EuroReef/Sedra vent

[jlehigh]

Hey,

Kaviat/Disclaimer~ I know nothing about the dev and distribution of these pumps and skimmers which may very well justify their price. I only know they are expensive as heck and near impossible to obtain.

I am more than erked at the lil market cornering taking place around Sedra needle wheel pumps and Euro reef skimmers. So this is a part vent session part freedom cry after having located the deal!

So Euro reef skimmer though great performers are outragously priced. My tank would have warranted an 800.00+ model!!!! 800 for a tube with a pump!!! Skimmers are not highly Scientific. I have bought hot wheels with more complex design and engineering. Hence what I view as capitalism at its worst has taken place. Anyone can make a skimmer for 150 bux or less using reasonable material. So how do you maintain your business? Make those parts unattainable. This has happened by highly inflating the price of the only real critical piece. A good pump with a needle wheel impellar.

Sure you can find a Sedra 3000 at some of the major online vendors but it either requires proof you are replacing an existing Sedra on a Euro Reef OR it requires 125 for the pump, 25 for the Venturi and another 60 for the impellar!!! Where do they get off when the regular pump is only 55 bucks!

The hobby is expensive enough without this non-sensical greed. More power to Euro Reef for creating a terrific product advancing the hobby. Shame on the pricing, crippling those without the abundant resources as well as the ability to make their own..

How can a friggn skimmer for a 300 gal system almost match the price of my customer built IAP materpiece??

After 2 months of searching and shopping I was able to buy a new Sedra 9000 with needle wheel and vnturi for 115 shipped. I would share the source but fear it would be dessimated if this apparent monopoly is actually intentional.

Done now...

 

[Curtswearing]

Come on....tell us how you really feel. LOL

I agree...their prices are outrageous but hopefully Capitalism will do its job and a competitor will come and take away their market share by building a cheaper skimmer that costs less.

 

[big t]

I personally don't think that the sedra pump is 'all that'. I am using a ocean runner 2700 pump on my skimmer that has a much more durable needle wheel impeller. The euroreef needle wheel is just so fragile and easily broken. I made my own venturi for about $1.50, and it works like a champ. I hear you on the prices, I think that they are going to price themselves right out of the market. ASM is making good copies for a pretty good price.

 

[jlehigh]

I appreciate not getting flamed by the oh so prevelent Euro Reef fanatics. Well at least no flame yet It's funny how just because people suck it up and spend the major money they feel they must join the producst marketing team. (I am totally guilty of this)

Well the ocean runner was the pump involved in my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and fourth attempt. I found quite the opposite. The Ocean runner needle wheel broke after 20 min of operation for no apparent reason once dissasembled. The pump then required a thump on the head to get running again and pushed almost no water. The version I received had all metric fittings which also created havok.. BUT I do hand it to Ocean runner for giving us an alternative.

I too have heard good things about ASM

 

[DonW]

Four pumps thats odd. Are you trying to run your skimmer external?

Don

 

[jlehigh]

Sorry to be unclear on that Don. Only one pump was involved however yes I was trying to plumb it externally and was battling leaks..

 

[DonW]

I understand. The ocean runners and the sedra will cavitate and self destruct the impellor if not fed enough water. Think of it as a bubble maker not a pump. Did you use the or2700 kit and 1/2 uniseal? It sound like your set-up is going to need a feed pump and a recirculation pump like the big deltec units.

Don

 

[esmith]

I've got an OceanRunner 2700 on my EuroReef knockoff (thanks T!) and it works flawlessly! I agree their prices are astronomical as well, time for someone here to start marketing their designs and ideas and giving EuroReef some competition!

Eliyah

 

[jlehigh]

I see Don. Probably what happened.. I must have fed too much air through the venturi starving the pump. I plumbed it with a 1" feed and 3/4" output to 3/4" uniseal.

 

[Macbeth417]

I must say I love my Euroreef, but I only sprung for it because I got it directly from Jeff way back before everyone knew about the blemished models and saved about $200. I couldn't imagine paying what I would have if I had bought the skimmer at full retail. They definantly milk the name and the image, but you can't really contest the quality of the skimmate. If you are local, which you are, we have plenty of options. Between Tom, Don and Jonathan, you can get a killer skimmer at a very reasonable price.

-Erik

 

[DonW]

I've got an OceanRunner 2700 on my EuroReef knockoff (thanks T!) and it works flawlessly! I agree their prices are astronomical as well, time for someone here to start marketing their designs and ideas and giving EuroReef some competition!

Eliyah

The problem comes when or if a guy decided to quit his day job. Just off the top of my head the price would have to jump dramaticly. For example a two pump 4ft extruded skimmer would have to sell for a minimum of $525 (low) to be legit with only local marketing and no employee cost. Vs about $210 done as a diy favor.

Don

 

[jlehigh]

Until that guy pre-sold 5000 to distributors and bought in bulk Must maintain the fury!!!

btw Don that lil venturi is a riot to watch in action! I love it.