I work in the computer business where parts are very reliable and generally work for a long time. (I'm not talking about software). So far, I'm very disappointed in the quality of equipment received for my new tank which has only been up since Jan 27, 2007: - One of my MHs is out, not sure if Phoenix bulb or ARO ballast is the problem. - Euro-Reef Gen-X pump is getting an impeller assembly replacement because of loud noises. - Reefkeeper 2 controller pH probe port was DOA and it took two weeks for replacement. Why is the poor quality control of expensive stuff in this hobby accepted? Am I the only one having these problems? I think the DIY culture has caused the manufacturers to be lazy and expect the consumers to fix the problems and improve the products themselves.
The only problem I see with the manufacturers are typically when you are trying to get your product out there and get people to buy it in this already EXPENSIVE hobby, is to try and cut costs anyway you can so someone will buy it. I can say I cut corners in things I make too because I want to have money left over to spend on the stuff I want... awesome livestock. For example, the piping in my tank that is 1" or less is THIN wall PVC because it is cheaper and I know I can get away with that for the tank because it is low pressure. One thing about the Gen-X pumps, I thought about getting one for a return pump, but I did some reading on them first because it was so cheap for the flow it produced. I read about impeller housings cracking, the coils not being epoxy coated with just a cap glued to the end and suddenly one day the glue gives way and the copper is exposed to SW and then everything dies from copper poisoning. I mentioned this to the guys at Euroreef and they sad that the Gen-x's were better now, but I am still a little leery. Anyway, that is my two cents.
I don't understand why Euro-Reef who sells a premium-priced product would include a Gen-X pump that is as noisy as *bleep*. It's like putting a caterpiller diesel in a Lexus -- sure, it'll perform well but no one would put up with the noise. On their RC series skimmers, they are using Eheim pumps for recirculation within the skimmer. They are EXTREMELY quiet. The one Gen-X pump on my skimmer completely drowns out the noise from my two Eheim return pumps. They now have needlewheel Eheims available as replacements for the Gen-X pumps but I don't want to spend another $250 on a brand-new skimmer pump that should have been good quality out of the box.
The Euro-Reef SP4 and SP5 are both Gen-X. The Sp2 and SP3 are Sedras. I'm guessing either Sedra doesn't make one with the higher flow or they are too expensive.
They say problems come in three's - so you should be good to go now. I now how much research that you do before purchasing a product which makes it all the more frustrating when things don't work for whatever reason. I can tell you that Hello Lights no longer offers the packaged halides that you got at MACNA. I couldn't get them a week after we got back and they have never reoffered it. They claimed that it was because they couldn't get the reflectors any more, which was disappointing. I do want to warn you, after talking with Norman today that you may experience problems with powerhead impeller failures (breaking) when you use them in conjuction with your wavemaker. I stopped using powerheads several years ago because I could not find a reliable brand that could handle the constanat starting and stopping. Norman is finding this out as well. I hope you don't experience any problems.
Isn't Most of the noice you are hearing due to the fact that you are injecting air into the pump. Even a maxijet makes a huge racket once you start using the adaptor that inject air.
I wish it was only an air sucking noise. The dang pump is loud and at times it makes a loud kid-on-a-french-horn waaaaaaaahhhh noise. Euro-Reef is sending me a new impeller assembly that I hope fixes it.
Check this out: http://www.hellolights.com/25hlmhrekith.html I've decided not to use the Koralia powerheads with the wavemaker. Which pumps are you using on your big tank with the wavemaker?
I meant the noice of the actual pump, not the sucking. When a venturi is placed prior to the pump like in a needlewheel setup the air entering the pump chamber causes lots of pump noise due to the pressure fluctuations from the air entering the chamber. For example take a maxi-jet, in a tank it is quiet as can be, but on a seaclone skimmer it puts out a bunch of noise, most of it having nothing to do with the actal air sucking.
Ahh...I understand now. At this point, Euro-Reef thinks a new impeller assembly will help the noise level although they did say the Gen-X will never be as quiet as an Eheim.
BEWARE - THIS THREAD IS BAD LUCK!!! After offering my sympathy to Jaysuncle and pondering my recent run of good luck without equipment failure and a fleating sigh of relief was followed the next day with a sick Ocean Runner pump on my new Reef Splash II protein skimmer. The magnetic drive pump is brand new and has a problem starting like alot of pumps. I did my research, just like Joe does, and still when it came time to set things up I was disappointed in the performance. Alot of my problem is that by the time I get everything together to complete a project it has been several months since I purchased the item and difficult to return (much less a pain in the rear). That afternoon a package came in the mail from Hello Lights. When Joe purchased his halides at the MACNA conference last year he got the last two that they had. When I tried to purchase the setup a week later they weren't available. I checked back a month later and was told that they could no longer get the reflectors and the package would not be offered. Now 6 months later the 250watt halide unit shows up at my door. I have long since purchased another light to go where the one from Hello Lights was supposed to go. I am by no means upset that I recieved the deal that I was after - just that it was 6 months late. There is alot to be said for buying from your Local Fish Stores.
When it rains, it pours. Last night Randy and I were troubleshooting the MH problem. The ballast was humming so according to Hello Lights, it should've been working. We removed the questionable bulb to try it in the other fixture. While trying to get the good bulb out, it broke. Luckily, we were smart enough to have removed the canopy and the glass went on the floor and not in the tank. After cleaning up, we inserted the questionable bulb into the fixture and it fired right up. So it looks like the other ballast is bad. Lessons learned: - Always remove the canopy when changing bulbs. - Don't try to remove good bulbs without a good reason. Oh well...
Got a replacement lamp last week and it wouldn't light up. Called HelloLights and they sent a new ballast. Installed it today and everything's working...finally. I now have 720W in the tank with 500W of MH and 220W VHO. Euro-Reef sent me a new pump. It has a new impeller design which should be quieter. So far it's no quieter but the bubbles do seem finer. We'll see how it goes.
