Vortech water pumps from Ecotech Marine is a marvel of engineering, using a unique, patented design to magnetically coupe the torque between an externally mounted motor and internally mounted propeller. So imagine our surprise when a talented LEGO builder at the Brick Experiment Channel recreated this reef aquarium workhorse using mostly plastic LEGO bricks, motors and strong magnets.
To be clear, this project was not intended to recreate a Vortech pump at all, but to buils a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and keeping all the motors and electronics sealed within a tight fitting container. To do this the builder used an assortment of ring magnets, low friction tape and tons of gears and sprockets to get the torque just right in order to power three pairs of propellers for horizontal, vertical and all the controls necessary of an ROV.
While this DIY ROV LEGO submarine build turned out really great, unlike the precisely engineered Vortech pump we don’t expect that these magnetically driven propellers would work very long, and they can’t push anywhere near as much water. Nevertheless, the technical knowledge required to build this ROV using only plastic bricks and some ring magnets is still very impressive, and it’s definitely got us wondering what other aquatic creations could be created using LEGOs for some unique aquarium themed projects.
