Pump Controller), allowing it to power and control the powerhead. In addition, it eliminates the need for that pump’s external controller and power brick. That’s right! The WaveEngine can power up to 4 water pumps simultaneously. Imagine all of the clutter you can clear out of your stand!

Here is a list ^[1] of all Direct Drive compatible pumps.

What you will need to get started

• A HYDROS WaveEngine, WaveEngine V2, WaveEngine LE, or IceCap WiFi Dual Pump Controller
• Direct Drive compatible pump
• A compatible 6″ adapter (not needed if using an IceCap WiFi Dual Pump Controller)

Step 1: Connecting your pump to the WaveEngine

• Connect your pump’s motor block to the compatible Direct Drive Adapter cord. (not needed if using an IceCap WiFi Dual Pump Controller)
• Attach the adapter cord to one of the yellow drive ports on the compatible HYDROS device. If using an IceCap WiFi Dual Pump Controller, connect the pump directly to one of two controller terminals.

Step 2: Create a pump on the HYDROS app

• From the STATUS screen, tap the three horizontal dots to the right of the OUTPUTS label.
• Select “Add New Output”
• Tap on the + symbol at the bottom right
• Type the name of the pump and click on “CREATE.”

Step 3: Configure the New pump

• Type: Select “Flow Pump”
• Pump Model: Select the option that matches the pump you are attaching
• Speed Range: This is the master flow control that governs your pump’s maximum and minimum speed, regardless of the pattern it runs.
  
  TIP: Consider the speed range control as a Governor. When you set up a “Flow Schedule” that operates at 1% to 100% intensity, but the pump’s speed range is limited between 25% and 75%, then 1% on the “Flow Schedule” corresponds to the pump operating at 25%. Similarly, 100% on the “Flow Schedule” means the pump physically runs at 75%. Simply put, the speed range of the “Flow Schedule” falls within the designated range.
• Output Device: Select the drive port number where the pump is connected.
• Invert Rotation: It’s important to note that not all pumps are the same. The addition of this option is meant to account for variations in manufacturing processes, and it is not related to the ability to go in reverse or adjust reverse speed.
  
  TIP: One should only select Invert Rotation if you notice the pump running in the opposite direction to what it should be doing. For example, the pump is running Reverse when it should be forward.

• Reverse Speed Range: When running the pump in Reverse, it is the same as the Speed Range.
• Allow Reverse: On certain pumps, there is an option to enable this feature. When selected, the pump can operate in both forward and backward directions according to the flow schedule. If you choose to leave it disabled, the pump will only operate in one direction.

Step 4: Upload the Changes

• Once you have configured your flow pump, tap on the yellow bar at the bottom of the screen to upload the changes to the cloud and individual HYDROS devices.

Step 5: Create a Flow Schedule

After defining the pump, you can instruct the controller on how you want it to operate. For instructions, please refer to the “Add Flow Pump Schedule” option on the left menu.