Most overpriced gadgets for reef hobby

[Paul B]

I have automation, my timer puts on the lights. As for anything else. the animals don't seem to mind. But as I said, it is whatever you want to put into it.

 

[Spsnut]

You miss the point Eric, in fact it is quite the opposit; you don't need to be Richy Rich to own any of things! A vortech is not the Italian sports car of aquaria or even pumps for that matter; it's not a Ferrari and any other pumps a Honda. That is down right egotistacal; spin it however you want. Show me your Arhmedes screw gently turning over thousands of gallants an hour and I'll pin high end sports car on it. I love pimped out systems! I think it's really kewl seeing Dace turn his lights on and off for me with his phone years ago! I don't see most users of these products here trying to justify their purchase by over inflating their worth and downgrading and devices! This is a great hobby offering people of many interests to come together to contribute their flavor. Sorry if you are insulted; all these things we've talked about are marketed to the American middle class.

 

[BaaMNYC]

Face it, it's not at all comparable to a multi-millionaire's play thing! Look, I know people who drive used cars and rent who have the power side of their pump. It is not the supreme Italian sports car of aquaria! Don't let that hurt your sense of security; it's a great pump. I pay for the support of people like Roger and Jeremy at Tunze and CoralView! This was about what items people think are high priced, yet instead of contributing to the topic a band came in like 16 year olds whose daddies turned everything they touched into gold with an attitude that if they then have something it has to be the best there could be. Get it? IDC Ecotech are expensive powerheads, a light that pretends its simulating the weather on a reef in Bali is pretending and has nothing that is truly useful to growing corals, I dont need an expensive power center to consolidate my probes and timers, neither do I feel that a water change is simply draining and replacing tank water. The list could go on. sorry if you are insulted; I came up before a great tank had to have things full of names.

I don't know what your babbling about. I'm done with this debate with you.

 

[Gabe]

The hobby, the gadgets, the fish it's all overpriced.... Why? Well do we really need all this to live a normal life? Not really, we need food, clothing, shelter.... The rest is extra, so whatever $$$$ I spent in this hobby it's over spending... In my case. This is my humble opinion.

 

[beerfish]

When I worked at home, I had a crap skimmer, a cheap halide pendant, MJ1200 powerheads and a simple heater on my tank. I changed about 1-2 gallons of water a day and my tank looked amazing.

Now I'm never home and don't have time for daily water changes. I'm in the process of putting together a tank with Vortechs, LEDs, fully controlled and monitored, with every bell and whistle I can find to eliminate the need for constant maintenance. I'm willing to pay for it because I don't have the time to spend on my tank.

So are these gadgets overpriced? No, because I need the features that they provide. If I didn't need them, I'd go back to a basic tank setup.

Features that are overpriced to you are priceless to someone else.

On a final note, I'd rather pay a bit more and keep an American working than buy something manufactured in a plant somewhere that people are jumping out of windows to get out of 20 hour work days.

 

[E.intheC]

You miss the point Eric, in fact it is quite the opposit; you don't need to be Richy Rich to own any of things! A vortech is not the Italian sports car of aquaria or even pumps for that matter; it's not a Ferrari and any other pumps a Honda. That is down right egotistacal; spin it however you want. Show me your Arhmedes screw gently turning over thousands of gallants an hour and I'll pin high end sports car on it. I love pimped out systems! I think it's really kewl seeing Dace turn his lights on and off for me with his phone years ago! I don't see most users of these products here trying to justify their purchase by over inflating their worth and downgrading and devices! This is a great hobby offering people of many interests to come together to contribute their flavor. Sorry if you are insulted; all these things we've talked about are marketed to the American middle class.

LOL. Still not even close to getting my point.

When I worked at home, I had a crap skimmer, a cheap halide pendant, MJ1200 powerheads and a simple heater on my tank. I changed about 1-2 gallons of water a day and my tank looked amazing.

Now I'm never home and don't have time for daily water changes. I'm in the process of putting together a tank with Vortechs, LEDs, fully controlled and monitored, with every bell and whistle I can find to eliminate the need for constant maintenance. I'm willing to pay for it because I don't have the time to spend on my tank.

So are these gadgets overpriced? No, because I need the features that they provide. If I didn't need them, I'd go back to a basic tank setup.

Features that are overpriced to you are priceless to someone else.

On a final note, I'd rather pay a bit more and keep an American working than buy something manufactured in a plant somewhere that people are jumping out of windows to get out of 20 hour work days.

This is 100% the best answer here so far.

 

[MikeC]

I don't dose nor do I use any filtration except for a skimme that's useless tunze 9002 too finicky. All I do is 10%monthly water changes auto top off and $20 heater and $20 fan for temp control on a $8 timer. I'm good for over a year so far

This statement is useless with out pics of your tank and if your happy with that's great.

