Octo VarioS 2: High-Flow Return Pump with Record-Breaking Efficiency

[Danireef]

The return pump is the heart of a marine aquarium. It ensures proper skimmer operation, must consume minimal energy, and provide the required flow rate. Today, we have the Octo VarioS 2 in our hands, our next return pump. Let’s dive into our review.

article available also in: Italian

The Octo VarioS 2 may not be the first choice that comes to mind for your marine aquarium’s return pump. However, we were intrigued by one key detail: its exceptionally low power consumption. This led us to choose it as our return pump, and before putting it into operation, we tested every aspect—consumption, flow rate, and head pressure.

In short, we found no weak points. Not only do its performance metrics match Octo’s claims, but we also discovered outstanding maintenance ease and record-low power consumption. We’ve never seen a pump with this level of efficiency. And the noise? Although we didn’t measure it, it is virtually inaudible. Keep reading to see all the data we recorded in our review.

The pump operates at 24V and is adjustable in five steps, making it suitable for a wide range of marine aquariums. We appreciated its color scheme but were less enthusiastic about the gray connectors—we would have preferred red to match the base and rear casing. The pump comes with two sets of hose adapters in different diameters. A crucial note: never use the smaller adapter! Read why in our article on saving energy in marine aquariums.

The Octo VarioS 2 is a centrifugal pump with an alternating current motor that operates at a low, adjustable voltage. As always, we measured head pressure, flow rate, and power consumption. For head pressure, we used our standard static method. For flow rate, we used the DigiFlow 6710M flow meter, and for power consumption, we relied on the RCE PM600.

Read on and watch video: Octo VarioS 2: High-Flow Return Pump with Record-Breaking Efficiency