Why are kalkwasser reactors so expensive?

[Wasteoftime247]

This is more of a rant rather than an actually question. Why the heck is a kalk reactor cost almost 500 bucks? Its just a tube with a magnetic mixer at the bottom of it. I can make my own for less than 50 bucks. The same goes with almost all reactors. Most of them are just a clear container with some tubes coming out of them and these companies charge 3 to 500 bucks. I know this isn't a cheap hobby but come on these prices are just nuts.

 

[piranhaman00]

They only have one use in a small scale hobby. Prices need to be high to make any money

 

[Wasteoftime247]

They only have one use in a small scale hobby. Prices need to be high to make any money

Okay I get where your coming from but to actually build lots of these products cost's almost nothing to make especially now that 3d printers exist. Luckily I like building things myself so have made a fair amount of these things myself for a fraction of the cost. But like you said its a "luxury" item so they can charge whatever they want and people are going to pay. I just wanted to rant and complain to get it out of my system lol.

 

[zoomonster]

I paid $269 for aqua medic kalk reactor 1000 which has a simple motor to turn the mixer. Worked pretty well when I used it and controlled it with Apex. Don't even think you can get that type anymore. More money to be made with all the magnetic ones now. Regardless mines sitting on a shelf now and I use just a CaRx.

 

[Uncle99]

First it’s $500, it it sells through we are done.
If not we put it on sale for $300.
If it still does not sell we put it on our super sale for $200.
By this time, someone will have bought it.
Capitalism at its finest.

I do see your point, but it’s not what it costs to manufacture, it’s what people will pay for it.

Don’t pay those crazy prices, they will come down, same with corals.

A hammer coral at collection point is $25usd, but $30 at retail.

 

[Shon]

Hmm.. for a 1 liter, Amazon total with tax 74.88 USD (free shipping)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07V2DWLX6/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09FKWGJ66/

Can we build one cheaper without diy skills?

 

[slogan315]

I thought the same thing last week, and started pricing out my diy build. With a 3d printer, laser cutter, and an engineering background, how hard could it be? A simple motor, plastic tube and inlet/outlet.

I was very surprised to find the cost of the acrylic itself. After hours of sourcing and research, I think I could diy something comparable to an avast marine k1 stirrer for $80. And this is with replacing the acrylic body for a cheaper polycarbonate dust collection tube. The acrylic tube (cheapest possible, thin walled extruded) could cost almost $80 itself if you want a 5” reactor. If you wanted a super high quality (cell cast, 1/4” walled) just the tube would cost you $100s.

So yes, it can be made cheaper than it can be bought. But when you factor the time designing, sourcing, and building. Plus factoring the lack of resale-ability with diy vs name brand. Spending $250 on an avast k1 vs $80 on the materials + your time, the off-the-shelf model may be worth it.

Also noting that companies get the materials cheaper, but they also have the added expense of overhead, taxes, and marketing.

 

[rtparty]

Low demand in a niche market with low production volume equals high costs.

Outside of the biggest companies, most of the companies in our industry aren’t making millions of dollars. A lot are just getting by doing what they enjoy

 

[jda]

Try and make something work with Kalk. The pH alone destroys most materials even most plastics and some acrylic. The precipitation is also very hard on things. Motors and pumps do not last long, so you have to use them on the outside and find a way to stir some other way.

 

[zoomonster]

This is the old-style stirrer I have. I've made a lot of homemade stuff over the years and this is pretty straight forward except the mechanism for attaching the top which has the isolated motor. I used to run ato line through mine and just water in bottom with backflow valve and water out top. Like someone said finding something like this used/cheap is probably a way better deal than getting the fittings, acrylic, 12v motor etc. and crafting the top, bottom, stirrer etc.

 

[Propane]

They also cost that much because people pay them that much.

 

[Wasteoftime247]

They also cost that much because people pay them that much.

your absolutely right!

 

[Mattiejay6]

I would stay away from a magnetic stirrer with an acrylic vessel. the magnet will eventually where the acrylic down and release what ever is in the plastics.. for me I had an increase in antimony.