Very OLD equipment: What to keep/chuck?

[Budman93]

Hello everyone! Just did a bit of inventory of all the old equipment I had when I used to be in the hobby. Most looks like crap to me but I thought it was worth asking if I could keep some.

Look at that protein skimmer! From what I could gather it is an 'aquarium systems rio 600' As I was looking at it I noticed the plug had corroded and was no longer useable. It's looking like I will definitely have to buy a new one. I'm going to buy a refractometer but that hydrometer looks fine so I'll still keep it.

As for the heater it's apparently a '120v Stealth heater from Aquarium Systems' Still good to use? Looks in good enough shape.

These are a bunch of chemicals I found. The carbon should still be good I'm assuming but I'm less sure about the other three. None of the Kents bottles had expiration dates but I still think I should chuck them. Are these even useful? Only one I thought I might be able to reuse is the PH Buffer because it's a powder. It looked old and clumped up but hey maybe you guys can let me know if it's still useable.

Lastly here is a powerhead I bought like a decade ago. It was cheap when I bought it but looks the best out of everything I've got. Might still use it even if it's not that great.

Fully aware I'll probably be replacing all of this but thought it was worth checking with you guys first.

 

[jasonrusso]

Keep the heater, powerhead, and salinity meter. Toss the rest. The chemicals are cheap. Don't risk the tank to save a few bucks. I know my Kent buffer is bright white, yours is yellow. I don't know what is going on there.

 

[oneofmany]

I would keep the skimmer, heater, hydrometer & the power head. I modified a Seaclone skimmer like that with an Aquaclear 50 power head, an air pump and a wooden air stone and it worked like a charm. (especially in a smaller tank) You can always use the power head to mix up salt water, blast the rocks in your DT etc & the hydrometer can be calibrated with a refractometer if you've got one.

 

[cmcoker]

Those heaters were recalled ages ago, contact Marineland they sent me a check for a few I had sitting around a couple years ago. May be able to get them to buy it back from you still
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/201...et-Group-Due-to-Fire-and-Laceration-Hazards/

 

[jasonrusso]

Those heaters were recalled ages ago, contact Marineland they sent me a check for a few I had sitting around a couple years ago. May be able to get them to buy it back from you still
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/201...et-Group-Due-to-Fire-and-Laceration-Hazards/

Correction, don't keep the heater, lol

 

[cmcoker]

Correction, don't keep the heater, lol

Right! I really liked the plastic heater idea but after that I don't trust any of them. Even the higher wattage Cobalt neotherm has had reports of exploding. They made a change and I haven't seen any new reports in the last year but I still am wary

 

[oneofmany]

Couldn't you just use it to heat up your water during the winter? That would suck if it explodes, but at least it will be contained in a bucket or plastic container. I definitely wouldn't use it in a tank, but I wouldn't throw it away though either.

 

[Budman93]

Those heaters were recalled ages ago, contact Marineland they sent me a check for a few I had sitting around a couple years ago. May be able to get them to buy it back from you still
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2011/Aquarium-Heaters-Recalled-by-United-Pet-Group-Due-to-Fire-and-Laceration-Hazards/

Oh my god! Lol exactly why I made this thread! Thank you for the heads up.

Keep the heater, powerhead, and salinity meter. Toss the rest. The chemicals are cheap. Don't risk the tank to save a few bucks. I know my Kent buffer is bright white, yours is yellow. I don't know what is going on there.

The bottle is so old the clear plastic has turned yellowish. The powder on the inside is still white but yeah I'll chuck them.

 

[cmcoker]

Couldn't you just use it to heat up your water during the winter? That would suck if it explodes, but at least it will be contained in a bucket or plastic container. I definitely wouldn't use it in a tank, but I wouldn't throw it away though either.

Incidents/Injuries
United Pet Group has received 38 reports of fires resulting in property damage and 45 reports of broken aquarium glass. United Pet Group has received one report of a consumer who suffered an eye injury when the aquarium heater forcefully broke while he held it.

New heater is better than a fire...

 

[oneofmany]

I guess so, but then again there's a lot of bad apples out there no matter what the brand is. How do you know the new heater won't be a hazard as well? It sounds to me like your rolling the dice either way. Those number that you posted, are they 100% sure that it was in fact the heater itself that caused these fires/injuries and not something else? There's a lot of variables out there IMO. I'm just saying. I don't exactly believe everything I read sometimes. For every one person that has had problems with these heaters there's probably a lot more who haven't. I'd still use it, but that's just me. GL.

 

[Budman93]

I guess so, but then again there's a lot of bad apples out there no matter what the brand is. How do you know the new heater won't be a hazard as well? It sounds to me like your rolling the dice either way. Those number that you posted, are they 100% sure that it was in fact the heater itself that caused these fires/injuries and not something else? There's a lot of variables out there IMO. I'm just saying. I don't exactly believe everything I read sometimes. For every one person that has had problems with these heaters there's probably a lot more who haven't. I'd still use it, but that's just me. GL.

Well I contacted the distributor and I should be getting a brand new heater to replace the recalled one so all is well.