Much appreciated, my friend. I don’t claim to be any kind of expert or moral authority, but I do want this hobby to be better, and try to contribute what I can.
I bought this on sale after the very first video you posted. Have this hooked up to Nero and saved my tank last week after a 2 day power outage from storm. Thank you!!!
I love hearing it, man. That’s why I keep harping on everybody to get these 😂 It’s a game changer for Nero users in particular, as there’s nothing offered by the reef industry for battery backup for Neros. But heck, it’s even a better package and value for VorTech users, than the EcoTech Marine backup battery! I’d buy half a dozen River 2’s if I had the spare cash, no lie. I’d hook these up to multiple things in my house 😂
@@nueok No stomach for tearing into my Nero control boxes to make that work. Not for now, anyway. Maybe sometime in the future I’ll try it. I’ve actually connected my return pump to it since this video.
@@kalamazoo_reefer actually you wouldn’t rip anything out. You’re basically replacing the power supply(brick) of the Nero. Replacing the brick with a 12v to 24v booster cable. Similar to what Ecotech sells for their vectors pumps. The EcoFlow river pro can power just the power heads in an event of a power outage, probably last hours and hours. And the other EcoFlow river you have can power you ac stuff. Just an thought:)
Nero should be plug and play long as you can find the proper barrel plug sizes and adapters. The power supply is doing an AC to DC power conversion so efficiency is lost. Also the EcoFlow is doing a DC to AC, so lots of current being switched back and forth causing tons of losses. When you turn on the AC plug on the EcoFlow, it needs to convert the DC to AC.
@@kalamazoo_reeferyea man I can run a 25 watt return pump, 18 watt gyre pump and 12 watt wave maker for 15 hours that takes care on main tank connected frag tank and tank on other side of room with extension cord I use as a usp
@@skinnerjw5525 Lol it’s so cool hearing what kind of setups everyone runs with them. They’re so versatile. Never thought I’d nerd out over batteries…but here we are 🤣
Refurbished units come with a two-year warranty. Only “downside” is that refurb units were returned, inspected and renewed by EcoFlow, and put up for sale again. Because they’re a LiFePO4 battery, there’s likely little degradation to the battery inside, as they last as long as 10 years with regular cycling!
Pretty sweet feature. I think Telegraham figured out a way to do that to the base unit using additional LiFePO4 batteries, but might have been the Pro. Still, you’re rolling with some major juice!
Hey Kalamazoo - got a time sensitive question for you due to the prime day sale. What do you think about the Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station? Looks like it can be used to power return pump and others for a decent amount of time.
I noticed that on the River 2 Max and Pro versions, there are already 2x DC 5.5mm x 2.1 mm barrel ports on the DC side. Based on search results, it looks like the Fused VorTech Battery Backup Cable ($5.78 direct from EcoTech) is 3.5mm x 1.35mm barrel. So one would just need a 5.5mm x 2.1mm Male Plug to 3.5mm x 1.35mm Female (Amazon) + Fused VorTech Battery Backup Cable to power an EcoTech Vortech pump? or if one can find a DC 5.5mm x 2.1mm Male to DC 3.5mm x 1.35mm Male cable (likely will not be fused)?
Wow, great eye. To be honest, because I just utilize the AC connection points for my purposes, I didn’t even pay attention to those. Great information, brother!
According to Telegraham’s testing, it is essentially the same runtime for VorTechs (on the River 2 entry-level base unit) as one would get with the EcoTech Marine backup battery, provided you’re using the DC hookup. Not sure how long they’d run from the AC side, but you could just plug them in that way too, if you wanted, of course, though I think using the DC side makes way more sense for DC wavemakers like those. The River 2 Max, the larger one shown in the video, with its 512Wh spec, would run an MP40 for a heck of a long time from its DC hookup, I’d imagine. The River 2 Pro (the largest capacity unit in the line) would provide some bonkers runtime. What makes me such a believer in this line overall, is that it’s such a plug-and-play deal. I’m not an electrical guy. Not yet a battery guy either, I’m just starting out in this arena. But I have the confidence to go with these products because of the rich and easy-to-use array of features, the slick appearance, the ease of understanding its capabilities and connecting devices to it, etc. It’s worth noting, there are a few LiFePO4 “complete package” options similar to this out there. Bluetti has one, Anker has one, pretty sure Jackery has one. I’m sure they all provide a similar simple/whole experience, and that LiFePO4 is the best part. It just crushes lead acid solutions. At the end of the day, getting reefkeepers away from the reef industry’s antiquated and reef-taxed lead acid batteries, and on LFP, is my overarching goal. People deserve more longevity and more value for their dollar on this front. Sorry for the long reply. I’m becoming a nerd for this stuff, O 🤣
@@kalamazoo_reefer Appreciate the perspective. Right now I’m space limited so the Ecotech battery backup works well for me. But on my kids tank where I’m not using Vortechs I’m potentially looking at other options. The reef-tax stuff, IMO it’s a matter of perspective. I travel a lot so I gotta leave the family in charge of my tank a lot. So easy to use, easy to understand, having a number they can call for help is the #1 priority. But back when I started 10 or so years ago - my tank was all jebao, DIY, whatever I could piece together I used.
