EcoTech Marine VorTech™ Pumps

The WaveEngine is capable of controlling EcoTech pumps wirelessly.  It means the WaveEngine can control the flow pump, but it cannot power it.  You will still need to use the pump’s native controller and power supply. The WaveEngine becomes your Master controller, and all EcoTech pumps become slaves. Even though the connection is wireless, you can now use your VorTech™ pumps in conjunction with the other powerheads you own!

What you will need to get started

• EcoTech Marine compatible WaveEngine
• EcoTech VorTech™ Pumps (W version)

Step 1: Turn OFF all EcoTech Master Devices

This step is crucial.  If applicable, be sure to turn off any EcoTech Master Devices such as ReefLinks or other EcoTech pumps running as Master.  There can ONLY be ONE master device per location.  

Step 2: Restart the WaveEngine

This step is crucial.  Please disconnect the WaveEngine from power by removing the power cable from the WaveEngine, wait 10 seconds, and reconnect again.  If you DO NOT restart the WaveEngine first, the process MAY fail.  

Step 3: Set the WaveEngine to Pairing Mode

• Go to Main Menu and select “OPTIONS.”
• Enable “WE Enable EcoTech Pumps.”
• Enable “WE EcoTech Pairing Mode.”

Step 4: Reset your VorTech™ controller.

• Enter Setup Mode by holding both “Mode” and “Set” buttons together until the controller dial blinks red/white/blue.
• Press and hold the “Mode” button until the dial blinks red/purple.
• Press and hold the “Set” button until the dial turns green, showing the controller has reset.

Step 5: Set your VorTech™ controller to “Slave.”

• Enter setup once again by holding both “Mode” and “Set” buttons together until the controller dial blinks red/white/blue.
• Press and release the “Set” button. The dial will blink blue/yellow.  If the dial blinks blue/red, then the controller is too far from the WaveEngine, and it cannot communicate properly.

Step 6: Turn OFF Pairing Mode

• Go back into the WaveEngine Options and turn off “ECOTECH PAIRING MODE.”
• Your VorTech™ pumps will turn solid WHITE.

Step 7: Set your VorTech™ slave to Sync or Anti-Sync

ETM engineered the pump so that the master can communicate with the slave, but the slave cannot communicate with the master.  The master sends out a signal but does not know if the slave is listening.  Think of it as a television signal.  The network company sends out a signal into the air, and only televisions tuned to that channel pick it up. Still, the network does not know exactly how many television are actually tuned to the channel.  An ETM master pump (played by the WaveEngine) puts out three signals (same, opposite, and back), and slave pumps listening for those signals will follow them.  If you pair your ETM pump to the WaveEngine and the color on the ETM controller is WHITE, it will follow the “Same Side” signal.  If the ETM controller’s color is ORANGE, it will follow the “Opposite Side” signal and, if the color is CYAN, it will follow the “Back” signal.  

To change which of the three signals your ETM pump follows:

• Press and release the “Mode” button to set the ETM pump controller to different positions.
  • WHITE = Same Side
  • ORANGE = Opposite Side
  • CYAN = Back

Step 8: Set Max Speed on Your VorTech™ Pump

Setting the maximum and minimum speed of a VorTech™ needs to be done on the slave pump itself and cannot be done via the WaveEngine.  To set the Maximum and Minimum speeds, do the following on your VorTech™ controller:

1. Press and hold the SET button until you see a bright LED on the LED strip
2. Turn the knob to adjust the maximum speed of that particular pump. To increase, turn the knob clockwise and to decrease, turn the knob counterclockwise.  

Appendix A: Mobius Firmware Rollback Procedure

If you purchased a QuietDrive Vortech™ on or after 6/1/2020, there is a good chance that it came with the Mobius firmware preloaded.  The HYDROS WaveEngine is not compatible with the Mobius firmware so that you will need to rollback (downgrade) your Vortech™ Pump firmware to the ESL version.  For instructions on how to do this, please click here ^[1].