Jason - holy crap you've sh**y luck!
I know what you mean though, you pay good money & you expect quality in return, unfortunately this is too often not the case...
I for one research most everything I buy, read the forums here and on RC to see what others success has been and try to get feedback about various manufacturers and retailers. Even doing all that, I have had my share of duds too, but have also come to expect it at times.
In designing my system, I have, (touch wood), made as many things as I can to be assumed to fail at some time or another...
Circulation pumps in the main tank are on separate circuits so even if I have a blown fuse, the water keeps moving... Same goes for the sump, so even if the main pump fails I don't have to worry about water quickly stagnating. Same goes with the lights. Auto top off is limited to a 7 gallon jug fed through a Kent float valve. I keep an extra float valve & change them out once a month, soaking the most recently used one in vinegar to keep them clean & free of calcium deposits as I run top off through a Kalkreactor. Even if the float switch fails, (happened!
), 7 gallons, even running through the Kalkreactor, doesn't affect the salinity or pH enough to harm anything. My skimmer has a pressurized collection cup to prevent overflows, and I have seen this work practically as well... *whew*...
I, like you, spend a lot of time with my tank, and try to stay on top of things but the real key is just to expect equipment failures, and try to see in advance what the effects will be if you aren't around to minimize damage and/or loss of life... What's up with your Neptune? That unit has some real neat features to combat heat issues... I know my Solar 1000 and X-10 have been a little buggy too... but nothing to throw it against the wall over...
