Equipment reliability

[Steve27]

I have the following and have found them to be solid, easy to use, and reliable (2 yrs in):

IM Helio heaters
Ultra Reef Akula Skimmer (sicce pump)
Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon return pump
Tunze Osmolator ATO

 

[tee89]

Most reliable heater - Very underrated in the saltwater scene but the Fluval E-Series heaters have been excellent, using them for over 3 years both in freshwater and saltwater.
Most reliable ATO - Tunze Osmolator without a doubt
Most reliable return pumps - Sicce pumps

Worst - Autoaqua Duetto ATO nightmare of a product

 

[vetteguy53081]

Most reliable heater - Very underrated in the saltwater scene but the Fluval E-Series heaters have been excellent, using them for over 3 years both in freshwater and saltwater.
Most reliable ATO - Tunze Osmolator without a doubt
Most reliable return pumps - Sicce pumps

Worst - Autoaqua Duetto ATO nightmare of a product

sicce has come a long way

 

[DIYreefer]

I've got an old blue box mp20 (for all the newer reefers, mp20 was the "smaller" option prior to the mp10) that is still running as I type this out. It's been going strong for a solid 15 years, no issues. I had another one but traded it back to ecotech for a new mp40qd. They didn't even have an mp20 anymore, and wanted it for nostalgia I suppose. I ran the mp40 for about a week before I decided to trade it for a few frags, lol. I guess I just like my old stuff better. :)

I've also got a working blue box mp10 but it isn't currently in use.

 

[Sleepingtiger]

Worst - jebao wavemakers and dc pumps. Power supply just crappy. Constant failure

Tunze ATO pumps. Two failed within a yr. Just plain RODI water and they fail

Best - Ecotech mp40 - haven’t had one failed and I had well over 8 of them

Oceanic aquariums. These things are beast. Never heard of one busting at the seems.

 

[ceaver]

Tunze nano ATO was a problem for me. They replaced my pump for free when it failed, but still not a fan. Replaced it with AutoAqua nano ATO and couldn't be happier.

Got a MaxxSpect Jump DC return pump, it's been great. Also have ecotech powerheads and they've been good. I've had huge issue with the AI Nero 3s thoug. After a while they just seize, can't be fixed and have to be sent in and replaced. AI has been great about replacing them, but it's still a hassle.

I've used AI and Radion lights and they've been solid, though I argue the new radions have too much spread at the expense of PAR penetration. Went and found a used G4 xr30.

I got a Magtool nano skimmer for my tank (IM40) and it has worked great.

Lastly, Hanna checkers are good for the ones that use powdered reagent in sachets. But beware the ones that use liquid reagent in dropper bottles (pH, alk)!! They spoil quickly and you can accidentally nuke your tank!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Worst - jebao wavemakers and dc pumps. Power supply just crappy. Constant failure

Tunze ATO pumps. Two failed within a yr. Just plain RODI water and they fail

Best - Ecotech mp40 - haven’t had one failed and I had well over 8 of them

Oceanic aquariums. These things are beast. Never heard of one busting at the seems.

I just sold oceanic which is rugged and sealed well. I forgot old ecotech were blue box with turn dial

 

[Theodin]

I’ve had the same Eheim Jager heater for 14 years now.. still going strong. It’s paired with a similarly old and reliable inkbird controller.

 

[Dburr1014]

My sicce syncra sdc 9.0 is 5.5 years old.
I've cleaned it twice and it still had been flawless.

 

[Harpo]

Best: Ranco controllers, tunzie & Royal Exclusic

Worst: mag drive pumps

 

[-XENOMORPH-]

Best so far- AI Primes, Reef Octo 110-sss skimmer, Nero 5... all are 2 to 3 years old and I have had zero issues as advertised.

Worst-- USELESS.....GARBAGE---Green Killing Machine , UV.....AA GKM24W Internal UV for Aquariums up to 120Ga,Black

 

[newbie2014]

Can’t vouch for “long-term” reliability, I’ve only been in the hobby for <10 yrs. 95% of my equipments are top-tier second-hands; used by previous owners for <1 yrs. My Tunze ATO is the previous version and still ticking, even though for the first 6 years the sensor was put in the display tank and exposed to surface scum and wrapped up with coralline algae (I was running sump-less). One of my Vortech MP10 is from 2016, and still running nice and quiet. My vectra S1 also has not skipped a beat (knock on wood). Last Black Friday I bought a brand new Vectra S2 for backup.

While they are not the best of the bests, I like the Vortech and Vectra for their ease of maintenance. And I only need to clean them once every 6 months.

 

[xiaoxiy]

Sicce sdc/adv pumps are fairly reliable. I’ve had mine for over three years and I rarely service it.

 

[Bruttall]

The single most reliable piece of equipment I own is also the most important to my Reef, I have a 30+ year old Oceanic Aquarium that has really stood the test of time.

Other equipment is a 5yr old Ecotech L1 return
The rest of my stuff is pretty new, Eshopps af400 fuge sump
Reefi-Labs uno 2.0 lights
ConeS Q-3 Skimmer.
Pair of Maxspect Gyre 350's
Pair of Vortech MP40's
Eco Chic refugium LED Light

 

[Karliefish]

My Abyzz 200 return pumps are the workhorses of my tank. They just keeping going without any hiccups. The benefits of Germany engineering and yes at a cost, but if I add up the corals and fish cost these two pumps are a darn good investment for peace-of-mind,

 

[JGT]

Sicce return pump, Tunze ATO, Inkbird Temp controller. Set and forget.

 

[flashsmith]

Here's some hard truth. Equipment only lasts while it's maintained. I've never really had any issues with reef equipment and when I did admittedly I was to blame for my lack of maintenance. I own a service type business and lots of high end equipment. If I don't maintain it I'll be spending money to repair it. When I go to a customer with issues 9 out of 10 times the issue can be related directly to neglect and a run it till it breaks mentality. That's why when I see threads here of people trashing equipment I get riled up. Operator error is often never admitted and it's always the companies fault. Which is almost always not the case at all. Operator error is the number one issue when it comes to equipment. Not cleaning pumps or blowing out light fans occasionally. Not cleaning salt creep.Scraping too close to seams causing failures etc..

 

[exnisstech]

Most of my stuff has all been pretty good except power heads. Tunze has been bullet proof for years. Vortechs eh I've have had to replace a dry side and one wet side (I have 5) but karalia hydor absolute garbage unless you like to get lit up when touching the water. I have gone through 7 of them as they are what I started with. Every one started leaking electricity even the newer style. I've measured voltage as high as 50 volts in the water from those things.

 

[Dburr1014]

Most of my stuff has all been pretty good except power heads. Tunze has been bullet proof for years. Vortechs eh I've have had to replace a dry side and one wet side (I have 5) but karalia hydor absolute garbage unless you like to get lit up when touching the water. I have gone through 7 of them as they are what I started with. Every one started leaking electricity even the newer style. I've measured voltage as high as 50 volts in the water from those things.

I had a couple hydor, both leaked current. I used one just to mix salt for a couple years. Last week had to throw it away. It stopped working and started smoking. Glad I had just dropped it in and was there.

 

[newbie2014]

I had a couple hydor, both leaked current. I used one just to mix salt for a couple years. Last week had to throw it away. It stopped working and started smoking. Glad I had just dropped it in and was there.

Oh, dang. I have an old (6+ yrs) nano 240 in the sump to help mix the additive. Wonder if I should take it out?