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Who writes the instructions for aquarium equipment? And do you think there's a conspiracy on the part of manufacturers to make them as confusing as possible?

In the several years I've been in this hobby, I've purchased numerous pieces of equipment, and not one came with instructions that are even remotely adequate. In fact, if I attempted to follow them, I wouldn't have any systems up and running at all.

I always eventually figure how how to assemble the equipment in question, but that's no thanks to the so-called "instructions" enclosed in the boxes, which assume a knowledge of plumbing/electrical/wiring/aquasystems that many, many beginning hobbyists don't have. (Our LFS runs a set-up service for clients, because so many of them have problems figuring out the instructions.)

The least the manufacturers could do in exchange for the vast amounts of money that we give to them for their products is to give us clear instructions on what to do with them.

(Today's rant brought to you courtesy of my new wet-dry filter, skimmer and 90-gallon reef-ready tank -- which, yes, is finally up and running, but only because I threw out the instructions and figured it out myself.)

LMuha

I think you will find that the instructions loose a lot in the translation. Also they are often written by people who assume you know what to do without the instructions at all.

Keith

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LMuha,

If you think you've seen bad directions, try figuring out the Eheim 2213, and how to make it run easily I swear I was ready to throw the flipping thing out the door or window before I got it running and it was only thanks to everyone here for getting it up and running, and my persistance in it was going to run]:|

Been there, Done that,
heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle