How Many Spare Parts do Ya'll Keep on Hand?

[Tennsquire]

Had my main return pump (a Mag Drive) go down right before Xmas; one of the prongs on the impeller was busted and it had started to make considerable amount of noise. I got my backup Mag 7 pump out, and it turns out that the impeller on that one was completely busted. I fortunately had a new Mag 5 on hand for another project, so I swapped that it and got the job done until spare parts came through the mail (albeit delayed a few days due to the time year).

I usually keep a pretty good assortment of spares on hand, but I got caught unprepared on this one. All of my water movement pumps (Tunze) have spare impellers, and I have a couple of spare impellers for the recirculation pump on my skimmer. What do you typically keep in terms of spare parts? At times, it seems like I have a small fish store worth of stuff in my spare parts drawers (RO filters, test kits, heaters, powerhead impellers) and I'm wondering about how others manage this.

 

[H@rry]

Very good advise. I would not advise anyone to buy any pump that you can't find impellers for. That's the first thing to go (and probably the only thing).

 

[NeveSSL]

This is a great question, Scott. I personally have multiple spare impellers for both powerheads and return pumps. I'm also planning on getting a full backup return pump soon, perhaps by the end of next year. I actually use two of these pumps, so having a spare is kind of all the more imporant, now that I think about it.

Brandon

 

[schooleyosis]

I pretty much keep a spare impeller or two for all of my pumps around. Lately with the low cost of Jebao products I have a full spare for each pump, powerhead that I run. My spare return pump has saved two people's tanks already so that was money well spent. I have numerous heaters laying around that have been collected over the years and I find from time to time that those get loaned out as well until the borrower can purchase what they want.

As for additives and RO filters, I try and keep at least 1 carbon and sediment filter on hand at all times and always have the BRS 2-part additives in 5 gallon buckets. Salt I try and keep at least 200 gallons of mix on hand for emergency, large water changes if needed.

I hate having to pay prices at the LFS's, so I stock up during group buys and have a dedicated closet to all my aquarium supplies. Lately my supplies have helped others more than it has for myself!

 

[NeveSSL]

You should just go ahead and setup rental prices. $10/day Haha!

Brandon

 

[mjs020294]

Been doing aquatics for years so there are lots of old pumps, lights and circulation pumps in the garage. Don't carry spares but if something stopped working it wouldn't hard to keep things going for 48 hours which is plenty of time to get a replacement from Amazon.

 

[bknapp]

Apparently not enough, down a power head right now, power supply went bad.

 

[schooleyosis]

If it's a Jebao I have an extra BK. Oh yeah Buell, that's a good idea. Volitans67 would owe me big time!

 

[Volitans67]

If it's a Jebao I have an extra BK. Oh yeah Buell, that's a good idea. @Volitans67 would owe me big time!

You could probably own Jebao at this point. Oops. I will say it saved my bacon and I owe you many beers and your pump back.

 

[bknapp]

If it's a Jebao I have an extra BK. Oh yeah Buell, that's a good idea. Volitans67 would owe me big time!

Appreciate the offer Ryan, not sure it would work on a Tunze. But I will try the one I have on my Jebao on it tonight to see it it'll work. Thanks.

 

[schooleyosis]

You could probably own Jebao at this point. Oops. I will say it saved my bacon and I owe you many beers and your pump back.

'high-five'

Appreciate the offer Ryan, not sure it would work on a Tunze. But I will try the one I have on my Jebao on it tonight to see it it'll work. Thanks.

I would not try that! I forgot you are running Tunze's now...