I have been using my fluval sp6 for two years now with no problems and my sp4 for three before that with no problems and still use it for a utility pump for now tell I set up another tank. Good pumps for the money.
Not many people going to actually give the Fluval line of pumps a look, but they are missing out on saving some money at the same time getting an great pump.
I was the same and now recommend them over anything else. You can get essentially 2 Fluval pumps for the price of a single of the other units and they just flat out work. Doesn’t pull much more electricity compared to the DC pumps. Super quiet as well.