Aqua Illumination has launched two surprise new DC pump ranges called the Orbit, and the Axis, only with some very familiar form factors. The Orbit is an unashamedly rebadged Maxspect Jump gyre flow pump – Bulk Reef Supply tells us that in their latest video – so the Orbit 2 and 4 pump bodies are identical to that of the Maxspect Jump 2K and 4K right down to the dimensions, output, and wattage. The blue/green rotor colors match that of the Nero impeller, but apart from that these pumps are every bit Maxspect. Apart from that is, the controller.
The controller looks identical to the inline controller on AI’s Nero wave pump – small, and intuitive, but just like the Nero that controller has wireless connectivity via Bluetooth to the MyAI app, the EcoTech Mobius wireless control platform, and Apex Fusion via Neptune’s MXM module, turning a hard-wired Maxspect Jump into a much more integrated part of three popular ecosystems. The two pumps are 8.78” and 12.1” long, use up to 25 and 45 watts, and produce a maximum flow of up to 2000 and 4000 gph, just like the Maxspect Jump 2K and Jump 4K. The price difference for a Maxspect jump with Aperture product connectivity? $279 for the Orbit 2 vs. $219 for the MJ-GF2K, and $319 for the AI Orbit 4 vs. $265 for the MJ-GF4K.
Aqua Illumination Axis
The Axis is also an interesting first foray into return pumps for Aqua Illumination, as instead of designing and manufacturing their own unique design and building them in-house in the States like Aperture brand EcoTech, the Axis DC pump is widely available on the world market as an OEM (rebadge-able) product from Chinese manufacturer ZKSJ. They manufacture Tropical Marine Centre’s Reef Pump, Reef Flow, and identical Reef Pump Compact, Dalua’s Great White Return Pump and Great White Wavemaker, The Platinum Blue DC Pump, the Red Dragon X, and even Maxspect’s Jump DC return pumps, an industry source has informed us.
That aside, all of the above are good, reliable DC pumps with the cherry on the top of AI’s “Axis” being that extra wireless control capability via MyAI, Mobius, and Apex Fusion. The Axis is available in three sizes, the 20, 40 and 90, pumping 185, 400, and 925 gallons per hour, for 12, 20, and 40 watts respectively. With Sine Wave technology these pumps are extremely quiet and that slimline upright form factor combines with a calibration feature, feed mode, and scheduling via your choice of the three apps.
What we think
For years there has been virtually nothing between EcoTech and Aqua Illumination products in terms of quality and performance. A Hydra is as good as a Radion at growing corals and the Nero can produce flow just like a VorTech can. The Nero pump body does resemble the defunct Waveline Wave Puck, but apart from that, up until now, we haven’t really seen the innovators at AI go shopping for generic OEM pumps like this before. That represents a paradigm shift in direction at Aperture and serves to further differentiate the two premium brands, EcoTech and Aqua Illumination from each other.
We already know these two pump bodies intimately. We were literally using them at the weekend. They are both excellent, reliable pumps that will be made even better by the multi-app wireless connectivity and improved control and functions that the software brings. Maxspect is distributed in the US by Aperture, and BRS just made a ton of videos with Maxspect, so we expected synergy. We’re just not quite used to seeing one of our favorite equipment brands rebadging in this way and would love to have seen an AI DC pump that was new in its design, development, and form factor.
