Items you regret purchasing...

RareEarthCorals · Oct 11, 2015

I think most of us try to research items as best we can and read reviews, compare, and ask others their experience on certain products. I don't want to bash certain manufacturers but just generalize items that have failed badly in our eyes.

I purchased a HOB aquarium vacuum that cleaned the water and returned it to the tank. I saw it had some good reviews but the nagging constant was the unit was not strong enough to vacuum waste. The unit would easily clog. I received the unit and hooked it up. I primed the pump and started the suction and return. As soon as the wand dropped on the substrate it sucked up sand and shut the pump down. I cleaned it out and tried a few more times and again the sand would travel up the pipe and clog the motor, until finally the motor burned out.

Lesson learned, have there been products you have purchased that regretted buying afterwards? Remember to tell your story but keep out references to the manufacturer.

Pete polyp · Oct 11, 2015

Apex, skimmer and biopellet reactor have been a total waste of money for me.

shovelhead · Oct 12, 2015

Upflow algae scrubber. Ran it for 6 months with no results. I bought it because it was compact and looked nice compared to my diy waterfall scrubber. Should have left my ugly waterfall scrubber online, lol.

NanaReefer · Oct 12, 2015

Hydor Slim Skimmer Nano. Reef Octopus NS-80 Nano Skimmer.

Waters · Oct 12, 2015

Reef Radiance lights

eg8r210 · Oct 12, 2015

RareEarthCorals said:
I think most of us try to research items as best we can and read reviews, compare, and ask others their experience on certain products. I don't want to bash certain manufacturers but just generalize items that have failed badly in our eyes.

I purchased a HOB aquarium vacuum that cleaned the water and returned it to the tank. I saw it had some good reviews but the nagging constant was the unit was not strong enough to vacuum waste. The unit would easily clog. I received the unit and hooked it up. I primed the pump and started the suction and return. As soon as the wand dropped on the substrate it sucked up sand and shut the pump down. I cleaned it out and tried a few more times and again the sand would travel up the pipe and clog the motor, until finally the motor burned out.

Lesson learned, have there been products you have purchased that regretted buying afterwards? Remember to tell your story but keep out references to the manufacturer.

Anything Jebao. Hate the increased maintenance just to keep them running.

Harold Green · Oct 12, 2015

NanaReefer said:
Hydor Slim Skimmer Nano. Reef Octopus NS-80 Nano Skimmer.

I didn't like their skimmer either. I think the problem is it's built for a small tank and unless you have an ato the water level varies too much from hour to hour for the skimmer to skim properly.

Harold Green · Oct 12, 2015

Any and all brands of hob filters. They never seem to work well, require constant cleaning, wear out in what I consider to be a short period of time.

purplereef · Oct 12, 2015

A Schuran Calcium reactor. The biggest waste of money.

shoelaceike · Oct 12, 2015

UV sterilizer. Didn't make any noticeable difference and I believe it was somehow bringing my PH down.

bayoupr · Oct 12, 2015

Needle wheel skimmers (mainly BK, I get better performance from my mazzei venturi skimmer for half the price). Also the Reef Dynamics re-circulating pellet reactor, clogged up a lot, especially the small output tubing.

cincyreef · Oct 12, 2015

Hyrdrometer

AZDesertRat · Oct 12, 2015

Seaclone skimmer, Mag brand pump, Quiet One pump and all of the bottled Kent supplements from the LFS.

dbl · Oct 12, 2015

Majano Wand.

3Twinklets · Oct 12, 2015

Probably the Apex. Not because its a bad product but because I am just a creature of habit. I like things simple. I am probably as old school as you can get. I will try new things but it takes a lot of convincing for me to trust them.

Wiz · Oct 12, 2015

Denitrator, canister filter, bristleworm trap to name a few

pugcrush · Oct 12, 2015

My aquarium? This hobby is a money pit from the start! But really, it has to be cheaper powerheads. Upgraded to mp10's & still like brand new years later.

Pete polyp · Oct 12, 2015

3Twinklets said:
Probably the Apex. Not because its a bad product but because I am just a creature of habit. I like things simple. I am probably as old school as you can get. I will try new things but it takes a lot of convincing for me to trust them.

Mine has been in the stand cabinet unplugged for a year

dbl · Oct 12, 2015

3Twinklets said:
Probably the Apex. Not because its a bad product but because I am just a creature of habit. I like things simple. I am probably as old school as you can get. I will try new things but it takes a lot of convincing for me to trust them.