I just want to add that I've usually been the type to happily buy Chinese knock-offs, DIY, Amazon, Home Depot as much as possible in the past due to being on a limited (read:small) budget. I've actually been pretty successful not ever having a tank crash etc.
Recently, after getting a new job with much higher pay, I thought I'd finally buy some name brand stuff and support a popular online vendor and manufacturer. I bought an IceCap Gyre 3k from them and guess what: the thing was defective straight out of the box!!! Made a super loud whining noise at any power setting. Then I get the run-around from the vendor, then the manufacturer, they want me to jump through a dozen hoops, doing everything they can to NOT give me a refund and return the defective product. Then they have the nerve to charge me a restock fee for a defective item after much stress and back and forth.
The point is, price and name brands don't mean jack **** and my experience and the many documented threads on this forum of people with defective expensive name brand products back that up. The hobby is packed with overpriced, often defective, junk on all sides. Price has no correlation with quality in many cases. Also, equipment has little do with a successful reef tank. The things are only tools and they have to be backed up with knowledge and consistent maintenance/care.
Recently, after getting a new job with much higher pay, I thought I'd finally buy some name brand stuff and support a popular online vendor and manufacturer. I bought an IceCap Gyre 3k from them and guess what: the thing was defective straight out of the box!!! Made a super loud whining noise at any power setting. Then I get the run-around from the vendor, then the manufacturer, they want me to jump through a dozen hoops, doing everything they can to NOT give me a refund and return the defective product. Then they have the nerve to charge me a restock fee for a defective item after much stress and back and forth.
The point is, price and name brands don't mean jack **** and my experience and the many documented threads on this forum of people with defective expensive name brand products back that up. The hobby is packed with overpriced, often defective, junk on all sides. Price has no correlation with quality in many cases. Also, equipment has little do with a successful reef tank. The things are only tools and they have to be backed up with knowledge and consistent maintenance/care.

But I also teach college and am acutely aware that everyone is in a different stage in life. Varietion in ideas and experimenting can only improve knowledge. Even if it’s a failure, at least we know what NOT to do.

