What's your oldest oldest bit of reefing equipment?

jestronix · 11/13/2018, 11:15 PM

For me it's my JBJ 150 chiller, 9 years of service and it's still cooling my 130g tank with ease, just checked the price for a new one and they are double the cost , oh inflation!

It's been flooded in about a foot of water! It lived outside and was at times rained on during storms.

Second to that are my MP40wes pumps, bought them second hand about 6 years ago. A little noisy by they keep on ticking.

What I don't have anymore ....... every single cheap bit of hardware!

tkeracer619 · 11/13/2018, 11:41 PM

I have some original release mp40 and an mp20 powerheads... I think they are 9 or 10 years old. Work great!

My oldest was an 18yo eheim but the cord dry rotted so I tossed it.

Have a 12 year old reeflo dart that I've replaced bearings in twice. Also, have a couple eheim everyday feeders. I think my Ranco is about 10 or so years old as well...

Other than my vortechs and a couple reeflo pumps I've bought new equipment for my 600gal. Did get a couple new vortechs as well

WVfishguy · 11/14/2018, 02:07 AM

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?

origreefer · 11/14/2018, 07:15 AM

I got 2 eheim pumps that I've had since the early 90's, I think they are 1250's but the tag on them is worn off. They run one skimmer and one reactor pump. One, I recently replaced the ceramic shaft, other than that they just keep on working.

billdogg · 11/14/2018, 07:43 AM

I've got an eheim 1262 that I got used from the LFS I worked at. That was about 1988. It had been used as the circulation pump for their feeder goldfish tank for at least 10 years at that point. I've put on impeller in it and try to remember to clean it about yearly.

So that would put it at ~ 40 years old and going just as well as it did the day it cam out of the box.

I've also got an old slate bottomed 20g tank around someplace. I got it as my very first tank when I was maybe 6. That would make it about 52 years young.

mcgyvr · 11/14/2018, 08:46 AM

My wife....still cleaning glass after all these years

alton · 11/14/2018, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

My wife....still cleaning glass after all these years

How did you get so lucky? Mine hasn't worked on my tank in 34 years!
Now my Urchin Pro Skimmer is doing great at 15 years of age

smatter · 11/14/2018, 09:32 AM

I've got some Sander skimmers lying around that I still use once in a while from the late Eighties. I'm always amazed by how well these simple devices perform with a nice Schego or Luft pump and a fresh limewood diffuser.

Misled · 11/14/2018, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

My wife....still cleaning glass after all these years

This!!!

ca1ore · 11/14/2018, 09:57 AM

LOL …. I'm my oldest piece of reefing equipment. I don't have much left from before moving into my current house in 1997. Gave away most of the older stuff then (sanders ozonizers, old skimmers, etc). MTC ProCal is almost 20 years old and still in active use.

Green Chromis · 11/14/2018, 10:04 AM

My Iwaki pumps, I have some for 25 plus years.

slief · 11/14/2018, 10:13 AM

My 500 gallon main display which I had custom made over 25 years ago. Then my two 20 year old Seaswirls.

jacksonpt · 11/14/2018, 03:01 PM

My current system is about 10 years old, and it's running pretty much all the original equipment. I believe only the light fixtures have been changed out.

I don't think I have anything left from my old systems, certainly not anything that's being used.

WVfishguy · 11/14/2018, 10:42 PM

Best answer: mcgyvr

My wife has been putting up with fish auctions, high electric bills, and other nonsense for more than 20 years, so I'm riding on the same train....

Alfrareef · 11/16/2018, 03:52 AM

A 4years Salaria Ramosa that takes care of the tank’s algea... ;-)

guppie · 11/16/2018, 09:26 AM

Mag 500 pump bought in 1996 use it now to mix salt for water changes

slief · 11/16/2018, 09:59 AM

Oh yea, I forgot about my Little Giant 4MDSC that is used for my mixing pump. I've had that since the mid to early 90's and a couple of my Tunze Streams are pushing 10 years old and still going strong despite constant abuse and neglect.

five.five-six · 11/16/2018, 10:00 AM

euroreef CS180 They have been out of business 10 years and I have no idea how old it is.

solitude127 · 11/16/2018, 02:00 PM

Mag 7 pump for me. It's got to be 15 years old.

Uncle99 · 11/17/2018, 08:48 AM

Aqua clear pumps and powerheads....20+

LQT · 11/17/2018, 10:02 AM

Still in use, I have a 25 year old Mag 7 and a 18 year old original style Italian built Marineland Maxi Jet 1200. In the closet,have an 18 year old Little Giant 2MDQX external pump.

moondoggy4 · 11/17/2018, 12:27 PM

Eheim 2013 and 2017. Bought in 85

marioensf · 11/17/2018, 07:33 PM

T12-VHO's
IceCap 430 and 660

FullBoreReefer · 11/17/2018, 10:50 PM

My “old” custom built tank, almost 10yrs old.

jestronix · 11/19/2018, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moondoggy4

Eheim 2013 and 2017. Bought in 85

I think we have a winner !

11/13/2018, 11:15 PM	#1
jestronix Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 451	What's your oldest oldest bit of reefing equipment? For me it's my JBJ 150 chiller, 9 years of service and it's still cooling my 130g tank with ease, just checked the price for a new one and they are double the cost , oh inflation! It's been flooded in about a foot of water! It lived outside and was at times rained on during storms. Second to that are my MP40wes pumps, bought them second hand about 6 years ago. A little noisy by they keep on ticking. What I don't have anymore ....... every single cheap bit of hardware!