I haven't cleaned my toilet bowl in a year .....and guess what it still flushes:bigeyes2:
I'm just not sure you would want to use it. :fishhit:

 

[beerfish]

I haven't cleaned my toilet bowl in a year .....and guess what it still flushes:bigeyes2:
I'm just not sure you would want to use it. :fishhit:

Note to self. If I ever pick up frags from MikeC, use the bathroom before I leave my house. :lol:

 

[Gabe]

Note to self. If I ever pick up frags from MikeC, use the bathroom before I leave my house. :lol:

Because of the overpriced cleaning toilette supplies .....

 

[MikeC]

Lmfao......... For the record its cleaned regurly by my loving bride:hug:

 

[Adamc1303]

I purchased an MP40 about 4 or 5 years ago when they came out. I put it on the tank and immediately got rid of it, it was too loud! First off I don't get why people make a big deal about having the motor on the outside. It's still just as ugly. You view the tank and from the sides you have this huge magnet with a motor in it. Not to mention that people always have the tendency to say hey whats this and move it, but that's a matter of preference. Mind you I had a very clean looking Elos rimless tank and vortechs usually go hand in hand with that setup. I love Tunzes! They are good pumps with a long and proven track record. Fast forward to this year. I get a 7 foot tank so I get 2 mp60's. I read that the next generation was just so much better. Once again I put it on and took it off, SAME loud noise. I go back and purchase 4 tunzes and the multi-controller. That setup is considered really old technology by the guys that got a tank last week and have never even seen a metal halide and VHO's in action. I saw the wp40 so I got one and I absolutely love it. It has a much better flow pattern then anything I have ever used. I don't like it specifically because of the price, I really like the performance and power. The point I am trying to make is just because something cost more it doesn't mean it's better. I use an octopus skimmer and I have owned Bubble King, ATI, ATB and H&S in the past. With most things in this hobby you do get what you pay for, but it's great that there are now allot of more cheaper chinese made alternatives for people that can't afford better equipment. A wp25 is better for the coral then a maxi jet 1200 and they cost the same.

My vote for the most overpriced gadget would have to be LED lighting in general. All the major brands are every expensive and will eventually come down in price. I remember when the first LED light came out. I saw it at Absolutely Fish in NJ it was the solara led, I think... It cost 4k for a 48" model. Prices came down since then but the lighting is still outrageously expensive. Having been in the hobby years back and then coming back now I find it so funny when people say things to me with such certainty when they haven't ever seen a metal halides or other older practices.

 

[beerfish]

First off I don't get why people make a big deal about having the motor on the outside.

I'm a big fan of the zero heat in the tank. Show me another powerhead that does that.

Not to mention that people always have the tendency to say hey whats this and move it, but that's a matter of preference.

Find better friends. Mine don't touch my stuff.

I love Tunzes!

Awesome! So use Tunze's!

With most things in this hobby you do get what you pay for, but it's great that there are now allot of more cheaper chinese made alternatives for people that can't afford better equipment.

Of course, those people won't be able to afford anything when their jobs are outsourced to China.

My vote for the most overpriced gadget would have to be LED lighting in general.

LEDs are expensive. I've used MH, T5, PC, and LED. There's a reason LED people pay for LED bulbs.

I find it so funny when people say things to me with such certainty when they haven't ever seen a metal halides or other older practices.

The only thing I say with certainty is this: "If something works for you, use it." I know a great reefkeeper here that uses an undergravel filter. Would I recommend it to a new reefer? No. Does it work? Yes.

Do what works for you, but don't trash what works for someone else.

 

[Adamc1303]

I'm a big fan of the zero heat in the tank. Show me another powerhead that does that.



Find better friends. Mine don't touch my stuff.



Awesome! So use Tunze's!



Of course, those people won't be able to afford anything when their jobs are outsourced to China.



LEDs are expensive. I've used MH, T5, PC, and LED. There's a reason LED people pay for LED bulbs.

I find it so funny when people say things to me with such certainty when they haven't ever seen a metal halides or other older practices.

The only thing I say with certainty is this: "If something works for you, use it." I know a great reefkeeper here that uses an undergravel filter. Would I recommend it to a new reefer? No. Does it work? Yes.

Do what works for you, but don't trash what works for someone else.

Seriously? Drama Queen!!!!!!! Wow....

 

[Adamc1303]

The only thing I say with certainty is this: "If something works for you, use it." I know a great reefkeeper here that uses an undergravel filter. Would I recommend it to a new reefer? No. Does it work? Yes.

Do what works for you, but don't trash what works for someone else.

