How long do you expect your equipment to last?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

How long do you expect a single piece of equipment to last on your tank, and do you plan for its replacement? What's your strategy, or do you just tend to wait for something to give out?

 

[themcnertney]

Run it till it dies.

 

[GabeM]

A good computer should be replaced every 5 years... so that is about where my expectations lie.

 

[WVNed]

I built my system to have multiples of everything but the skimmer. It can run 3 days until I could get a replacement.

 

[jda]

I only buy equipment that has been out for at least 3-5 years without many known issues or needing a bunch of iterations to fix stuff. I expect stuff to last about ten years... but can live with 5 on some things. There are many, many pieces of equipment that will meet this goal, so I do not like to compromise.

This does not apply to heaters where only a very few last more than five years.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

I've got certain items on a replacement calendar, such as heaters, return pumps, T5 bulbs, etc.; things I can't get by with being out for a few days. I stick to replaceing them on the calendar whether they are at end of life or not. It's easy enough to sell them used, so I typically offer them up locally at a cheap price.

My LED's, however, are a different story. I really should have a reserve set aside for their replacement but have not done so.

 

[TheHarold]

Depends. These days many “high end” companies only give 1 year warranties, so I would guess a maximum of around 3 years. But they have great marketing so the product lifespan doesn’t seem to matter too much haha

But products from very high quality companies such as Sicce , with 5 year warranties, will last at least that. AND less expensive usually.

 

[alain Bouchard]

as long as there are parts available for repair, an equipment never dies. But I change equipment when I see something better with shiny new bells and whistles; then I tell my wife that its broken and I need to replace it by the way, I am IT and electronic techs, my career is maintaining, troubleshooting and repairing electronic stuff

 

[siggy]

Foreverer!

 

[themcnertney]

FOREVER !!!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I would hope at least 3 but 5 for me would be great.

 

[ca1ore]

Depends on the equipment. I'd expect my main return pump to last 10 years, though honestly I'd be a bit disappointed if it didn't go 20. Anything made out of acrylic I'd expect to outgrow before it failed. Something like an apex I'd be happy to get 5 years before (hopefully) proactively replacing it. Heaters I replace on a 3 year rotation. My vortech pumps are between 4 and 7 years old. I replace the wetsides at around 4 years but would expect the rest to last a decade.

 

[hotdrop]

I expect to outgrowth or crash my tank before the equipment fails

 

[Blacktip]

I keep up with maintenance schedule - All of the equipment get periodical thorough cleaning. I expect them to last for many years. I replace when they break. Tho only thing I had to replace so for are the Gyres.

 

[andrewkw]

The only thing I replace while they still function is heaters. Every 2 years. I know every year is probably more ideal, but I haven't actually had one go bad while in use other then stop working. I usually just demote them to qt use and then throw the qt ones out then.

Not to jinx it but my return pump has been in almost constant use since 2006 (ehiem 1262). The only time it was off for an extended time was when I moved. If and when it dies, I will use my water mixing pump as a return until I replace it. Incidentally I have worn out a water mixing pump before this return.

For powerheads tunze seem to last the longest imo (10 years seems realistic for their powerheads) and jebao have the best bang for your buck (as long as they are cleaned). I have used ecotech vortechs and they've all died, but I got years out of use from them so I'm not really complaining I just didn't want to replace them with expensive pumps again.

Skimmer pumps tend to die faster then other pumps, but most of the time impeller changes will fix them. I used to use a meshwheel skimmer and that burned through sicce pumps like crazy.

 

[Mical]

I schedule things for maintenance over a years time - pumps, powerheads, full skimmer cleanings, dosing pump hoses, etc. I have back-ups for alot if not most parts. I replace heaters about every 3 years & I make it routine and have calendar reminders.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

In general I expect my aquarium purchases to outlast my marriage.

 

[Matt1997]

I expect my equipment to last the lifespan of my tank

 

[Benray4fun]

Depends on what it is, bulbs a year the fixture 10.
The best advise is to have back up equipment that matter.
One is a sump pump, ideally back up lights as well & so on...

 

[Ross Petersen]

What about the glass tank itself?! I'm informed a good silicone done well on a thicker glass should last 10+ years. Saw this mentioned by the Reef Savvy owner on a BRS episode recently.

What about the all-in-one glass tanks out there (e.g., IM, Red Sea, Waterbox, etc.)? The warranty tends to be much less... 2-3 years or so I do believe.