What makes that $$$$ piece of equipment better than the $$ one?

[ScubaSkeets]

The saying goes "you get what you pay for", but is that always true? All of my equipment in my tank are the cheaper brands, mostly purchased from Amazon (Hygger, Jaebo, MagTool) and with the exception of one heater going bad after more than a year, everything else has done me well (so far).
You can find even the lower priced stuff (for example a Hygger WaveMaker at $80) that seem to have at least MOST of the bells and whistles that the higher, $250-$350, wavemakers have. (BRS even sells one for $880!)
Obviously, a $30 AC wavemaker isn't going to compare to a DC controllable one, but comparing apples to apples, what makes a $$$$ item better than a $$ item?
Quality of build? Could be. But from what I read or hear, higher priced things fail almost at the same rate as lower priced ones.

It's your money. Spend it however you want. I'm just wondering why buy something for $$$$ when you can when you can buy something (almost?) just as good for $-$$?

 

[Readywriter]

Can you really put a price on hype? To me its one thing if money isnt an issue, you dont need a ferrari but why not if you got the cash? But where money isnt falling from trees the most common logic I read is "you need to buy the $800 one because if you buy the $80 one you might have to replace it in a year" like "if you spend $200 on a t5 system instead of $2000 on leds you are going to wind up having to buy $25 light bulbs every 12 months!11@!1!!!"

Lol.

 

[Chrisv.]

It's often the case that the more expensive gear is more controllable. To each their own, but after almost 30 years of reefing, I've given up on cheap gear. If I want to save a little money I buy nice gear second hand. The hobby has a revolving door and there is always fantastic used stuff to be purchased.

Buy once, cry once.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Cost does not always equate to value or features, but far more often than not there is correlation. You as the purchaser are the only one that can assign value criteria and/or set your limits, expectations and points of diminished return.

 

[Readywriter]

More controllable is one thing. But thats not always the case. More often the case is the method of control is more appealing and even then not by much. As far as things failing in my 30 years of keeping fish the only equipment Ive ever had fail, outside of something like a pump needing a new impeller after years of use, were those crap department store type power filters.

 

[Chrisv.]

More controllable is one thing. But thats not always the case. More often the case is the method of control is more appealing and even then not by much. As far as things failing in my 30 years of keeping fish the only equipment Ive ever had fail, outside of something like a pump needing a new impeller after years of use, were those crap department store type power filters.

Take the fancy LED vs the t5 example you posted about. The LED can be tuned to an almost infinite array of spectra and intensity, can be controlled remotely, and can be integrated into the control ecosystem that all the other tank gadgets use.

Now, frankly I prefer metal halides myself, but even I am impressed by the crazy features on the new high end led lights.

None of the fancy things are NEEDED but they often make the hobby easier.

 

[VintageReefer]

I have a name brand pricy dc return pump. I almost don’t want to post it because I’m ashamed how much I spent

Well here it is


The Uniclife Dep4000 ! I call it the Derp4000!

I paid a whopping $72.96 for it in 2017 and it has worked flawlessly 24/7 since. Digital controller with real-time wattage display, 100 yes 100 levels of output control, feed mode. It came in Porsche Blue. No fancy apps or anything to connect to. I only need to use it on level 35-40 on my 75g tank. It’s silent and as quiet as it was the day I got it. I’ve cleaned it….1 time since 2017

 

[JoJosReef]

As stated earlier, price doesn't equal quality. If it's too good to be true, you'll notice why when you get it. Worth keeping an eye out for quality at a fair price. Noopsyche lights are an example. Not the most amazing app or connectivity, but so far the lights themselves seem very well made and give off a great spectrum that my corals and nems seem to appreciate.

 

[Readywriter]

Take the fancy LED vs the t5 example you posted about. The LED can be tuned to an almost infinite array of spectra and intensity, can be controlled remotely, and can be integrated into the control ecosystem that all the other tank gadgets use.

Now, frankly I prefer metal halides myself, but even I am impressed by the crazy features on the new high end led lights.

None of the fancy things are NEEDED but they often make the hobby easier.

Yes, I agree. Led's can do some pretty cool things and the ability to fine tune lighting to exactly what you want is one of them. Personally I dont like them enough to spend the money but I will admit they are neat. The point I was trying to make is when someone looking into starting their first reef reads many people saying "you'll fail if you dont get the stuff you cant afford"

 

[VintageReefer]

For my 15g nano I used a aqua knight led on a gooseneck, I forget the model and I had exceptional growth. I got picky and wanted “more control” and got an AI Prime 16hd.

What a mistake. I hate this thing. Like yea it works. And it melted its own lens and has molten drip marks forever with no channel ever going over 40%. Then the fans started buzzing and still do.

I swear my growth was better with the aqua knight and it never had lens or fan issues. Yea I have better control and like the app, but the led itself is cheaper quality. All plastic with cheap internals compared to all metal and durable components.

