Would you rather buy New or Used?

Hentz · 10/06/2015, 06:38 PM

Simple question!

Would you rather buy new or used powerheads such as: EcoTech Marine's MP series and Maxspect Gyre series.

Why?

Ebone · 10/06/2015, 06:41 PM

Used Ecotechs, if not too old.... they are able to be completely rebuilt and upgraded + customer service.... That is what I did at least :-)

Ernest T. Bass · 10/06/2015, 06:42 PM

I buy most things I get new. I'm a collector of old firearms, so in order to get them they have to be used. That's the only used items that I own. I prefer new because I know what each item has been through.

ca1ore · 10/06/2015, 07:02 PM

I almost always buy new, but then I'm in the hobby for the long-term. Trouble with buying used is that folks invariably price their own stuff higher than they'd be willing to pay for somebody else's. If you can find a screaming deal on something, fine, but accept that you're buying potential problems.

I've not owned a gyre, but with the vortechs, the prices new have come down enough that unless you can find a relatively recent vintage unit for half (or less) of current MSRP, I'd go new.

chucko · 10/06/2015, 07:11 PM

I got lucky and got a lot of my stuff "second hand". Not really used. Stuff people buy and then something changes and they never use it. My tank, stand, canopy had only been leak tested when I got it at a nice discount.

bws · 10/07/2015, 03:40 AM

I would go for brand new power heads myself, some things would be ok used if its a good deal.. like a nice used sump for super cheap would be a good deal since there isn't much t o go bad, short of breaking the walls. a pump or powerhead those things can be neglected and who knows how they were treated by the first owner.. could of ran dry for some time who knows. there is a reason they are selling them..other than ohh it worked fine, I just wanted a new one

Allentown · 10/07/2015, 04:27 AM

Used for a $20.00 off is a really bad risk benefit ratio. I'm amazed at what people pay for used.

snulma1 · 10/07/2015, 07:40 AM

I bought my 1st vortech used, it was the original blue box version. I have since upgraded 2x, to the newer version, and recently to the QD.

If you investigate well, used purchases are not always bad. But you must ensure you're not getting something thats a train wreck!

ghostman · 10/07/2015, 08:14 AM

Gently used items of high quality like skimmers, or high end powerless are usually a good bet. The same goes for lighting, I would buy a gently used item. I wouldn't pay more than 75% of the price of new though.

Vinny Kreyling · 10/07/2015, 08:29 AM

Bought my 1st 2 Tunze powerheads used, still using them 10 years later.
A lot depends on the manufacturer.

toothybugs · 10/07/2015, 08:35 AM

I bought my skimmer gently used (~year and a half old, 3 year warranty) but if I hadn't gotten it for half of retail I'm not sure if I would have bought it. That said, it is also my first "nice" skimmer so when I set up my desktop system I put a nice, new skimmer on it. I'll be buying new when I put a big system in my basement as well, but I'll snag a used 125 and make it a sump.

Generally I prefer to buy items with moving parts new since parts can wear out and are rarely replaceable (MPs a good exception).

10/06/2015, 06:38 PM	#1
Hentz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 2,016	Would you rather buy New or Used? Simple question! Would you rather buy new or used powerheads such as: EcoTech Marine's MP series and Maxspect Gyre series. Why? __________________ A Reef in the Desert: 120 Gallon (4x2x2) - MP40 x2 - Gyre 130 - ATI Sunpower - Simplicity Pump/Skimmer - Controlled by Apex

10/06/2015, 06:42 PM	#3
Ernest T. Bass Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: O' Fallon IL Posts: 170	I buy most things I get new. I'm a collector of old firearms, so in order to get them they have to be used. That's the only used items that I own. I prefer new because I know what each item has been through. __________________ Darryl Current Tank Info: 75 gallon - 50 gallon

10/06/2015, 07:02 PM	#4
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I almost always buy new, but then I'm in the hobby for the long-term. Trouble with buying used is that folks invariably price their own stuff higher than they'd be willing to pay for somebody else's. If you can find a screaming deal on something, fine, but accept that you're buying potential problems. I've not owned a gyre, but with the vortechs, the prices new have come down enough that unless you can find a relatively recent vintage unit for half (or less) of current MSRP, I'd go new. __________________ 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

10/07/2015, 04:27 AM	#7
Allentown Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 975	Used for a $20.00 off is a really bad risk benefit ratio. I'm amazed at what people pay for used. __________________ NEW Build: 225g 72x27x27 Tigger Emerald 39 Sump, ConeS CO-3, 3xHydra 52, BRS 2 part dosers, Vortech MP-40 QD Gyre XF150, Neptune Wav x2, 2x Jaebo RW-4, SMR-1, MR-1

10/07/2015, 08:14 AM	#9
ghostman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Spring Hill, Florida Posts: 1,629	Gently used items of high quality like skimmers, or high end powerless are usually a good bet. The same goes for lighting, I would buy a gently used item. I wouldn't pay more than 75% of the price of new though. __________________ When you die, you don't know you're dead. It's only difficult for the people around you. It's the same when you're stupid. Current Tank Info: 40IM Fusion, 40lbs of rock, and 20lbs of sand. Just a few fish and corals....for now.

10/06/2015, 06:41 PM	#2
Ebone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: wilmington nc Posts: 217	Used Ecotechs, if not too old.... they are able to be completely rebuilt and upgraded + customer service.... That is what I did at least :-)

10/06/2015, 07:11 PM	#5
chucko Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 127	I got lucky and got a lot of my stuff "second hand". Not really used. Stuff people buy and then something changes and they never use it. My tank, stand, canopy had only been leak tested when I got it at a nice discount.

10/07/2015, 03:40 AM	#6
bws Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 143	I would go for brand new power heads myself, some things would be ok used if its a good deal.. like a nice used sump for super cheap would be a good deal since there isn't much t o go bad, short of breaking the walls. a pump or powerhead those things can be neglected and who knows how they were treated by the first owner.. could of ran dry for some time who knows. there is a reason they are selling them..other than ohh it worked fine, I just wanted a new one

10/07/2015, 07:40 AM	#8
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	I bought my 1st vortech used, it was the original blue box version. I have since upgraded 2x, to the newer version, and recently to the QD. If you investigate well, used purchases are not always bad. But you must ensure you're not getting something thats a train wreck!

10/07/2015, 08:29 AM	#10
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Bought my 1st 2 Tunze powerheads used, still using them 10 years later. A lot depends on the manufacturer. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

10/07/2015, 08:35 AM	#11
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	I bought my skimmer gently used (~year and a half old, 3 year warranty) but if I hadn't gotten it for half of retail I'm not sure if I would have bought it. That said, it is also my first "nice" skimmer so when I set up my desktop system I put a nice, new skimmer on it. I'll be buying new when I put a big system in my basement as well, but I'll snag a used 125 and make it a sump. Generally I prefer to buy items with moving parts new since parts can wear out and are rarely replaceable (MPs a good exception).