The opportunity cost of one Vortech MP60 - Greed in the aquarium hobby. Apex & Vortech & More

[Fish_Sticks]

Im not the one flexing powerhead purchases in a thread about price gouging. Quit trolling.

 

[TheHarold]

Im not the one flexing powerhead purchases in a thread about price gouging. Quit trolling.

Actually not flexing- this is a single powerhead... flexing would be showing a closet full of boxes. Which is available upon request!

But here’s the thing. Your thread never made sense. You are complaining about the price and quality.... yet nobody ever said you had to get one. You can use whatever equipment you want, as can I.

It’s not price gouging if there are alternatives available. Price gouging implies there is something unethical going on- like raising prices on something that someone NEEDS to survive.

An expensive product does not mean price gouging is going on. Or do you make threads on Ferrari and Apple forums complaining about prices as well?

TL, DR;

“Price gouging” does not refer to anything that you cannot afford. There are dozens of cheaper alternatives- and given how much you dislike Ecotech, I would suggest you shop elsewhere!

 

[Saveafish]

I dont have to pinny pinch. Im 24 and my house is paid off. Its paid off cause I dont pay 700$ for powerheads.

I guess you Won't be getting the last Abyss pump than.

 

[TheHarold]

I guess you Won't be getting the last Abyss pump than.

Funny you mention return pumps. To me, Ecotech return pumps are absolutly not worth it— my $100 Jebao does the same thing. I just like Vortechs and Radions, which, in my opinion, not to offend anyone, are worth it.

 

[Potatohead]

Can buy a pc battery backup on ebay for 40$ lol. keep wasting your money dude.

Which is meant to drive an AC component, not a DC one, and it doesn't last three days.

 

[Oshengems]

The things you see in this hobby lol this has been entertaining at least

 

[Fish_Sticks]

Im glad the same 3 people are entertained and keep coming back to press their opinion and repeat themselves 5 and 6 times. Meanwhile thousands have viewed the thread and a handful have provided good discussion on why they beleive the price gouging could be justified.

 

[VR28man]

I use MP40s and jebaos for pumps.

I went with the MP40s because of the software programmed in, allowing RF communication, variable speed modes (tidal swell for me) and anti-sync capability. Some people like the magnet being outside the tank as well. The software capabilities programmed into all the pumps is quite valuable IMO. The software interface (either via the native pumps or the reeflink) isn't that great. Honestly, if you're getting it just as a wavemaker and won't use the programmable multi-pump features, I don't think it's worth it.

The same things are possible with Jebaos but the firmware does not support it. I suppose I could hack it in, either via apex or some other controller. (ETA: the sine wave function and random mode on the jebao controllers are probably roughly equivalent to lagoon and reef crest modes) At some point I am going to buy a backup jebao as insurance, and just swap it once a pump really dies.

My impression is that Jebao is just the brand name, used by the factory that makes hydor and other brands of pumps, to market its own knockoffs. I think cloning a remotely reliable MP40 would be very hard at a decent price point, as I don't see even in China (where IP law and copyright is nonexistent) anyone making true MP40 knockoffs.

All that said, it's a completely free market, no one forces one to buy one brand or another. Insults against any brand are uncalled for.

 

[Oshengems]

Again it’s called a choice, I’m at work bored bro I’m just trolling but again it’s a choice how you do a post to rip the price of something you “don’t want” lol

 

[Stanzo13]

Good to mention I did end up buying the flipper glass cleaner as it seemed like a simply superior quality all though more expensive than other scrapers/scrubbers. Also fair to mention that's comparing $10 to $40 not $60 to $300

 

[topjimmy]

Buy used. I have two mp 10s in my 65 that I bought for $50 each. Lot of people jump into the hobby buy the must have best,then find that they don't have the time or patience for it.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

This gets weirder, ecotech has a parent company that is the same as one of the later Neptune systems shell corps I found.

Registered Agent Information is not ownership. You may pay a company to register your company. Delaware has their incorporation laws favorable towards businesses.

 

[Fish_Sticks]

So now these things at 700$. LOL
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vortech-mp60wqd-ecotech-marine.html

There must be some crazy inflation going on.

 

[ca1ore]

Naah, almost certainly tariff related. Seeing this across a broad spectrum of products. It’s been a while since there was any kind of price increase on these.

 

[Conor_K]

Naah, almost certainly tariff related. Seeing this across a broad spectrum of products. It’s been a while since there was any kind of price increase on these. So I bought two .....

My thoughts exactly. I have been dealing with this for the past 6 months in the electronics field i work in.

 

[ca1ore]

Took advantage of the price increase and picked up a couple of additional MP60. Hmmn, maybe I should have done that before the change - ah, what the heck, If I’m going to get screwed over, I want to get really screwed over .....

 

[Broadwave]

I totally agree with you... I get aggravated specifically with corals being labeled "Aussie" and charging 200% more than they should cost... Are there corals that are from Australia, of course there are but I personally don't believe every other coral being sold today is "Aussie". Especially when I recently went to my local LFS and they were trying to push "Aussie" Green Star polyps for $129 which clearly proved to me this whole "Aussie" labeled corals is all nonsense.

 

[Fish_Sticks]

I totally agree with you... I get aggravated specifically with corals being labeled "Aussie" and charging 200% more than they should cost... Are there corals that are from Australia, of course there are but I personally don't believe every other coral being sold today is "Aussie". Especially when I recently went to my local LFS and they were trying to push "Aussie" Green Star polyps for $129 which clearly proved to me this whole "Aussie" labeled corals is all nonsense.

If somebody wants to pay 130 for gsp, I might just be a billionaire

 

[ca1ore]

I totally agree with you... I get aggravated specifically with corals being labeled "Aussie" and charging 200% more than they should cost... Are there corals that are from Australia, of course there are but I personally don't believe every other coral being sold today is "Aussie". Especially when I recently went to my local LFS and they were trying to push "Aussie" Green Star polyps for $129 which clearly proved to me this whole "Aussie" labeled corals is all nonsense.

Seem to recall GSP when diving on the Great Barrier Reef so I’m unsure of your point? With the various collecting bans of recent vintage, AUS has been a popular source. No conspiracy.

 

[Broadwave]

Seem to recall GSP when diving on the Great Barrier Reef so I’m unsure of your point? With the various collecting bans of recent vintage, AUS has been a popular source. No conspiracy.

Glad you were able to dive the Great Barrier Reef, must have been an excellent experience as most people don't get to experience that.

I'm pretty sure GSP is know to grow in other parts of the indo-pacific ocean besides GBR. The point is, unless the coral vendors can verify the coral actually came from Australia, they really shouldn't be labeling as such and jacking the prices up.