 

[JC1977]

I firmly believe in the mantra “buy once cry once” because more times than not it is true however there are always exceptions. I finally decided to ditch my trusty mag drive ac pumps on my new build and try DC pumps. While I looked at all the fancy name brand pumps I kept seeing people rave about Jaebo even though they were much cheaper. I rolled the dice and have been pleasantly surprised with them and saved a good chunk of $$ to buy other things that I didn’t want to skimp on.

 

[VintageReefer]

I firmly believe in the mantra “buy once cry once” because more times than not it is true however there are always exceptions. I finally decided to ditch my trusty mag drive ac pumps on my new build and try DC pumps. While I looked at all the fancy name brand pumps I kept seeing people rave about Jaebo even though they were much cheaper. I rolled the dice and have been pleasantly surprised with them and saved a good chunk of $$ to buy other things that I didn’t want to skimp on.

That same thing happened to me years ago. My expensive mag drive 7 was almost 200$ and had zero features and died from swollen magnet after 2-3 years. I coughed up 180$ and replaced it and that one lasted 2-3 years. I got fed up and cheap Dc pumps were entering the market and I bought a jebao Dc3000 in 2014, for 80$ and figure if it lasts a year or two I get my monies worth. That lasted 3.5 years and was less than half the price of the mag drives. Then I got the uniclife and have an incredible 6+ years for 80$

 

[VintageReefer]

I replaced 716w of halide and t5 back in 2013 with reefbreeders leds on my sps reef and was blown away. I’ve bought a photon 48, photon 32, and a photon 48v2+ from them. I swear by them and it’s a quality product from a middle of the price range company that delivers exceptional performance and build quality

I have all of them and while the older ones are in storage I refuse to sell them, they worked great for me and still work if I had a need to use them

 

[Roatan Reef]

I firmly believe in the mantra “buy once cry once” because more times than not it is true however there are always exceptions. I finally decided to ditch my trusty mag drive ac pumps on my new build and try DC pumps. While I looked at all the fancy name brand pumps I kept seeing people rave about Jaebo even though they were much cheaper. I rolled the dice and have been pleasantly surprised with them and saved a good chunk of $$ to buy other things that I didn’t want to skimp on.

Yep, I regret buying my Reef Wave 25 from Red Sea for $329.00 ...should have went with the Jebao, I have it cranked up all the way in a 40GB tank and Still need to use one of my other wave makers....I could have bought the Jebao for a fraction of the price....but...but...but I wAnTeD tO HaVE ApP COnTroLZ guyzM!!...totally don't even need it


Here's another secret...Red Sea Reef Wave....is made in China!...probably same factory as Jebao!

 

[Formulator]

Red Sea is a fantastic example of $$$$ does not always equal quality. Not saying all of their stuff is bad, and I actually have their reef mat. They are kind of like the 90’s-2000’s cadillac of reefing - cheap plastic parts with a shiny badge to make sure everyone knows about your 6-figure income…

That said, there are a few things that I pay a premium for, knowing the quality difference and understanding the cost of failure for any of them. These are: light bulbs (especially MH), heaters, and controllers/probes/thermostats. I do also love my maxspect gyres, but I consider them a luxury and couldn’t afford them until later in my reefing journey.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Well when you have a patent, the higher price tag of the eco tech MPs of no wires in the tank are worth it. If they don’t renew the patent that will be a different story.

 

[X-37B]

I go with good equipment as a rule 90% of the time.
I have run Jebao powerheads and they have worked well over the years. I still use them.
Go to brand for me has always been Tunze.
Tunze skimmers, powerheads,
Return pumps,
I run a geo 818 and like their equipment.
Aqualogic temp controler.
Sea Sweeps.
Avast ozone reactor.
Radions.
Reeef Breeders.
I have never used a controller.

Most of my equipment is on the high end although many are used units. Quality equipment will last for years if maintained.

I have been around long enough, 30+, to appreciate good, although sometimes expensive, equipment.

I have always had a rule of keeping spares of everything and still do.

Although, if you have a plan from the start and know how to maintain a system you can make any brand power your reef.

 

[reefsaver]

For me I bought Radion G6 lights.
It helps way more than I even considered it would. The full spectrum it provides gives me peace of mind that the coral is all getting the appropriate recources it needs from it's lighting.
As we all have heard 1000x the Coral's Zooxanthellae algae that resides in their bodies photosynthesizes to produce sugars and foods for the coral to use to survive. And I feel like the G6 really helps me provide that in the most efficient way.

 

[MoshJosh]

Sometimes you are paying for:

higher quality
more features
connectivity with other devices
brand name
hype

Also sometimes you are paying more for "moral" reasons (probably not the right word). I have seen some people refuse to buy "knock off" brands as they feel they are stealing other peoples ideas. . . or wanting to buy things from US (or insert your country here) companies.