Funny thing is that I didn't trash anything. The thread was about what you feel is over priced so I gave my opinion. I never trashed a Vortech. This is a forum and people were stating their opinions. What's important to one isn't important to another. Like heat in a tank. I happen to have never had issues with that. Seriously? Drama Queen!!!!!!! Wow.... Why is everyone so high strung around here. Chill people. [/QUOTE]

 

[duke62]

We are uptight because of threads like this where people complain and whine about price of items and go the cheap route which in turn wipe peoples tanks out or have to go and buy better equipment because there cheap equipment crapped out then come back on this great web site and whine and moan about that cheap garbage breaking. Research and buy once ios a moto on here and read it a million times but no one listens and a year from now we get the same thread and either blame the store they got the garbage from or they make a thread complaining that some cheap garbage rusted in the tank or they feel electrricity running through the tank what can i do waaaaaaaahhh. Saw those threads a million times as well and with everyone buying those garbage jabeo which have zero track record in saltwater i think in a few months we will see many of those threads yet again

 

[Adamc1303]

We are uptight because of threads like this where people complain and whine about price of items and go the cheap route which in turn wipe peoples tanks out or have to go and buy better equipment because there cheap equipment crapped out then come back on this great web site and whine and moan about that cheap garbage breaking. Research and buy once ios a moto on here and read it a million times but no one listens and a year from now we get the same thread and either blame the store they got the garbage from or they make a thread complaining that some cheap garbage rusted in the tank or they feel electrricity running through the tank what can i do waaaaaaaahhh. Saw those threads a million times as well and with everyone buying those garbage jabeo which have zero track record in saltwater i think in a few months we will see many of those threads yet again

Duke I totally agree with you. You get what you pay for. The only piece of cheap equipment I have are the Jebao's and I have 4 Tunze pumps on standby. I happen to really like the Jebaos and what they are doing for my tank. However this thread isn't a comparison of cheap vs. expensive it's about what we feel we are getting ripped off on. We may be used to paying so much for things and I think part of this hobby / addiction is liking spending allot of money on equipment. I like the equipment part of the hobby allot. I like that my system is designed by me and I constantly think of ways to make it better and easier to service. Again though this thread is about what we feel is over-priced. A bubble king skimmer for 3k is over-priced IMO. It's acrylic and a pump. Yes there is allot that goes into it and we are in a very small limited hobby so they don't move allot of product, but still some things have bigger margins then they should have. I don't think Echotech will lower their prices because of Jebao but maybe they won't increase the prices as often and roll out new products at a more affordable prices. Don't think they won't read these threads. I am sure they do and this feed back and our posts can affect their pricing decisions very much. With everything in life a little competition is healthy and we'll end up benefiting from it. The hobbyist that can't spend will have what to use and the hobbyist that spends more won't have to spend as much more. I am happy Jeabo gives these companies a kick in the pants. Why should you and I get screwed because they know no matter the price we'll justify buying it.

This isn't about live stock but at least if a store is selling things for allot more then another one you can say it's a living thing and no 2 are exactly the same. So they can call stuff ultra and rare, it's up to us if we want to go for it or not. At the same time collectors go online and see 1" of an sps coral literally selling for hundreds of dollars and then they charge more. Most of this stuff is coming from a third world countries and these people are actually diving and collecting, the livestock comes to the states and gets fragged into a million pieces and sold for hundreds of dollars. It's like another famous business where you bulk and break down the product. I don't know why Maximum reefs sells stuff for less then half of everywhere else. Are they just trying to undercut, are they struggling or do they want the hobby to be more affordable. I do know that when they have their sales it helps keep our other local places in check. I have a place I go to in Brooklyn where he sells me matriculated frags for 65 as a special deal for a loyal customer. I still pay that when I see something I like because again no 2 are alike but when I see something I am on the fence about I whip out my phone and give him a reality check. We are good friends so I can do that to him and I love it. He should know that I know that stores are selling what he sells for 65 to me for 20 and they are still making it. He will probably never lower his prices and I respect that but he will think twice before selling a colony for 120 because it's the nicest one in the shipment. Stuff like this keep vendors n check and it helps us.

Sorry for the rant

Adam

 

[kres1024]

Jebao rules !!!

 

[Adamc1303]

Jebao rules !!!

And you have the colors to back up that statement!

 

[kres1024]

And you have the colors to back up that statement!

Damm right I do...lol

 

[tomtoothdoc]

........a place I go to in Brooklyn where he sells me matriculated frags for 65 ......

Adam

the $20 frag is non-matriculated.....therefore a lower price. costs of education had escalated exponentially.....lol.


auto correct feature?.....maricultured -->matriculated....lol.


most overpriced equipment is the one that doesn't deliver what you need/expected. for me it was the aquamedic doser. figgited with the darn thing for months. it never dosed the correct amount and ended up having to dose manually constantly. finally gave up and went with a combination of calcium reactor and kalk reactor......very happy with them.