Vortech MP60 (Mobius) Quiet Drive

• No wire in the water – Mobius wireless power transfer means there is no cord, plug or battery inside the tank, only the propeller and magnet housing.
• Up to 9,000 GPH (34,000 LPH) – enough broad, gyre-style flow for large reef and mixed-fish displays without a wall of bubbles at the glass.
• 10–60 W power draw – the driver only pulls the wattage the current flow mode calls for, not a fixed maximum.
• 12 built-in flow modes – including Lagoon, Reef Crest, Gyre, Short Pulse, Tidal Swell and Nutrient Transport, switchable from the app without adding a controller.
• Apex Fusion / MXM ready – hands flow control to a Neptune Apex system if one is already running the tank.
• Multi-pump sync – pairs with additional VorTech MP60 units to run coordinated gyre or alternating patterns in one tank.

Check glass or acrylic thickness before ordering: the MP60mQD's magnet mounts through panels from 9.5 mm up to 26 mm. Below 9.5 mm the magnetic hold is unnecessarily strong for the panel; above 26 mm the wireless power transfer and magnet coupling are not rated to hold or power the unit reliably. It's built for 450–3,800 L displays – on tanks toward the smaller end of that range, run it in a lower-flow mode rather than assuming maximum output is required.

This is the largest pump in the VorTech range, sized for big reef and mixed-fish systems. Within the MP60 line itself, this Mobius (mQD) driver removes the wired connection to the wet side; the standard MP60QD driver (sold separately on this site) uses a cabled connection to the same wet-side pump for a lower price. Both share the same 9,000 GPH wet-side hardware – the difference is in how the wet side is powered and how many cables cross the glass, not in flow.

• Suitable for: reef and mixed marine displays from roughly 450 L up to large custom systems, where broad randomised or directional flow is needed without a plumbed closed loop.
• Suitable for: tanks where a completely cordless in-tank appearance matters, such as display tanks with no room to hide a cable run.
• Not suitable for: glass or acrylic thinner than 9.5 mm or thicker than 26 mm – the magnetic coupling is rated to that range only.
• Not suitable for: tanks holding species sensitive to strong random flow bursts – use the gentler flow modes rather than the highest-output presets.

The wet-side pump and propeller, the dry-side Mobius driver, a mounting spacer, a foam propeller guard, mounting hardware and the power supply are included in the box. A sump return pump, plumbing and any additional VorTech units for multi-pump sync are not included and are sold separately.

EcoTech doesn't publish a head-versus-flow curve for VorTech, and there isn't really one to publish: unlike a plumbed return pump, the MP60 sits inside the display and pushes water directly into the tank rather than lifting it through external pipework, so there's no head height for flow to work against. The number that matters instead is the adjustable range – 10 to 60 W, delivering up to 9,000 GPH (34,000 LPH) at the top of that range. Twelve on-board flow modes step through that range automatically; running the pump on a gentler pattern most of the time and reserving the highest setting for occasional detritus-clearing bursts is the normal way to run it, not a compromise. Running continuously at a mid-range 35 W average works out to roughly 307 kWh a year, about $92 at 30c/kWh – actual cost is lower on gentler flow modes and higher if it's left on the highest setting.

This is a mains-powered aquarium device. Use the supplied power supply only, keep the driver and cabling clear of splash and spray, and mount the wet side so the propeller guard stays in place – the guard is what keeps fish and larger invertebrates away from the impeller.

Rinse the wet-side pump and propeller periodically to clear coralline algae and detritus build-up, which will otherwise slow the impeller and increase the wattage drawn for the same flow. The magnet and glass contact faces should be wiped clean at the same time so the wireless power link stays efficient.

• VorTech MP60 wet-side assembly – the field-replaceable spare for when a wet-side motor or bearing eventually wears out, rather than replacing the whole unit.
• A second VorTech MP60mQD – for multi-pump synced gyre flow on larger systems.
• A Neptune Apex controller – if you want flow scheduled alongside lighting, dosing and alarms rather than run standalone from the app.

Covered by EcoTech Marine's manufacturer warranty in addition to your rights under Australian Consumer Law. This is a standard parcel item – no oversize or dangerous-goods freight class applies.

Does the MP60mQD need a controller to run flow modes?

No. All 12 flow modes are on-board and set from the Mobius phone app over Bluetooth. A separate Apex controller is only needed if you want flow scheduled together with other tank systems.

Can I use this on a tank smaller than 450 L?

Yes, provided the glass or acrylic is within the 9.5–26 mm range – just run it on a lower-output flow mode rather than the maximum setting.

What's the difference between this and the standard MP60QD sold on this site?

Both use the same 9,000 GPH wet-side pump. This Mobius version powers the wet side wirelessly across the glass with no cable; the standard MP60QD connects the driver to the wet side with a cable, at a lower price.

Does it work with a Neptune Apex system?

Yes, via Apex Fusion and MXM.

Is there a published flow curve against head height?

No – VorTech pumps sit inside the display and push water directly into the tank rather than through external plumbing, so there's no head for flow to work against, and EcoTech doesn't publish one.