Budget reef equipment

[DEE’S reef]

So I’m looking for good budget brands that work well I had my power heads fail that came with the tank and I ordered a hygger replacement.
I’m looking for suggestions of budget ato I’m think hygger has a nice one name brands I should look for that are beginner/budget friendly choices.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Hygger is good to me , jebao as well. For the ATO I just picked the cheapest one on Amazon with a float switch it was60$ I think can’t remember brand

 

[DEE’S reef]

I think I might go with the hygger ato on Amazon it’s like 50 bucks https://a.co/d/01GHJ3WQ

 

[DEE’S reef]

Also this is the wave maker I went with https://a.co/d/0gZLFDt9

 

[Idech]

I would never buy anything cheap for an ATO. Your floors and sanity depend on it. Save and get a Tunze.

 

[exnisstech]

Ive been running this $40 ATO in a 40g breeder for a year and it's been great. No overfill protection but I've never felt a need for that feature and mount the sensor high and out of the way on units that do have it. I also have tunze, kamoer and the old tried and tried JBJ no longer made.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Ive been running this $40 ATO in a 40g breeder for a year and it's been great. No overfill protection but I've never felt a need for that feature and mount the sensor high and out of the way on units that do have it. I also have tunze, kamoer and the old tried and tried JBJ no longer made.

Yes that’s the exact one I use , works perfect in my case - I only have a 20G

 

[landlubber]

I would never buy anything cheap for an ATO. Your floors and sanity depend on it. Save and get a Tunze.

I see it the same way. I'd be willing to go with budget gear when it comes to additional powerheads, a base level skimmer or a refugium light but things like return pumps, dosers or the ATO can cause big problems if they fail

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

Wall plug timer set to run an apropriate few minutes a day...an easy backup for a any electronic ATO, even the mythical magical tunze.

FB marketplace for win. nearly new equipment. Just got a wifi Jebao MCP Smart Cross for 40 clams. Or pick a cheap model off (scam)azon and perpetually replace them as they burn out...i do this with small air pumps. Re-order it, swap it and return it. Rinse repeat. Screw Jeff B.

 

[landlubber]

Wall plug timer set to run an apropriate few minutes a day...an easy backup for a any electronic ATO, even the mythical magical tunze.

Nothing wrong with redundancy and on a simple, small tank that may work but that solution doesn't assist the other reason you enlist an ATO... to keep your salinity stable.

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

So I’m looking for good budget brands that work well I had my power heads fail that came with the tank and I ordered a hygger replacement.
I’m looking for suggestions of budget ato I’m think hygger has a nice one name brands I should look for that are beginner/budget friendly choices.

Nothing wrong with redundancy and on a simple, small tank that may work but that solution doesn't assist the other reason you enlist an ATO... to keep your salinity stable.

Explain to me how topping off with RODI from a jug wouldn't keep salinity stable?

 

[landlubber]

Explain to me how topping off with RODI from a jug wouldn't keep salinity stable?

for sure! the frequency the water is topped is the difference.
Depending on tank size you could be going from topping ounces multiple times daily with an ato to multiple gallons in one shot from a jug.
Allowing 2 gallons to evaporate would absolutely cause my salinity to get up over 1.026 and this would happen daily which is the opposite of stability.

 

[dedragon]

Yes that’s the exact one I use , works perfect in my case - I only have a 20G

i use a similar one from jebao but i also have it plugged into this single upper switch for overflow protection just in case. just mounted it to the top of the tank with a waterproof magnet

 

[DEE’S reef]

Also what are some good containers for holding rodi buckets there not enough room for a 5 gallon bucket

 

[landlubber]

Also what are some good containers for holding rodi buckets there not enough room for a 5 gallon bucket

my ato reservoir is an standard 10 gallon tank.
I live in a condo and didn't want to see my water container so It sits under my kitchen sink about 10 feet away from the tank.

 

[Privateye]

I always found the Hydor Koralia powerheads to be reliable and cheap. I haven't bought any in over 10 years though, so perhaps that changed. Seems like I'm the odd man out.

One way I save money is by using soda ash for alkalinity adjustments, and epsom salt for magnesium. I haven't figured out a cheap source for calcium though. I'm still buying calcium chloride by the bucket.

I wouldn't try to go too cheap on lighting. It'll just be another expense down the road if you do.

 

[DEE’S reef]

So I have hydra 32s so all the equipment beside the heater return pump and protein skimmer haven’t been replaced but the power heads died

 

[DEE’S reef]

Also I don’t I have a ato

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

Also what are some good containers for holding rodi buckets there not enough room for a 5 gallon bucket

By not enough room, do you mean height or width wise?

Trash cans , brute bins, storage bins if you want an open top:
lowes has this tall can

Camping and RV canteens of you want more plumbing control:
like this

 

[DEE’S reef]

Width it’s to close to all my wires