Right, I get it on space. The River 2 base model is no slouch in that category - I think it is 7.5 pounds or something, and 9.6"L x 8.4"W x 5.5"H dimensionally. Haven’t had an EcoTech Marine battery to play around with since I sold mine like a year ago, but I think it’s probably heavier, and likely a bit slimmer dimensionally. As for reef tax, yeah, it is kind of in the eye of the beholder, but I can’t stomach $215 for a lead acid battery encased in metal. It’s got no app connectivity, no AC option, no solar hookup, etc. The River 2 base model provides all those options, for $168 brand new on Amazon right now. Heck, you can get it with a 45W portable solar panel bundled for $219. And it’s got that sweet LFP battery inside. Plus (and this is my inner consumer tech nerd showing), I just think it looks pretty cool 🤣 Part of the reason I often stack it up against EcoTech Marine’s battery is that it is the reef industry’s category leader in backup solutions, and I am disappointed in not just EcoTech, but in the entire industry, for their lack of innovation in this arena. The least they could do is shift to LFP, even if there are no other bells and whistles beyond that. This would make it so reefers didn’t have to buy new or swap out that lead acid battery every 3-4 years, to keep their capacity strong. But there’s just no action to move toward this baseline improvement, and the price hasn’t budged from $215, despite way more capable technology far outpacing the old standard. Basically: I love reef gear, I love product innovation, and I always want all of it to keep getting better and improving in value. I think it’s really really good for the whole hobby, for companies to keep progressing on the gear front and not rest on their laurels for too long.
@@kalamazoo_reefer I'll clarify something you mentioned above. The EcoFlow and Ecotech will have similar runtimes only when the Ecotech battery is new. Test the two head-to-head at one year, and you'll find that the more expensive and antiquated Ecotech underperforms its less expensive counterpart. Do the same test at three years; a buyer might wish they had opted for the EcoFlow. As for needing help, with the sans reef tax EcoFlow option, you'll get helpful answers via phone, chat, or email.
@@telegraham That is a good point. The capacity/runtime comparison is only really relevant for a few months, maybe a year, for the EcoTech Marine battery. Its capability drops off too precipitously for that comparison remain valid for longer than that. Additionally, yes, EcoFlow customer service has really surprised me. I’ve reached out to them a couple of times, and found them eager to help and very responsive.
45,000 subscribers, and you seed misinformation casually, like it’s no big deal. Whether intentional or not, a corrective informing process is in order, and that is what is happening now, friend Gomi 😉
Most appliances like DC pumps already have components to convert AC which you get from your outlet to the DC the pump uses… for most people those 120v outlets on the eco flow are perfect ! Nice video, I’ll have to comment on the reefdudes one, misinformation is one reason why people don’t last in the hobby 🥲
Haha thank you sir! I made sure to mention at the end, that the EcoFlow solution is a good one for many, but it’s important to explore all your options and do what’s best for your setup and situation. That side-note was for you, amigo!
Appreciate you really pushing for higher standards and information among hobbyists. I have learned so much from your channel.
Much appreciated, my friend. I don’t claim to be any kind of expert or moral authority, but I do want this hobby to be better, and try to contribute what I can.
Awesome heads up brother, just ordered a refurbished unit on Ebay for 120.00 bucks, cheap peace of mind. Reef on!
YES! And just like that, making the video was 100% worth it ✊
@@kalamazoo_reefer Yes sir.
I bought this on sale after the very first video you posted. Have this hooked up to Nero and saved my tank last week after a 2 day power outage from storm. Thank you!!!
