More money, more better?

[beaslbob]

This hobby is even worst than most on premium pricing. Sure you need a jacket to keep warm in winter. BUT

Skimmers are not required to maintain reef tanks.

And that is the difference.

which as usual is just my .02

FWIW I enjoy all these posts and discussions.

I hope no one minds if I just shake my head in disbelief.

But that is still just my .02

I guess I'm an old cheapie who can't afford more. LOL

 

[vertigo01]

O

Good to know. Might save myself a frag's worth of money!

Or quite a few frags as long as you don't buy into the "Ultra Super Duper Rare"
frag speill.
You know, the ones that have been growing in nature for eons, yet someone tries to trademark as their own.

 

[LbulletM]

O

Or quite a few frags as long as you don't buy into the "Ultra Super Duper Rare"
frag speill.
You know, the ones that have been growing in nature for eons, yet someone tries to trademark as their own.

Haha I actually thought about editing after hitting send. I don't think I've spent more than $75 on any coral, and that was just because my wife picked it out!

 

[BigJohnny]

I think the more money you spend the less likely you are going to have to deal with failures/other inconveniences. More expensive equipment isn't always better performing it's respective task, but usually will have better build quality/reliability/features/adjustability and of course, aesthetics.

For skimmers the most important factor is performance and reliability of the pump imo. Ease of maintenance is 2nd because a clean skimmer is an efficient skimmer and I won't clean it frequently if it's a pain. Nyos quantum look sweet but I ended up choosing a vertex omega 150 over it last time I bought a skimmer. Thing is a beast, I pull this out every 2-4 days. Can't go wrong with either imo

 

[BigJohnny]

I think reef octo has great budget options too though.

 

[Orcus Varuna]

So you like the dcp pump? I'm looking at them, but I really wanted to be able to wire it to my APEX and I think only the older ones (dcs?, dct?) have solutions at this point.

Honestly unless you are planning on running a closed loop then controlling the pump via apex is a non issue. I just have it plugged into my apex power bar which allows me to turn it on and off easily at feeding time. To answer your other question yes I do like it. For the money it’s very well built.

 

[Servillius]

Alright, I'm looking to upgrade tanks. A big jump from a 29 box to a reef ready 150 with 75 sump. I'm currently looking at the Nyos Quantum skimmers for the new setup.

My main question is, throughout this entire hobby (and pretty much everywhere else in life), things that cost more are perceived as better. Grocery stores put more expensive, name brand products at eye level and we're happy to buy them. My Corvette is faster than most Porsches, yet costs half the price. Wal-Mart jackets protect you from the rain just as well as a North Face, but people buy the North Face because it's more expensive and thus "higher quality".

Now, I am the first to admit that in some cases "you get what you pay for" and "buy once, cry once" are perfectly valid. But, am I falling into the trap of premium pricing = premium brand with the Quantum skimmers? They are gorgeous and I've never seen a negative review, but still need to do my due-diligence.

The point of a trademark is to give a consumer the ability to identify products and services that serve their needs well and to allow the consumer to benefit from that knowledge without getting defrauded (that’s a hopelessly bad summary, but it works here so let’s go with it).

The problem with trademarks is that a seller can convince you they’re somehow better without earning it.

If you’ve bought three North Face jackets and were happy with their value for money, being able to go to any store anywhere in the country and buy one knowing you get the same quality is a good this. If on the other hand you think it makes you look cool, let’s hope you’re either sufficiently right to be worth the price. You’re deciding you get value from looking cool. Seems like a silly decision to lots of us, but who are we to tell someone not to value what they value. If you chose it because the ad made it seem great, you should be prepared to be disappointed at times.

I have a ten year old Bubble King skimmer. It works flawlessly and I’ll never buy anything else. I expect I’ll get what I pay for. If you buy for the thrill, you get what you pay for too. It’s just that what you pay for isn’t likely to seem valuable in the long run.

