Hands down this is the best thing you have ever done for your aquarium! AH HA!!!

[revhtree]

At times in reefing you learn something, buy something or implement something that is a legit "AH HA" moment that really turns the tide of your reefing journey! Today I would like to hear about some of those moments in your life. Some of these are the BEST THINGS you have ever done for your reef tank and others could learn from it!

What is something you learned, purchased, or implemented that really turned out to be one of the BEST THINGS you have done for your aquarium?

Fish image via @ChristopherKriens

 

[Zach W]

Dosing! I have a small aquarium (20gal) and thought I could get by with manual dosing and ended up losing some higher end acros when I progressed to SPS. I proceeded to getting a "cheap" Jeabo DP-4 and it changed everything for me. Holding parameters stable is so important and can be achieved easily without needing super expensive equipment.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Nutrient export via 600W horticulture light over chaeto and ulva in sump. Brought my Nitrates and Phosphates down near zero despite heavy feeding.

 

[Sump Crab]

ATO

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Yes, for me was an ATO. Was dealing with adding RODI water every day to keep the water at level but them I saw a YouTube video about gravity ATO and AH..HA !!!, I make my own gravity ATO, a fill out and forget for the whole week.

 

[authentic]

calcium reactor with kamoer and alkatronic

 

[ThunderGoose]

Auto water changes changed my life. No more hauling buckets and major improvement in stability!

 

[symon_say]

Controller, this have to be the best equipment anyone can add to their tank.

 

[Berlibee]

For me it's the chaeto reactor switch from refugiums. Its huge difference in all aspects. ;Woot

 

[nickkohrn]

My controller (Apex) and peripherals (DŌS, LDK, ATK, etc.) were the best combined purchases that I have made. Sure, I could manually do most of what that system does, but I’m human and forget things. My Apex system maintains my dosing schedule and temperature control, which are important to my life’s schedule.

 

[RevMH]

Stopped trying to shoot for 0 nitrates and phosphates. Everything has been good since.

 

[Aquatic Bobs]

Coral dip

 

[clark griswold]

Auto water changes via Apex DOS. Don’t think I could reef long term if I had to weekly be lugging buckets. My reef loves the small daily changes.

 

[Jrod381]

Added a refugium, saw my copepods explode, Coraline take off, and all of my corals got happier

 

[Leib]

At times in reefing you learn something, buy something or implement something that is a legit "AH HA" moment that really turns the tide of your reefing journey! Today I would like to hear about some of those moments in your life. Some of these are the BEST THINGS you have ever done for your reef tank and others could learn from it!

What is something you learned, purchased, or implemented that really turned out to be one of the BEST THINGS you have done for your aquarium?

Fish image via @ChristopherKriens

 

[Roosterjack]

Sort of a two part answer. I echo those who praise the Apex or other controllers so I won’t expound on that.

The second part is simply coming to the realization that this is an expensive hobby that requires some degree of risk tolerance. Livestock WILL die despite your best efforts. Equipment will eventually wear out and fail, usually at the least opportune time. Perhaps most importantly, there is no “cheap” way to do things unless you are willing to accept higher risk.

 

[kutcha]

honestly the biggest thing i have learned is to just slow down and dont cut corners, this isnt a hobby that you want to cut corners on. do your research save up for the things you truly want and take your time.

 

[schooncw]

Simple: ATO. Next: Macro Algae Reactor

 

[Kernowzx2]

Has to be auto dosing, followed by Algae reactor. Went from doing okay, to bloody hell the tank is awesome!

 

[C. Eymann]

Buying my first Tunze wave/pulse pump
It was around 2005. 1
Jebao, ecotech, hydor, gyr didnt exist yet.

To get random flow I had two pumps fighting eachother and my return, still wasn't ideal for SPS. also this artful technique of getting correct type of flow only allowed a few spots on the rockwork to be suitable for Acropora.

The Tunze was expensive, esp for a senior in highschool, but worth it, that ramping up and down surge it created was basically like the key unlocking the ability to having SPS thrive esp Acropora.