Do they make anything to last anymore

[highfive52]

My lord the equipment is not lasting. High end equipment. I've had a 3 month old sicce pump go bad, a 5 month old inkbird controller thank God for Finnex backup.. two brs titanium heaters 500w. I sent brs both heaters with a semi nasty note at my expense....after they tested I received a call. Yes both heaters came off a bad batch....they didn't think to notify or post on website. Grrrrrrr I regularly swap my equipment out before it fails on yearly basis. Its not even making it a year. What is happening?????? Can these company's just put together products that lasts now a days. Very frustrating. I just order because I can't wait months for replacements.... since covid the quality on equipment has bottomed out. We all have so much depending on this equipment. Done ranting.

 

[dz6t]

I am surprised on the Sicce pump.
But the rest, hmmm, no surprise.
On the other hand, I just cleaned a Jebao DC return pump and it has been running great for 8 years.

 

[luu78]

Love my Jebaos…not switching anytime soon!

 

[N_E_M_O]

Simple answer, nope

Unfortunately most of the equipment out now is pure garbage. It seens like manufacturers are just hoping their products last until the warranty expires, now a days.
So frustrating for soneone in the business. I literally have cut out about 80% of the drygoods and equipment we carry and will stock. Im tired of having to be responsible for crap I have nothing to do with. And having frustrated customers take it out on me, cause their equipment stopped working. Easier to just not sell the junk lol. Which is a shame, as I want to be able to supply customers with everything they need, but continue to find it harder and harder to do so.


Now, I am worried about what will happen to Apex and Ecotech products. Now that BRS has bought them. Their investors only concern is profit margins. Get ready for those prices to go up, and the quality go down

 

[coralfishreef]

… two brs titanium heaters 500w. I sent brs both heaters with a semi nasty note at my expense....after they tested I received a call. Yes both heaters came off a bad batch....they didn't think to notify or post on website.

What was the issue with the heaters?

 

[highfive52]

Simple answer, nope

Unfortunately most of the equipment out now is pure garbage. It seens like manufacturers are just hoping their products last until the warranty expires, now a days.
So frustrating for soneone in the business. I literally have cut out about 80% of the drygoods and equipment we carry and will stock. Im tired of having to be responsible for crap I have nothing to do with. And having frustrated customers take it out on me, cause their equipment stopped working. Easier to just not sell the junk lol. Which is a shame, as I want to be able to supply customers with everything they need, but continue to find it harder and harder to do so.


Now, I am worried about what will happen to Apex and Ecotech products. Now that BRS has bought them. Their investors only concern is profit margins. Get ready for those prices to go up, and the quality go down

Oh sheesh. I thought buying high end would elevate these issues. I'm finding out not so.

 

[highfive52]

What was the issue with the heaters?

The two titanium heaters were ordered with a inkbird as a package brs. The inkbird was going wonky so I ordered new one. Then I ran on apex. The heaters were malfunctioning. Come to find out the cords going into unit were not properly secured....that's what they said. They said they had a entire batch that did it. It's insanity. They offered to replace but I had already bought and paid another couple hundred already.

 

[highfive52]

I am surprised on the Sicce pump.
But the rest, hmmm, no surprise.
On the other hand, I just cleaned a Jebao DC return pump and it has been running great for 8 years.

Bought the gfo reactor with sicce pump as a package. Less than two months old my phosphates began to climb....I pulled reactor...
No water exiting.....pump failed. Just shut off. Thank God I'm a avid tester.

 

[jrmx635]

I think ever since the Apex Wi-Fi came out Neptune's reliability has gone down the tubes

 

[ChrisV]

I think ever since the Apex Wi-Fi came out Neptune's reliability has gone down the tubes

I'm still using my 2010 original apex. What do I have to look forward to when I upgrade?

 

[jrmx635]

The eb8 is pretty solid.
The new power strips have reliability issues
I had one for a year and had to send it in.
Then the fan went not long after.
Google it,there's a bunch of them that only last a year or two
I had flow sensors rust out withing 6 months.
Atk module and pump problems
Just not reliable

 

[ChrisV]

The eb8 is pretty solid.
The new power strips have reliability issues
I had one for a year and had to send it in.
Then the fan went not long after.
Google it,there's a bunch of them that only last a year or two
I had flow sensors rust out withing 6 months.
Atk module and pump problems
Just not reliable

Bummer. I have the first gen apex and just picked up a used apex Jr. Both are about a decade old and I am looking forward to upgrading when the time comes. I'm surprised the new ones are unreliable. I've had really good luck with the first gen.

 

[jrmx635]

Well there's plenty of people that have good luck with them.
I just bought another one myself.
You could keep your old one as a backup

 

[dz6t]

These days, some manufacturers are cutting cost and focus on belts and whistles instead of long term reliability.

Some reasons that long term reliability is no longer take priority are:
1. Surveys show that average length of time for new hobbyists to stay in the hobby is about 3 month. (Not apply to our fellow BRS members). Manufactures get their money from sales of new equipments, used markets actually hurt their profits. So the priority is to attract new hobbyists by belts and whistles.

2. Manufacturing cost is rising dramatically oversea. Many manufacturers have to absorb the increased cost as the market for this hobby is very competitive due to too many brands of similar products for a such small market. Cutting cost by using cheaper components is one way to go.

 

[dz6t]

3. Many named brands are rebadging or sourcing products from lesser known manufacturers.
for example many DC water pumps are actually rebadged Jebao, but luckily Jebao DC return pumps are reliable. But that may or may not apply to AC power variants…
Basically many high end brands do not have their own manufacturer plants. That means the quality control is put of their hand.

4. Counterfeit products, even US retailers can sometimes fell in it without knowing.

 

[ChrisV]

3. Many named brands are rebadging or sourcing products from lesser known manufacturers.
for example many DC water pumps are actually rebadged Jebao, but luckily Jebao DC return pumps are reliable. But that may or may not apply to AC power variants…
Basically many high end brands do not have their own manufacturer plants. That means the quality control is put of their hand.

4. Counterfeit products, even US retailers can sometimes fell in it without knowing.

Dong, do you have any other favorite examples of lower cost versions of reefing hardware that one can get by opting not to buy the rebranded version?

 

[Skmaiden]

Another common issue I see is replacement part availability and pricing. It’s often hard to justify spending $50 to replace a pump impeller when a new pump costs $100. Similar for many other parts which either can’t be easily replaced, or cost a significant chunk of the original purchase price for relatively minor parts.

 

[dz6t]

Dong, do you have any other favorite examples of lower cost versions of reefing hardware that one can get by opting not to buy the rebranded version?

For example,
I use Jebao Crossflow gyre instead of other higher priced gyre. The reliability is similar and even superior.
I use Jebao SlW-10/20 and Reefbreeders RPM instead of the other similar and higher priced pancake style wavemakers.
For return pumps, I use coralbox and Jebao DC return pumps.

 

[dz6t]

Except for heaters, I only trust and use Eheim glass heaters.

 

[ChrisV]

Except for heaters, I only trust and use Eheim glass heaters.

Is the Jebao slw-10 the same pump body as a Nero 3?

Interesting that you stick with eheim glass heaters. Do you prefer them over the titanium heaters as well, or only when compared to other glass heaters? I use the eheim in smaller tanks but have used finex titanium for larger tanks.