Bubble magus just got serious!
 

Leaked photos show a controllable skimmer (with DC pump....duh!) and a wavemaker which looks like a ripoff of vortech. Not surprising since Jebao already took care of tunzi ripoff. Well, I can't wait for the wave maker :)

http://reefbuilders.com/2013/12/03/l...-skimmer-pump/

I hope the price is better than the vortech! We need more options that are not 300.00+. I'm happy to see more companies going after the big name boys

Thats sweet. I have to say that bang for the buck, Bubble Magus always impresses me. It's nice to see cheaper options out there for us reefers that can't buy the expensive stuff.

Hmmmm. It does look a bit Vortech like from the pics but not sure if they will be able to sell that in the US. Ecotech have a patent on the magnetically coupled pump design like that.

How long has ecotech had the pm power heads. I though but can be very wrong. THat patents were limited to 10 years

20 years from the filing date and it looks like it was filed in 2010. Here's a link if you're curious:

https://www.google.com/patents/US819...ed=0CDkQ6AEwAA

Looks like they have a couple earlier patents too.

Actually, after looking at the pictures again I don't think it is an Ecotech style pump. Looks like it's fully in tank, just two colours of plastic (maybe for the prototype).

The change of color is probably due to reflection. But I think its coupled up since no suction cup or any sort of attachment can be seen. If BM doesn't pay for that patent, they are getting sued. Unless these pumps use something different.

I think if they can get around the patent issue and create a similar product it be great

To me it looks like it's mounted on some sort of plastic base that attaches to the glass somehow. You can see it below the powerhead itself. I don't see any space between that would be the glass between internal and external parts.