What are your 3 most important reef tank equipment pieces?

zheka757 · 02/22/2021, 07:54 AM

Like post said, if you where to prioritize your reef tank equipment, what would be your top 3 picks?

ThePurple12 · 02/22/2021, 08:35 AM

Light
Powerhead
Heater

Member No. 1 · 02/22/2021, 08:37 AM

Other than the necessities (tank, sump, heater, return pump) I would say in no order:
A. GHL Automated control - which does temp, pH, Ozone, conductivity, AWC, ATO, dosing, MP40, and lighting monitoring and control.
B. Skimmer
C. UV

Sk8r · 02/22/2021, 10:07 AM

LIght and skimmer quality for stony coral. Skimmer and wavemaker for Fishonly or softie.

zheka757 · 02/22/2021, 10:47 AM

I asked this question, but honestly I don't know if I can answer it for my self. I guess it also depends on your location and what's your goals with your tank. For me in florida I don't even have a need for heaters. But I do have a strong need for power back up. I would prioritize my in such order
Lights, flow (return pump, circulation pumps) and auto water changes,

MondoBongo · 02/25/2021, 07:07 AM

oh boy. so two categories here for me.

Can't Reef Without It:
Skimmer
ATO
Good heater (on some kind of controller)

Makes Life Worth Living:
Tank controller like Apex, etc...
Dosing pumps
Auto feeder

Green Chromis · 03/04/2021, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zheka757

Like post said, if you where to prioritize your reef tank equipment, what would be your top 3 picks?

Hi, the 3 most important pieces of equipment for my system are, Lighting, Skimmer, and in my case because I live in South Florida, a Chiller.

Timfish · 03/10/2021, 07:05 AM

Based on the minimum equipment I need to keep a system going long term:

Air pumps for water movement
Bright lights
Siphon hose and buckets

E46er · 03/11/2021, 10:01 PM

Skimmer controller and ATO

nathanieltyler · 03/17/2021, 05:50 AM

Skimmer, Heater and UV

gallivanmk · 03/30/2021, 11:36 PM

Well, when I lose power for extended periods, these are the 3 most important pieces of equipment to me to run off of the generator...

1. Powerheads
2. Heaters
3. Return Pumps

I have a 60g cube and a 240g reef plumbed into the same sump. So, as long as I get water movement and heat, the livestock survives (4 day tested so far).

In terms of where I have put the most money:
1. Lights
2. Skimmer
3. Powerheads/Wavemaker

jcmjoe · 04/01/2021, 04:28 PM

Good RO/DI system, Skimmer,lights

taby15 · 04/01/2021, 09:35 PM

Light, fleece roller mat, wavemaker

02/22/2021, 07:54 AM	#1
zheka757 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Port Florida Posts: 248	What are your 3 most important reef tank equipment pieces? Like post said, if you where to prioritize your reef tank equipment, what would be your top 3 picks?

02/22/2021, 08:37 AM	#3
Member No. 1 Ver. 2.1 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rehoboth, MA Posts: 1,740	Other than the necessities (tank, sump, heater, return pump) I would say in no order: A. GHL Automated control - which does temp, pH, Ozone, conductivity, AWC, ATO, dosing, MP40, and lighting monitoring and control. B. Skimmer C. UV __________________ Pete "I never make mistakes... I thought I did once, but I was wrong" Current Tank Info: In the process - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2661614

02/22/2021, 10:07 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,442 Blog Entries: 55	LIght and skimmer quality for stony coral. Skimmer and wavemaker for Fishonly or softie. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, chromis, royal gramma basslet, tailspot blenny, ocellaris clown, yellow watchman, chestnut turbo snails, bristleworms, couple of hermits.

02/25/2021, 07:07 AM	#6
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	oh boy. so two categories here for me. Can't Reef Without It: Skimmer ATO Good heater (on some kind of controller) Makes Life Worth Living: Tank controller like Apex, etc... Dosing pumps Auto feeder __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

03/10/2021, 07:05 AM	#8
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,896	Based on the minimum equipment I need to keep a system going long term: Air pumps for water movement Bright lights Siphon hose and buckets __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

02/22/2021, 08:35 AM	#2
ThePurple12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Virginia Posts: 506	Light Powerhead Heater

02/22/2021, 10:47 AM	#5
zheka757 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Port Florida Posts: 248	I asked this question, but honestly I don't know if I can answer it for my self. I guess it also depends on your location and what's your goals with your tank. For me in florida I don't even have a need for heaters. But I do have a strong need for power back up. I would prioritize my in such order Lights, flow (return pump, circulation pumps) and auto water changes,

03/11/2021, 10:01 PM	#9
E46er Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: BC Posts: 136	Skimmer controller and ATO __________________ 250G DD LED SPS corner blow out RIP 300 G build in progress 80”x36”x24” 180G LED see thru

03/17/2021, 05:50 AM	#10
nathanieltyler Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 10	Skimmer, Heater and UV

03/30/2021, 11:36 PM	#11
gallivanmk Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 663	Well, when I lose power for extended periods, these are the 3 most important pieces of equipment to me to run off of the generator... 1. Powerheads 2. Heaters 3. Return Pumps I have a 60g cube and a 240g reef plumbed into the same sump. So, as long as I get water movement and heat, the livestock survives (4 day tested so far). In terms of where I have put the most money: 1. Lights 2. Skimmer 3. Powerheads/Wavemaker

04/01/2021, 04:28 PM	#12
jcmjoe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 249	Good RO/DI system, Skimmer,lights __________________ Peace Current Tank Info: 50 gallon reef, 75 Gallon FOWLR

04/01/2021, 09:35 PM	#13
taby15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 136	Light, fleece roller mat, wavemaker __________________ Reefing is about finding consistency through trial and error. Current Tank Info: IM 30L , AI 52HD, Jebao rw-4