I love hearing it, man. That’s why I keep harping on everybody to get these 😂 It’s a game changer for Nero users in particular, as there’s nothing offered by the reef industry for battery backup for Neros. But heck, it’s even a better package and value for VorTech users, than the EcoTech Marine backup battery! I’d buy half a dozen River 2’s if I had the spare cash, no lie. I’d hook these up to multiple things in my house 😂
They are about 40% off during Amazon Prime Day, just picked up the River 2 Max for $279
@@The_Altered Heck yeah, total steal!
You should use the DC barrel plug to power the Nero or mp40. Should be more efficient then converting ac to dc.
@@nueok No stomach for tearing into my Nero control boxes to make that work. Not for now, anyway. Maybe sometime in the future I’ll try it. I’ve actually connected my return pump to it since this video.
@@kalamazoo_reefer actually you wouldn’t rip anything out. You’re basically replacing the power supply(brick) of the Nero. Replacing the brick with a 12v to 24v booster cable. Similar to what Ecotech sells for their vectors pumps. The EcoFlow river pro can power just the power heads in an event of a power outage, probably last hours and hours. And the other EcoFlow river you have can power you ac stuff. Just an thought:)
Nero should be plug and play long as you can find the proper barrel plug sizes and adapters. The power supply is doing an AC to DC power conversion so efficiency is lost. Also the EcoFlow is doing a DC to AC, so lots of current being switched back and forth causing tons of losses. When you turn on the AC plug on the EcoFlow, it needs to convert the DC to AC.
I have the River 2 pro I love it
It’s just such a slick, complete package. And genuinely well-made too.
@@kalamazoo_reeferyea man I can run a 25 watt return pump, 18 watt gyre pump and 12 watt wave maker for 15 hours that takes care on main tank connected frag tank and tank on other side of room with extension cord I use as a usp
@@skinnerjw5525 Lol it’s so cool hearing what kind of setups everyone runs with them. They’re so versatile. Never thought I’d nerd out over batteries…but here we are 🤣
Is there any downside to getting a refurbished unit? Does it have the same warranty?
Refurbished units come with a two-year warranty. Only “downside” is that refurb units were returned, inspected and renewed by EcoFlow, and put up for sale again. Because they’re a LiFePO4 battery, there’s likely little degradation to the battery inside, as they last as long as 10 years with regular cycling!
I got the river 2 pro $500 it’s worth it cause you can add batteries expand the system
Pretty sweet feature. I think Telegraham figured out a way to do that to the base unit using additional LiFePO4 batteries, but might have been the Pro. Still, you’re rolling with some major juice!
Hey Kalamazoo - got a time sensitive question for you due to the prime day sale. What do you think about the Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station? Looks like it can be used to power return pump and others for a decent amount of time.
@@metsdynastyx I know nothing about it, unfortunately. I do have quite a few Anker products, and what I can say is: build quality seems pretty good!
@@kalamazoo_reefer appreciate it
Such an underrated channel! Can recharge ecoflow via car 12V socket?
Wouldn’t you know it, yes you darn well can. Great product!
@@kalamazoo_reefer that brings it to another level
Set everyone up to push the product for Amazon's 2-day sale. How much commission did you get?
@@geo1706 Ha, I cannot tell if you’re joking. I refuse all sponsorships and free gear. It’s kind of the foundation of my channel and podcast.
I noticed that on the River 2 Max and Pro versions, there are already 2x DC 5.5mm x 2.1 mm barrel ports on the DC side.
Based on search results, it looks like the Fused VorTech Battery Backup Cable ($5.78 direct from EcoTech) is 3.5mm x 1.35mm barrel.
So one would just need a 5.5mm x 2.1mm Male Plug to 3.5mm x 1.35mm Female (Amazon) + Fused VorTech Battery Backup Cable to power an EcoTech Vortech pump? or if one can find a DC 5.5mm x 2.1mm Male to DC 3.5mm x 1.35mm Male cable (likely will not be fused)?
Wow, great eye. To be honest, because I just utilize the AC connection points for my purposes, I didn’t even pay attention to those. Great information, brother!
other channels are just pushing product...simple as
How long would an mp40 run on this after power goes out?