11/13/2018, 11:41 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	I have some original release mp40 and an mp20 powerheads... I think they are 9 or 10 years old. Work great! My oldest was an 18yo eheim but the cord dry rotted so I tossed it. Have a 12 year old reeflo dart that I've replaced bearings in twice. Also, have a couple eheim everyday feeders. I think my Ranco is about 10 or so years old as well... Other than my vortechs and a couple reeflo pumps I've bought new equipment for my 600gal. Did get a couple new vortechs as well __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/14/2018, 07:15 AM	#4
origreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 264	I got 2 eheim pumps that I've had since the early 90's, I think they are 1250's but the tag on them is worn off. They run one skimmer and one reactor pump. One, I recently replaced the ceramic shaft, other than that they just keep on working. __________________ Founder, DFWMAS, 1992

11/14/2018, 07:43 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I've got an eheim 1262 that I got used from the LFS I worked at. That was about 1988. It had been used as the circulation pump for their feeder goldfish tank for at least 10 years at that point. I've put on impeller in it and try to remember to clean it about yearly. So that would put it at ~ 40 years old and going just as well as it did the day it cam out of the box. I've also got an old slate bottomed 20g tank around someplace. I got it as my very first tank when I was maybe 6. That would make it about 52 years young. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

11/14/2018, 08:46 AM	#6
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	My wife....still cleaning glass after all these years __________________ Who me?

11/14/2018, 02:07 AM	#3
WVfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 677	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?

11/14/2018, 09:32 AM	#8
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	I've got some Sander skimmers lying around that I still use once in a while from the late Eighties. I'm always amazed by how well these simple devices perform with a nice Schego or Luft pump and a fresh limewood diffuser.

11/14/2018, 09:57 AM	#10
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	LOL …. I'm my oldest piece of reefing equipment. I don't have much left from before moving into my current house in 1997. Gave away most of the older stuff then (sanders ozonizers, old skimmers, etc). MTC ProCal is almost 20 years old and still in active use. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

11/14/2018, 10:04 AM	#11
Green Chromis Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: miami,florida Posts: 640	My Iwaki pumps, I have some for 25 plus years. __________________ Natural Reefer Current Tank Info: 600 gallon Carribean Reef System, ETSS Protein Skimmer, 1.5HP Tradewinds Chiller, Reef Breeders Photon V2+ LED Lighting For The Refugium, Mitra LX7206 LED Lights For Display Tank

11/14/2018, 10:13 AM	#12
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	My 500 gallon main display which I had custom made over 25 years ago. Then my two 20 year old Seaswirls. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

11/14/2018, 03:01 PM	#13
jacksonpt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Vestal, NY Posts: 3,679	My current system is about 10 years old, and it's running pretty much all the original equipment. I believe only the light fixtures have been changed out. I don't think I have anything left from my old systems, certainly not anything that's being used. __________________ Jackson - All advice I give is based on my first hand experience. YMMV. Current Tank Info: 38g (mostly LPS) with a 20g sump/fuge and all the other standard goodies

11/14/2018, 10:42 PM	#14
WVfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 677	Best answer: mcgyvr My wife has been putting up with fish auctions, high electric bills, and other nonsense for more than 20 years, so I'm riding on the same train....

11/16/2018, 03:52 AM	#15
Alfrareef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Portugal Posts: 405	A 4years Salaria Ramosa that takes care of the tank’s algea... ;-)

11/16/2018, 09:26 AM	#16
guppie Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Glendale Az Posts: 696	Mag 500 pump bought in 1996 use it now to mix salt for water changes

11/16/2018, 09:59 AM	#17
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Oh yea, I forgot about my Little Giant 4MDSC that is used for my mixing pump. I've had that since the mid to early 90's and a couple of my Tunze Streams are pushing 10 years old and still going strong despite constant abuse and neglect. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

11/16/2018, 10:00 AM	#18
five.five-six Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corona Posts: 7,827 Blog Entries: 6	euroreef CS180 They have been out of business 10 years and I have no idea how old it is. __________________ Originally posted by yellowslayer13: "I hate that hole" Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS

11/16/2018, 02:00 PM	#19
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	Mag 7 pump for me. It's got to be 15 years old. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

11/17/2018, 08:48 AM	#20
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Aqua clear pumps and powerheads....20+

11/17/2018, 10:02 AM	#21
LQT Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 1,516	Still in use, I have a 25 year old Mag 7 and a 18 year old original style Italian built Marineland Maxi Jet 1200. In the closet,have an 18 year old Little Giant 2MDQX external pump. __________________ - Leon (aka - Water Dog) Deep Blue 57 Edge ATI Acro Garden Build Thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25573384#post25573384 Current Tank Info: DeepBlue 57 Edge

11/17/2018, 12:27 PM	#22
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Eheim 2013 and 2017. Bought in 85

11/17/2018, 07:33 PM	#23
marioensf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,502	T12-VHO's IceCap 430 and 660

11/17/2018, 10:50 PM	#24
FullBoreReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wooster, OH Posts: 1,862	My “old” custom built tank, almost 10yrs old. __________________ 60x36x24 mixed reef. 40b sump. Regal 250int Varios. 4xHydra26HDs+t5s. 4xMp40wes. Apex2016.