Look for the brands that built their reputation on delivering the things you really want and you can expect to get value for your money whatever their price point. Not always, sadly no rule is ironclad, but often enough to make it a solid basis for decision making.

I always try to buy the best and I’m willing to pay for it. I try however to make sure what I decide is the best is best at satisfying the goals I’m trying to achieve by buying it in the first place.

 

[LbulletM]

Basically exactly. Luxury price elasticity.

 

[zsuzsu]

ime (as i'm staring at all the junk piled high in my garage ... which is there to remind me not to buy junk anymore). quality, longevity, and silence is far cheaper than equipment failures and reef wipeouts. for me silence is paramount... and if it's quiet it's going to last because somebody cared about the end user/customer and to me that's what quality is. which is priceless in the long run. so... if it isn't german, itialian, or made by ecotech, it won't come to my world...... zsu p.s. a budget in reefing... that's a hot one. budget smudget, go big and save

 

[zsuzsu]

btw, anybody need an apex, i have 3. and how dumb can you get zsu.... an $800 controller that you have to write code to use it . imo ,in the push button world we now inhabit, writing code is a joke, still waiting for somebody to get it right. it will be german so i won't have to worry.

 

[LbulletM]

ime (as i'm staring at all the junk piled high in my garage ... which is there to remind me not to buy junk anymore). quality, longevity, and silence is far cheaper than equipment failures and reef wipeouts. for me silence is paramount... and if it's quiet it's going to last because somebody cared about the end user/customer and to me that's what quality is. which is priceless in the long run. so... if it isn't german, itialian, or made by ecotech, it won't come to my world...... zsu p.s. a budget in reefing... that's a hot one. budget smudget, go big and save

I think silence is my main stat here. Good point about quiet most likely meaning quality. Cheap out on a pump - you get noise. Inefficient flow - you get noise. Restricted intake - you get noise.

 

[Orcus Varuna]

I think silence is my main stat here. Good point about quiet most likely meaning quality. Cheap out on a pump - you get noise. Inefficient flow - you get noise. Restricted intake - you get noise.

If silence is your goal definitely go for a quality dc skimmer. As mentioned earlier the Deltecs dc skimmer are a good option and a some of the quietist skimmers around. Price is definitely high end but they are German and built like a tank. I would recommend a lifereef but they are not quiet in any way lol.

 

[Bacon505]

You dont need high end equipments to opperate a successful reef. Less equipment=less chance of fail.

 

[zsuzsu]

You dont need high end equipments to opperate a successful reef. Less equipment=less chance of fail.

not in my world, less expensive lower quality equipment = higher probability of fail. i got the piles of junk equipment and the mountain of dead frags to back it up.

 

[Donovan Joannes]

Prioritize where your money should go, at the end of the day what matter most for me is having food on the table and all bills are paid. The extra in your pocket dictates what goes into the tank.

Cheap doesn't always turn into a junk, they just need cleaning regularly.

If money is the key contributor to a successful reefing, average people like me won't be able to enjoy this hobby. Certain hobby like golfing are meant for the elite, but reefing?. Not really.

 

[BigJohnny]

not in my world, less expensive lower quality equipment = higher probability of fail. i got the piles of junk equipment and the mountain of dead frags to back it up.

Agreed.

 

[Bacon505]

If you upkeep it right. It should last a good life spand. Like my jebao powerheads, last longer than most vortec user i know. Almost 3 years and still running.

 

[zsuzsu]

If you upkeep it right. It should last a good life spand. Like my jebao powerheads, last longer than most vortec user i know. Almost 3 years and still running.

you are one lucky reefer ... so far.

 

[BigJohnny]

I was about to say the same thing. Every jebao powerhead I've owned has crapped out in less than 12 months. I've even had two spark from the controller.

 

[LbulletM]

I'm going on 12 months this month with an RW-4 or whatever it's called. I figured when I upgrade to my 150 gallon, I can buy a Jebao and a replacement to have on hand for less than most "quality" equipment. There's a chance that any equipment from any manufacturer can happen, so this way I'm covered.