Why,...Are UV Sterilizers So Expensive ???

[427HISS]

I realize they can do a lot for help for fish only tanks as well as reef tanks, but why, are they so dang expensive ? ​

For my 125g plus sump etc.​

25w $450

I realize it depends on price and brand, as this is from only one retailer, but $450 then how many bulbs per year.....?

​

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Well, think about this: these are a niche market within a niche market. The manufacturer needs to recoup development costs, tooling & equipment costs, cover low-volume parts costs, and cover ongoing operation expenses, plus make a profit, enough to make it worthwhile. If you make something by the millions of units, you can make them inexpensive. If you make a few thousand of that same something, cost per unit goes way up.

 

[me & my baby]

Well, think about this: these are a niche market within a niche market. The manufacturer needs to recoup development costs, tooling & equipment costs, cover low-volume parts costs, and cover ongoing operation expenses, plus make a profit, enough to make it worthwhile. If you make something by the millions of units, you can make them inexpensive. If you make a few thousand of that same something, cost per unit goes way up.

I agree it’s a niche market but the coast I don’t . Most of the big names uv company’s have pretty much had the same design for over 20 years . It’s just like other things in this hobby . The item only worth what people are willing to pay .

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I agree it’s a niche market but the coast I don’t . Most of the big names uv company’s have pretty much had the same design for over 20 years . It’s just like other things in this hobby . The item only worth what people are willing to pay .

Yes. They will charge what the market will bear. If people stop buying them at that price, it will either come down or they will choose to get out of that market.

 

[me & my baby]

My guess would be the price would go down

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

My guess would be the price would go down

That's as valid a guess as any, but the sellers will optimize price per unit v. quantity demanded at that price. Outside of the sellers, no one has the information needed to reach the optimal conclusion.
Okay, which of you out there are going to stop buying these things at these prices so the rest of us can buy them at a lower price?

 

[me & my baby]

That’s what I was saying they are only priced at what people will pay .

 

[mcarroll]

I realize they can do a lot for help for fish only tanks as well as reef tanks, but why, are they so dang expensive ? ​

For my 125g plus sump etc.​

25w $450

I realize it depends on price and brand, as this is from only one retailer, but $450 then how many bulbs per year.....?

​

There are plenty of chinese UV filters for sale if you want to go cheap. Folks who don't care go that route all the time.

If you want a unit that's engineered by a company that builds them here so you can ask questions, get parts, etc., then the higher-dollar/higher quality units are worthwhile. Part of the cost of every unit is to support the orgniazation behind it – the retail cost does NOT represent just the cost of the parts. (Duh, right? )

The chinese units will have no such org to contact and their costs will be subsidized, so the retail price will be a lot lower....they are cheap and you are on your own with them, for better or worse.

Both routes can be acceptable options, depending on your situation.

I wouldn't be a sourpuss over the cost though....even if you don't like the chinese option for UV, consider micron filtration instead. I think most people should.

Micron filtration can do almost the same job (stop algae and disease swarmers from causing problems) and is probably cheaper to run overall. (Folks run UV+micron if they are REALLY serious about it.) I'd suggest ≤100µ at least...≤25µ optimally. (Sometimes you have a choice, sometimes the mfgr only has one option.....usually that one option is fine...eg. marineland.)

 

[BrettE]

I have a 57W Aqua Ultraviolet. The whole unit is about $700.

You can buy a 57W bulb and 57W power supply for about $300.

So the plastic housing adds... $400? That's nuts!

 

[Tcook]

I have a 57W Aqua Ultraviolet. The whole unit is about $700.

You can buy a 57W bulb and 57W power supply for about $300.

So the plastic housing adds... $400? That's nuts!

They also have a quartz sleeve and well designed seals. Last thing I would want to do is run an electric bulb in a homemade pipe filled with water.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I have a 57W Aqua Ultraviolet. The whole unit is about $700.

You can buy a 57W bulb and 57W power supply for about $300.

So the plastic housing adds... $400? That's nuts!

At least they don't apply the razor blade marketing strategy. They could give away the housing for free then charge $800 per bulb.

 

[BrettE]

They also have a quartz sleeve and well designed seals. Last thing I would want to do is run an electric bulb in a homemade pipe filled with water.

Quartz sleeve is another $60. I mean, at the end of the day, it costs what it costs. I just agree with OP: they're pretty expensive. Obviously they will charge whatever consumers are willing to pay. I just wish we were all a little less willing to pay

 

[Tcook]

Quartz sleeve is another $60. I mean, at the end of the day, it costs what it costs. I just agree with OP: they're pretty expensive. Obviously they will charge whatever consumers are willing to pay. I just wish we were all a little less willing to pay

Agree. One of those costly items. I have a 25 watt smart UV on my 120 and has done great for 7+ years.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I just wish we were all a little less willing to pay

If I may shamelessly quote myself:

Okay, which of you out there are going to stop buying these things at these prices so the rest of us can buy them at a lower price?

Maybe we hoi polloi should form a reefer's union.

 

[Idech]

I realize it depends on price and brand, as this is from only one retailer, but $450 then how many bulbs per year.....?

For Aqua UV a bulb will last 14 months of use.

 

[mcarroll]

For Aqua UV a bulb will last 14 months of use.

Good point.

Not everyone needs 24/7/365 UV filtration, so maybe it's also worth adding that this is 14 months of actual usage....not that the bulbs expire in 14 months.

So if you run it for 6 months while you add fish, then remove it from service when you're done, there is still 6+ months worth of usage left on the bulb for "next time."

 

[Freenow54]

I realize they can do a lot for help for fish only tanks as well as reef tanks, but why, are they so dang expensive ? ​

For my 125g plus sump etc.​

25w $450

I realize it depends on price and brand, as this is from only one retailer, but $450 then how many bulbs per year.....?

​

one a year recommended

 

[427HISS]

Well, think about this: these are a niche market within a niche market. The manufacturer needs to recoup development costs, tooling & equipment costs, cover low-volume parts costs, and cover ongoing operation expenses, plus make a profit, enough to make it worthwhile. If you make something by the millions of units, you can make them inexpensive. If you make a few thousand of that same something, cost per unit goes way up.

Yeah, but,...but,...but....... If people continue to pay the price, why lower them. Like everything else.

 

[427HISS]

There are plenty of chinese UV filters for sale if you want to go cheap. Folks who don't care go that route all the time.

If you want a unit that's engineered by a company that builds them here so you can ask questions, get parts, etc., then the higher-dollar/higher quality units are worthwhile. Part of the cost of every unit is to support the orgniazation behind it – the retail cost does NOT represent just the cost of the parts. (Duh, right? )

The chinese units will have no such org to contact and their costs will be subsidized, so the retail price will be a lot lower....they are cheap and you are on your own with them, for better or worse.

Both routes can be acceptable options, depending on your situation.

I wouldn't be a sourpuss over the cost though....even if you don't like the chinese option for UV, consider micron filtration instead. I think most people should.

Micron filtration can do almost the same job (stop algae and disease swarmers from causing problems) and is probably cheaper to run overall. (Folks run UV+micron if they are REALLY serious about it.) I'd suggest ≤100µ at least...≤25µ optimally. (Sometimes you have a choice, sometimes the mfgr only has one option.....usually that one option is fine...eg. marineland.)

Can you paste a link to which micron filter so I know what you mean ?

 

[427HISS]

I have a 57W Aqua Ultraviolet. The whole unit is about $700.

You can buy a 57W bulb and 57W power supply for about $300.

So the plastic housing adds... $400? That's nuts!

OUCH ! eek....