EcoPlus Eco 396 Powerhead
EcoPlus 396 Powerhead Review
Lets get started this time with whats in my opinion the best bang for your buck powerhead pump on the market. This would be the Eco series of pumps made by EcoPlus that range from 75 to almost 5 thousand gallons per hour flow rates. In the canister filter and gravel vacc videos the 396 model is used, which happens to be my all time favorite, although today were unboxing the 185 model that has close to the same specifications just a lower flow rate, being about 160 gallons per hour and some sizing differences that we’ll get to in a minute.
When you get the box open the first thing you notice is all the extra attachments this pump comes with. Each one has a different sized hose fitting making it easier to find tubing in your collection of gear to fit on the pump. You also get one with an airline input, a standard for most powerheads. Now the only difference I notice here is that the output threading is smaller in diameter when compared to the 396 model that im more familiar with. It turns out that the different sizes of EcoPlus pumps are different as far as input and output dimensions and thats important to note here. The attachments also come with a small rubber o ring creating a better seal if you plann to use it externally and protection against damage from over tightening.
The pump itself comes with a removable input cover and a small coarse sponge filter, this is a really handy add on that most other powerheads lack. If you don’t need the sponge, you can always add it to a diy sponge filter, its even got a hole pre made for you. You can further remove the strainer to reveal the input itself. The fact that its also threaded is why I love these pumps so much, and is why this powerhead is so versatile as far as projects go. The 185 I have in my hands now, will accept a ½ male thread via the input but again the output on this one accepts ¼ inch pieces only. Ill be using this pump for an upcoming project that dosent require much plumbing so im not concerned about it. You’ve got some suction cups here so you stick it to the wall of your tank. Ill also say they seem to be pretty good quality and hold up for a long time, nothing worse than a pump with old sliding suction cups, Ive definitely had worse.
This pump can be used as a pond filter pump, you can suction cup it to the wall of your tank and use it as a general water circulator, you can hook it up to a CO2 diffusing system, use it as an external filter pump and the list goes on.
Like I Said earlier Eco Plus makes a wide range of pump sizes and flow rates so you can pick the perfect one for your project. This guy is capable of pumping water to a height of about 6.5 feet above itself, making it great for all kinds of elaborate filters.
Overall, I think this is a powerhead you guys will love and recommend it to anyone who is serious about getting creative with their own aquarium DIY projects. Ill also add that these pumps are inexpensive and extremely reliable. Ive been using a 396 model on a DIY canister filter running pretty much nonstop for almost 2 years now with no issues.
Now the real winner here is the EcoPlus 396 model which ill bring in and be referring to for the rest of the video. This pump and only this pump in the collection has both an input and output capable of fitting a ½ in. male connecting piece. This is gonna allow you to just go wild at the hardware store finding all kinds of PVC and irrigation pieces to fit your project needs. im sure you recognize these 1/2 in hose adapters from the majority of projects ive done, theyre great because theyre cheap, (under a doller a piece) and screw perfectly into the pump. Another useful piece is a ½ inch male to female PVC adapter allowing you to hard plum this powerhead to a sump and many other types of large filter systems.Because we can securely plumb the input and output of this pump without any leaks its going to allow us to use it externally. This is the number one reason why I think this pump is so handy and really makes me wish I had more time to spend designing gear. Don’t forget the powercord which is grounded and close to 6 feet long so you can plug it in from a distance.