Worth the Money???

[cpeisher]

I have a guy that is taking down his 90g reef and is offering alot of equipment at really good prices. I was hoping someone could take a look at the items and the prices and tell me what they think...

1 - Ca reactor, twin 4"X18" chambers, with media, alum bottle and regulator and ph controller. $350

2 - RO/DI. started as a 5 stage and is now 8 stages including dual Di with Handheld TDS meter. Membranes changed in Early 08 $150

3 - Skimmer - Aqua Medic Turboflotor T1000 Protein Skimmer with Ocean Runner 2700 pumphttp://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~AMTFKOR~idCategory~FIPSISNW~category~Venturi_With_Needle_Wheel-In_Sump-Protein_Skimmers-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html

Various Pumps
1) mag 2 $35
1) mag 5 $35
1) mag 7 $35
1) lil giant 4mdqx (high flow) $40
1) lil giant 4mdq (pressure series) $40
1) lil giant 3 mdq $40
1) lil giant 3 mdq $40


I am planning either a 55g or 90g DT setup with a 55g sump and i am trying to get all the drygoods and equipment at DEEP discounts. I plan on seting up a 3 zone sump like here...
http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps/f/sump_f.html


First, assuming everything works, are the prices on the three big ticket items above reasonable for used goods?

Second, will any of the various pumps be worth my time to get?

[painkiller1009]

Mag7 - return?
Mag2 - salt mixing pump
RO/DI - sounds good, would hate to pay for all the replacement filters

Go with the 90g for your display you'll be glad you did...trust me ;)

[snorvich]

Well . . . personally if the cartridges were recently changed on the RO/DI, that is a pretty good price. Make sure it is producing water with TDS of zero. The calcium reactor may also be a good price. What brand reactor, regulator?

[cpeisher]

I jsut got off the phone with him and he is going to send some pictures of the three big ticket items, i'll post them when i get them. The calcium reactor is modeled after a MyReef CR2 with twin 4" x18" reactor tubes.

http://www.myreefcreations.com/product_info.php?products_id=200

Recirc is a mag2 and fed by a maxi-jet. The regulator is a JBJ all in one unit with gauges, bubble counter, and solenoid, and is less than one year old, the first chamber has a 90 Elbow to a pvc spray bar. The controller is Milwaukee. He had an acrylic builder construct it for him.

[cpeisher]

any one have an opinion of the Turboflotor T1000. It's got great reviews on marinedepot.com....

[Mikeeal]

Depends on what he wants for it, a "DEEP" discount as you say would be no more than $100 bones, imo.

And like painkiller said, go with the 90 for the display.

[cpeisher]

Well, it's ready to go and running on his DT as we speak. so it's really plug and play, according to him. To get a similar system with reactor, media, feed and recirc pumps, regulator, solenoid, tank and ph Controller i think would cost over $700. I'd love to find a setup like this for $100. Do you know of any?

[cpeisher]

Ok he sent some pics of everything.

Ca reactor, twin 4"X18" chambers, with media, alum bottle and regulator and ph controller. $350
<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/iwearaskirt/?action=view&current=NEWPICS001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/iwearaskirt/NEWPICS001.jpg" border="0" alt="Ca Reactor, pH Controller, Recirc Pump"></a>
<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/iwearaskirt/?action=view&current=NEWPICS002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/iwearaskirt/NEWPICS002.jpg" border="0" alt="CO2 Bottle, JBJ All-In-One Regulator, Bubble Counter and Solenoid"></a>

Aqua Medic Turboflotor T1000 Protein Skimmer with Ocean Runner 2700
<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/iwearaskirt/?action=view&current=NEWPICS004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/iwearaskirt/NEWPICS004.jpg" border="0" alt="qua Medic Turboflotor T1000 Protein Skimmer with Ocean Runner 2700"></a><a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/iwearaskirt/?action=view&current=NEWPICS005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/iwearaskirt/NEWPICS005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
8 Stage RO/DI
<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/iwearaskirt/?action=view&current=NEWPICS003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/iwearaskirt/NEWPICS003.jpg" border="0" alt="8 Stage RO/DI will include 2 spare DI Resins and Handheld TDS meter"></a>

[cpeisher]

He said he would come down to $500 for all three items.

So other than the salt creep, do these things look ok and do you think they are a good deal?

[nebraskareef]

The reactor looks home made and using a mag pump, and the turboflotor has definitely seen better days....the rodi looks to be an ebay special....


I would say the Rodi is the only thing worth it. I would personally pass on the rest.

no offense to the owner of said merchandise. :)

[cpeisher]

He did say the reactor is home made, he had a local acrylic guy make it for him based off the pictures of the MyReef Ca Reactors, and it is driven by a mag2 pump. I would think for the CO2 bottle, all in one regulator and phController alone would be worth $300. I'm not trying to talk myself into buying something that's not worth it, but seems to me that a similar setup would cost well in excess of $700.

And the turboflotor is definitely covered in salt, no doubt about it. But could that not be cleaned up with vinegar and good ole water?It's a $210 skimmer new, he just wants 75 for it.

Is there anything wrong with an eBay ro/DI system? I would assume they use cheaper cartridges, but cartridges can be replaced fairly easily, and for a lot less than buying an all new unit. I know melev's reef has good RO/DI for $159 and he's a reefer so i know his stuff will be good.

[RokleM]

Just my opinion, and honestly most of it isn't good.

Can't really comment on the skimmer.

There is no way I would buy that RO/DI. It's going to cost a small fortune to replace the filters and it's poorly designed. I would invest about the same amount and buy a high quality well built unit from one of the vendors here like Buckeye Field Supply (http://buckeyefieldsupply.com/)

I'm maybe-maybe not on the reactor. It looks like it _might_ be ok, but who knows.

I've personally had really bad experience with the mag's myself. They are very hot, are pretty poor performance for the wattage, and every one of mine have died.