According to Telegraham’s testing, it is essentially the same runtime for VorTechs (on the River 2 entry-level base unit) as one would get with the EcoTech Marine backup battery, provided you’re using the DC hookup. Not sure how long they’d run from the AC side, but you could just plug them in that way too, if you wanted, of course, though I think using the DC side makes way more sense for DC wavemakers like those. The River 2 Max, the larger one shown in the video, with its 512Wh spec, would run an MP40 for a heck of a long time from its DC hookup, I’d imagine. The River 2 Pro (the largest capacity unit in the line) would provide some bonkers runtime. What makes me such a believer in this line overall, is that it’s such a plug-and-play deal. I’m not an electrical guy. Not yet a battery guy either, I’m just starting out in this arena. But I have the confidence to go with these products because of the rich and easy-to-use array of features, the slick appearance, the ease of understanding its capabilities and connecting devices to it, etc. It’s worth noting, there are a few LiFePO4 “complete package” options similar to this out there. Bluetti has one, Anker has one, pretty sure Jackery has one. I’m sure they all provide a similar simple/whole experience, and that LiFePO4 is the best part. It just crushes lead acid solutions. At the end of the day, getting reefkeepers away from the reef industry’s antiquated and reef-taxed lead acid batteries, and on LFP, is my overarching goal. People deserve more longevity and more value for their dollar on this front. Sorry for the long reply. I’m becoming a nerd for this stuff, O 🤣
@@kalamazoo_reefer Appreciate the perspective. Right now I’m space limited so the Ecotech battery backup works well for me. But on my kids tank where I’m not using Vortechs I’m potentially looking at other options.
The reef-tax stuff, IMO it’s a matter of perspective. I travel a lot so I gotta leave the family in charge of my tank a lot. So easy to use, easy to understand, having a number they can call for help is the #1 priority. But back when I started 10 or so years ago - my tank was all jebao, DIY, whatever I could piece together I used.
Right, I get it on space. The River 2 base model is no slouch in that category - I think it is 7.5 pounds or something, and 9.6"L x 8.4"W x 5.5"H dimensionally. Haven’t had an EcoTech Marine battery to play around with since I sold mine like a year ago, but I think it’s probably heavier, and likely a bit slimmer dimensionally.
As for reef tax, yeah, it is kind of in the eye of the beholder, but I can’t stomach $215 for a lead acid battery encased in metal. It’s got no app connectivity, no AC option, no solar hookup, etc. The River 2 base model provides all those options, for $168 brand new on Amazon right now. Heck, you can get it with a 45W portable solar panel bundled for $219. And it’s got that sweet LFP battery inside. Plus (and this is my inner consumer tech nerd showing), I just think it looks pretty cool 🤣
Part of the reason I often stack it up against EcoTech Marine’s battery is that it is the reef industry’s category leader in backup solutions, and I am disappointed in not just EcoTech, but in the entire industry, for their lack of innovation in this arena. The least they could do is shift to LFP, even if there are no other bells and whistles beyond that. This would make it so reefers didn’t have to buy new or swap out that lead acid battery every 3-4 years, to keep their capacity strong. But there’s just no action to move toward this baseline improvement, and the price hasn’t budged from $215, despite way more capable technology far outpacing the old standard. Basically: I love reef gear, I love product innovation, and I always want all of it to keep getting better and improving in value. I think it’s really really good for the whole hobby, for companies to keep progressing on the gear front and not rest on their laurels for too long.
@@kalamazoo_reefer I'll clarify something you mentioned above. The EcoFlow and Ecotech will have similar runtimes only when the Ecotech battery is new. Test the two head-to-head at one year, and you'll find that the more expensive and antiquated Ecotech underperforms its less expensive counterpart. Do the same test at three years; a buyer might wish they had opted for the EcoFlow.
As for needing help, with the sans reef tax EcoFlow option, you'll get helpful answers via phone, chat, or email.
@@telegraham That is a good point. The capacity/runtime comparison is only really relevant for a few months, maybe a year, for the EcoTech Marine battery. Its capability drops off too precipitously for that comparison remain valid for longer than that. Additionally, yes, EcoFlow customer service has really surprised me. I’ve reached out to them a couple of times, and found them eager to help and very responsive.
Shilldudes taken a pounding today. Not just behind from his sponsors
45,000 subscribers, and you seed misinformation casually, like it’s no big deal. Whether intentional or not, a corrective informing process is in order, and that is what is happening now, friend Gomi 😉
Most appliances like DC pumps already have components to convert AC which you get from your outlet to the DC the pump uses… for most people those 120v outlets on the eco flow are perfect ! Nice video, I’ll have to comment on the reefdudes one, misinformation is one reason why people don’t last in the hobby 🥲
Nailed the first like regardless of whether i actually liked it or not 🦾
jk, i actually did like it, nice job @kalamazooreefer
Haha thank you sir! I made sure to mention at the end, that the EcoFlow solution is a good one for many, but it’s important to explore all your options and do what’s best for your setup and situation. That side-note was for you, amigo!