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

[backdraft_reefer]

Setting up and Apex controller! It gives me piece of mind while I am at work.

 

[nitrodude]

A single thing? Not sure which would be first...

1,000gpd rodi unit, calcium reactor or apex are for sure my best tank purchases.

 

[jamo130788]

Calcium reactor for sure

 

[JPergamo]

Calcium Reactor 100%. The best for stability, minimal risk, hands down.

 

[BayouReefer]

In June of this Year after much thought I purchased a whole home generator. well this weekend on early Saturday morning 4:30 am a really bad tropical storm came through Louisiana. Knocking out power to thousands of homes mine included. However my generator came on instantly and ran steady for the next 18 hours. I didn’t have a thing to worry about. The piece of mind it gave me was priceless. The Generac Generator is right now the best thing I have done to protect my livestock.

 

[will25u]

We quit testing for everything except TDS and got an ATO. Oh, and we have a generator.

 

[kkiel02]

Automated as much maintenance as possible to spend more time enjoying it.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

i stopped worrying about No3 and Po4 numbers and everything started thriving. I have a predominately SPS tank and currently nitrates are about 15ppm and phosphate is well over .2 colors look amazing butt they can be seen Here

 

[jelee01]

So many good answers already. For me? I’d probably go with solid ATO solution to eliminate salinity swings, then Apex, and recently a Clarisea as honorable mentions.

But honestly... my number one thing as an Ah-Ha was coming to realization nothing good ever happens fast in this hobby. Trust the process; research and research some more; never overreact; and keep hands out of tank. Patience with an eye on the long game.

 

[idol]

Apex Equipment. It made my life far easier to maintain a reef tank at the age of 72. When the controller is set and tuned to all their ad-on especially Trident it's just perfect for me.

 

[jasonrusso]

I "struggled" for the first 18 months of running a reef tank because I was trying to keep everything at the "recommended" levels. Once I let go a bit, things began thriving almost to much now! I only test the water to see where things are at (because I want to keep levels there), not to make changes because I am supposed to.

 

[djray77]

Co2 scrubber best thing I did so far. I don't get why the "don't chase numbers" is applied with PH. 8.3-8.4 ph has been a HUGE growth spurt in my tank.

 

[CasaReefer]

For me it was Started to use R2R to bounce ideas off people before I just went and did " Something I heard or saw " the power of the people here to help others is AWESOME and has and will in the future keep me from acting on my knee jerk reactions.
I am sure that This TOOL in my Tool box will save me time, money and heart ache.

 

[WallyB]

NOTHING !!!
……..is the best thing I ever did.

I mean sure, I have a Controller, Doser, Auto water Changer, Skimmer, Algae Scrubber, T5/LED lights and each does it's thing.

However the best thing (since I tinker to much), is to leave my Tank Alone (No changes, No Adustments).

And I got addicted to Additives (eg Amino's), Coral Foods, to see if I could make corals brighter, more Colorful, and grow Faster.
Sure, initial improvement, EVery Time.....But in long run it got me into trouble each time.
NO MORE Additives was the 2nd best thing (or 1st) that I ever did.

 

[Righteous]

In a tank packed with SPS and clams... the trident and controlled dosing is amazing. Until you check alk multiple times a day, you might not realize how much it can swing. I’ve been keeping a low nutrient tank with alk around 7... so that was dipping into 6.5 or lower during the day.

Trident keeps it rock steady 7.3 now... Acros seem to really like the stability.

 

[LadyMac]

Ato and proper powerhead placement.

 

[Millimylilly]

My reefing ah ha moment was getting a calcium reactor.

 

[rodney]

Carbon dosing!

 

[Jacked Reefer]

Metal Halide, the week after I purchased mine dinos and bryopsis dissipated, my corals started growing, and I started liking my tank. Sometimes simple is best

 

[Acolaojr]

Automatic water change