What were your biggest purchase mistakes?

DiverDude · #1 05-17-2011, 01:22 AM

For me it was buying a 28 Gal tank (with no sump and an HA problem). The rationale at the time was that it was small enough that if I totally screwed up, I couldn't kill as much as with a larger tank. While I've learned a lot from this tank, the biggest lesson was that 90 Gal -IMO- is the smallest tank a noob should get.

jon.smolders · #2 05-17-2011, 02:05 AM

When I first got into the hobby my filtration consisted of a Seaclone fluidized bed filter powered by a HOT Magnum canister filter. I supposed it worked ok... great mechanical and biological filtration, but it's no wonder I had hair algae problems!

viperfish · #3 05-17-2011, 04:21 AM

TEK Light Fixture has to be the most poorly built flimsy thing I've ever seen. The flimsy piece of acrylic that's a poor excuse for a bulb protector. The legs and hanging kit they charge you extra for... all crap.

UV Sterilizer Didn't do a damn thing.

Maxi Jet Sure Flow Mod Kit Crappy rattling POS... junk.

Skimz Skimmer First one arrived with a broken body. Second body had the holes in a totally different place so nothing on the first matched the second (without drilling). The pump sounded like a turbine running in my cabinet. In order to get it started I had to blow into the air line or all it would do is chug and rattle. It took two skimmer bodies and two pumps to get one working skimmer. It looked really cool in the pictures... that's about it.

zum14 · #4 05-17-2011, 05:36 AM

I bought a tank off kijiji. Fine right? Yaaa, pics looked good said id take it. Normally not a big deal, except this one was in kamloops. 5hrs away from my place. Got there. Looked at it, was super scratched. Terrible. Tanks sitting in my yard. Basically a sump now is all its good for. I did manage to get the price down simply because it was soo bad. Second time i tried this, was going to edm anyways so figured id snatch this good deal up and move into that one..... Advertised as a 120gal, got there, yaaa 90gal. Not as scratched but soon found out when doing the overflow that one side of the tank was laminated glass. Come on.... So needless to say i dont think i will be buying anymore used tanks (certain circumstances of course will demand leniency to this but rare none the less)

reefbyremote · #5 05-19-2011, 01:03 AM

Rod!?! And you sold me both the Teklight and the sterilizer!!

viperfish · #6 05-19-2011, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefbyremote

Rod!?! And you sold me both the Teklight and the sterilizer!!

... and you were happy with the fixture, it just didn't work for me. I had just bought it, it was on it's first set of bulbs, at half the price I paid, and in brand new condition you did get a good deal. There are lots out there that love their TEK light, so go with your own opinion. As for the UV I sold it to you and bought a larger one right after, again I had just bought it when I decided to go bigger, all together I went through three of the damn things and nothing. I have bought and sold lots of stuff in this hobby and I promise you I have been nothing but fair to everyone. Just because I don't like something, that doesn't mean it's no good, just no good for me.

ALang · #7 05-19-2011, 04:25 AM

Fair comment!
Selling off the equipment that's totally wrong for you but might just be the cat's meow to another is fine, as long as the equipment is described/disclosed in an honest fashion.
We are always buying into bigger and better stuff. Doesn't mean the used stuff is not good, just not good enough for your application at this point in time.

The Grizz · #8 05-19-2011, 01:40 AM

MAG 36 pump from a CanReef member from Ft Mac, impeller was seized into the pump. Once I got it out found the cover over the magnet was split and the magnet itself was broken into 3 pieces.