Mako Shark II
Fish are Friends not Food
Okay Folks â€"œ
I now know more about Sea-Swirls than I bargined for, as a result of buying a "Used surplus" unit. (Aircraft part terminology is used throughout this posting.)
Background:
I bought an older, but used (Serviceable) unit (mine was the bigger 1†size) from someone, but then it had failed (electrically), but I didn’t sweat it because I understand, “you get what you pay forâ€Â, so… “It is what it isâ€Â.
I tore the unit apart and realized it was a “wipe out†and I couldn’t do it myself, with local parts. But because of the low price point I originally got into the older used unit for, it was not B.E.R. (Beyond Economical Repair). It just needed to be re-built. So I shipped this old Sea-Swirl I had purchased, back to the OEM for a Factory Overhaul.
After talking extensively with the owner of Sea-Swirl, and it’s really interesting how much I’ve learned about this little company & their units!!!!
Anyway, the bottom-line is this:
If you’re NOT going to buy a $249 Factory New Unit direct from the OEM, or a $235 unit (online from vendors like Marine Depot), or a like $225 unit discounted from a LFS, you’re really better off NOT buying a (time-continued) Used Serviceable unit, unless you’re like me and expect to have it (“re-taggedâ€Â) that is, Overhauled for the buying a “Repairable Core†unit.
OEM Comments:
“Generally, Swirls last an average of four years with some failing in less time and some more. If under the proper conditions we have had customers report 6 to 7 years. These people say they purchased, installed to our strict instructions, operated the unit 24/7/365 and basically never touched it! As far as a second unit we have ''Scratch & Dent'' units we sell for $179.00. These units are brand new, but the outer box has chips in the area where the top and bottom halves meet, but you can't see inside.â€Â
Rather than use Koralia’s and other like wave-makers, I’m really more into a concealed look with a Closed Loop pump, so I will BUY another Sea-Swirl at some point once I upgrade my Main system Pump
Aquarium Currents, Inc.
443 Waterford Dr.
Georgetown, SC 29440
Phone (843) 546-0431
Fax (843) 520-4313
Eddie & Cindy Schleinkofer
Links:
OEM Link
How to Order
Moral:
The moral of the Story is this - In the end, I was able to buy a Core Unit & get it Overhauled more cost-effectively, than buying a New Unit, but it was a hassle.
Next time, I'm just buying my next one Factory Direct â€"œ as a Reconditioned unit, or a Scratch & Dented one.
Unless YOU are willing to work for "it" (the "hassle factor"), you might just find that all things being equaly, you might be farther ahead to just bite the bullet and buy a New one from the LFS.
I now know more about Sea-Swirls than I bargined for, as a result of buying a "Used surplus" unit. (Aircraft part terminology is used throughout this posting.)
Background:
I bought an older, but used (Serviceable) unit (mine was the bigger 1†size) from someone, but then it had failed (electrically), but I didn’t sweat it because I understand, “you get what you pay forâ€Â, so… “It is what it isâ€Â.
I tore the unit apart and realized it was a “wipe out†and I couldn’t do it myself, with local parts. But because of the low price point I originally got into the older used unit for, it was not B.E.R. (Beyond Economical Repair). It just needed to be re-built. So I shipped this old Sea-Swirl I had purchased, back to the OEM for a Factory Overhaul.
After talking extensively with the owner of Sea-Swirl, and it’s really interesting how much I’ve learned about this little company & their units!!!!
Anyway, the bottom-line is this:
If you’re NOT going to buy a $249 Factory New Unit direct from the OEM, or a $235 unit (online from vendors like Marine Depot), or a like $225 unit discounted from a LFS, you’re really better off NOT buying a (time-continued) Used Serviceable unit, unless you’re like me and expect to have it (“re-taggedâ€Â) that is, Overhauled for the buying a “Repairable Core†unit.
OEM Comments:
“Generally, Swirls last an average of four years with some failing in less time and some more. If under the proper conditions we have had customers report 6 to 7 years. These people say they purchased, installed to our strict instructions, operated the unit 24/7/365 and basically never touched it! As far as a second unit we have ''Scratch & Dent'' units we sell for $179.00. These units are brand new, but the outer box has chips in the area where the top and bottom halves meet, but you can't see inside.â€Â
Rather than use Koralia’s and other like wave-makers, I’m really more into a concealed look with a Closed Loop pump, so I will BUY another Sea-Swirl at some point once I upgrade my Main system Pump
Aquarium Currents, Inc.
443 Waterford Dr.
Georgetown, SC 29440
Phone (843) 546-0431
Fax (843) 520-4313
Eddie & Cindy Schleinkofer
Links:
OEM Link
How to Order
Moral:
The moral of the Story is this - In the end, I was able to buy a Core Unit & get it Overhauled more cost-effectively, than buying a New Unit, but it was a hassle.
Next time, I'm just buying my next one Factory Direct â€"œ as a Reconditioned unit, or a Scratch & Dented one.
Unless YOU are willing to work for "it" (the "hassle factor"), you might just find that all things being equaly, you might be farther ahead to just bite the bullet and buy a New one from the LFS.
