Is it me, or have impellers started to have shorter lives since they
started using ceramic/plastic shafts instead of metal? I am of the
opinion that this is a marketing tactic that various companies have
introduced to boost sales and increase dependence upon the company for
product service. If one could retrofit a fluval with a metal shaft of
the same size, I think it would dramatically increase the life of the
impeller. I'd do this sort of thing myself, but I haven't the time or
patience to go about obtaining stock stainless rods for it.