I set up my 90 gallon reefer last February using nothing but 10-25+ year old equipment, stuff I had laying around. I had to retire after 20 years as a aquarium maintenance worker, and when I did, I wanted to set up tanks for myself for a change. After cleaning more than 100 tanks out in the field, the desire to take care of aquaria at home diminishes.
I enjoy being a hobbyist again.
I still have a couple dozen 20+ year-old AquaClear 500/110/ whatever the number is now. I used them exclusively on customer tanks, and out of hundreds, maybe two or three ever went bad - the impeller motor would sometimes overheat and warp causing the impeller to seize. Around 2013, I retired one made in 1988. It was the yellowish-hued case, AquaClear used to produce, as opposed to the clear ones today. I thought it finally broke (used exclusively on salt water tanks) but it was actually just a cracked intake tube.
I contacted AquaClear to date the thing, as I was going to put it on display at my shop. But they wanted it so badly they sent me a brand new one for free - I didn't want them to do that, but they sent the new one so I felt obligated to send the old one off. It still worked fine.
I have at least three 25-year-old skimmers, Turbo-floters (sp) that still work well.
My halides are at least 15 years old, probably older. They are now all going bad, one after another. I'll be getting in two Kessil 360 WEs next week.
It's pretty amazing how many items still function after 2-3 decades of use. I believe a lot of older stuff - especially heaters - was much better made than it is today.
I wonder if AquaClear filters purchased new today will function after 25 years of use?
