ATS why are commercially made ones so expensive?

[homegrowncichlid]

Been looking at a couple of scrubbers ,the clear water on Bulk Reef Supply, Santa Monicas and also other miscellaneous ones on ebay. Why are they hundreds of dollars for a clear plastic box, plumbing and an LED? The smallest clear water model is $300 for something that only has a foot of surface area. I feel that if I can plumb a 10 gallon tank in, I can DIY for $50 and have twice the surface area of the $300 model. Are there any reasonably priced scrubbers out there?

 

[Wesley]

Mostly for for people who don't DIY. Also the commercially made one usually have better form factors. Even I DIY, I still bought a few from Santa Monicas over the years.

I still have a big water fall type and a small floaty one from Santa Monica not being use, since I just converted a 40g breeder to a chaeto tank. If I didn't have the space for the chaeto tank, the Santa Monicas one are both self contain and use my little space. They have their places. Want to buy my used one?

 

[theMeat]

Yeah, you can diy. Many have. Could just make a 4 sided bottomless box and hang over sump.
Think 302 aquatics are nice. By the time you buy the acrylic, lights. Plumbing, bits, really not that much more to buy a nice finished product that?s already r&d?d

 

[samster]

Yeah, you can diy. Many have. Could just make a 4 sided bottomless box and hang over sump.
Think 302 aquatics are nice. By the time you buy the acrylic, lights. Plumbing, bits, really not that much more to buy a nice finished product that?s already r&d?d

Agreed, DIY is more for the joy of DIY. Wouldn't save much on cost with DIY stuff anymore with the high prices of materials nowadays. If you tried to replicate anyone of these commerical products and built to exact you might actually be spending more when all said and done for a clean highend build. Only way to save on DIY is if you use inferior products to replica the functionality and not the look and build. I.E. Plastic housing instead of clear acrylic etc. last time I checked acrylic is dumb expensive.

 

[homegrowncichlid]

I looked of the scrubbers and noticed that they all need to be placed above a sump and the water drains down. No stand alone versions that can be plumbed inline outside the sump or is independent of a sump? Maybe a hang on back version?

 

[Wesley]

I like the one hang on the glass. I used it in my sump. Works very well. No pumping needed.

 

[homegrowncichlid]

Are you referring to a HOG model from Santa Monica? Wouldn't the algae grow on the glass itself and block off the light? Does that mean you'd have to clean it everyday?

 

[Wesley]

Yea, it's the HOG. No, the algae don't grow on the glass. I guess it's a competition for growth between the super rough HOG surface vs the smooth glass surface. With the strong bubbling current, it would be quite hard to compete.

 

[vio]

Agreed, DIY is more for the joy of DIY. Wouldn't save much on cost with DIY stuff anymore with the high prices of materials nowadays. If you tried to replicate anyone of these commerical products and built to exact you might actually be spending more when all said and done for a clean highend build. Only way to save on DIY is if you use inferior products to replica the functionality and not the look and build. I.E. Plastic housing instead of clear acrylic etc. last time I checked acrylic is dumb expensive.

+1, by the time you figure how much cost ( tools, Acrylic, glue, PVC parts, time) is better to watch a movie and order one on line, clean and works. :biggrin: