How many of you guys keep backups of your equipment? Which ones do you back up?

[Retro Reefer]

I just keep backups of what I feel are the two most important items a return pump and heater.. anything else I can get in a couple days if needed.

 

[saltyhog]

Wow! I didn't realize how much equipment I have that's not in active use. I have less expensive backups of almost every thing.

Return pump Vectra M1....back up an AC Sicce of same max flow rate

Lights: Hydra 52HDx3.......back up a single AI Vega

Heaters: exact copies of my Eheims

ATO : Tunze 3155................back up pump and a full system of the cheaper Tunze unit

Power heads: MP40x2, MP10 x2.......back up Sicce power heads of similar flow

 

[Mester320]

I think that return pump and heaters are the big 2. The tank would be fine for a few days without light.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Gotta have Back-ups. Seems problems occur on a Sunday night when the stores are closed.

 

[User1]

Return pump. I use the same one on my skimmer. If the skimmer goes offline no big deal. If the return pump goes offline that is a bigger problem. I can swap out the Cor 15 in two minutes or so. If need be I can use another pump, a larger mag, for either to get me by until I fix or replace.

 

[RussiReef]

Return pump,chiller,dosing pump spare parts. Also have an extra GFO and carbon.

 

[Brew12]

I have a backup for just about anything. Much of it is from my older system. The only thing I purchased specifically as a backup are heaters and a return pump. I purchased 2 identical Sicce return pumps and swap them out every 3 months. That way there isn't a time crunch to get them replaced for cleaning. Otherwise, I kept the MP40's, lights, skimmer, reactor pump, and full Apex system from my old build. Last month I reprogrammed my old Apex so it can run my new tank without a struggle. I also keep a 55g, 20g and 10g aquarium ready to set up.

I have plans this winter to buy a spare 4 head doser and ATO.

 

[siggy]

I have an extra wet side for my mp40 other than that Ill piece together something or use my mixing equipment until a replacement is had....That's is also a good excuse to tryout the latest offering

 

[BestMomEver]

I have backups for a lot of stuff because I have other tanks I could borrow from in an emergency. The only thing I don’t have is a backup return pump. The pumps in the other tanks aren’t big enough to do any good in the 60 gallon.

 

[Greybeard]

Need an option for 'none of the above'. Well, I do have a spare heater...

My tank can do without any of these for as long as it takes me to get a new one.

I do have a battery powered air pump, just to stir the surface, if the power goes out for more than an hour or so.

 

[Rcpilot]

I'm gathering parts and pieces for a new 180g build. I'll be ordering 2 identical return pumps and at least 1 spare heater.

 

[ScooterV]

My return pump is a Varios-8 and my skimmer has a Varios-6, so I have a spare Varios-6 that can fill in for either. I have a spare Varios-8 power supply that can also power the skimmer. Still working on making sure spare impellers on hand. I have more heaters than I can count around the house and garage. Most are small, but combined I'm more than covered there I'm up to four Stenner pumps so if the one for the ATO failed I could just grab the one doing my crazy skimmer rinse and empty for a bit.

For emergencies I have five 10 gallon tanks and two 29g and a stack of rubbermaid totes. With five Radion XR30 I figure I can survive one being out until repaired/replaced so only a couple PAR 40 lights I could add if I had to. I've got enough redundancy built in I feel pretty safe though and the Apex itself is my single point of failure but I could get by for a bit as long as I'm not on vacation or something.

 

[tankstudy]

Of the 10 things listed, I keep 7 of 10 backed up. I don't currently own a controller or an automated feeder.

I'm already using the back up doser so I don't have a back up doser for the back up doser.

Over the years, I've found that it's very important to have back up equipment because you can't always walk in to the LFS and get what you need or have parts mailed to you overnight.

 

[Josm315]

I feel like after only 5 years in the hobby I've amassed a lot of spare equipment. I've got pretty much an entire closet dedicated to spare stuff and even have a bit of rock/sand smaller tanks in my shed. It trickles a bit into the spare bedroom where I also keep saltwater/RODI cans my wife so affectionately calls our 'junk room'.

I've got extra return pumps, powerheads, lights, heaters, etc. Not all of them are a direct match for my current equipment but can be jury-rigged as a temporary solution until a match or upgrade can come in. The rest of the closet is pretty much extra salt, additives, bulbs that I bought in bulk the last 'black Friday' sale.

 

[CindyKz]

I have lights, heaters, powerheads. They aren't exactly what's in there (no extra mp40s in my house lol) but I have pieces that will suffice if needed


One thing I keep putting off is a spare return pump. I really should have that!

 

[fish farmer]

I had a spare return pump...but then used it on another tank.

I have lots of old powerheads, a skimmer, a heater, two 55 gallon tanks, but most of my fish and corals could fit in a 20 gallon. I could rig an ATO/doser pretty quick out of a jug and some tubing. I don't have backup lighting except for a metal halide fixture that may or may not work.

I acutally have had two disasters where extra equipment came in handy. First was a heat wave event where I basically had to recure the whole tank. I set up a separate tank to keep some of the better rock and coral alive. Second time was when I cracked the DT, everything went into the middle fuge tank and survived fine while I rebuilt my current setup.

 

[bobyboy]

My backup pump is plumbed and ready to go as soon as the Apex detects a failure!
I also have 3 heaters plugged in and 2 dry as well as multiple spare powerheads!

 

[Bob Lauson]

My backup equipment includes:
Return pump
Heaters
APEX controller
One XR30w Radion
two MP40's (I switched to APEX WAV's)

Like others, I have collected various pumps over the years.

 

[Steadyreef42]

Oh man I’ve been putting off getting a back up return pump for 2 years. What a great thread to pop up and remind me. Don’t know what you got till it’s gone lol

 

[rkpetersen]

I thought this might be a fun discussion. How many of you guys and gals keep backups of your equipment, and what are you backing up?

I personally have backups for my:

• Lights - I have a few spare lighting setups that I keep in case I have an issue
• Return Pump
• Powerheads - I have 1 extra MP40 and 1 extra MP10
• Controller - I have an extra Apex brain
• Tank - I have an extra tank (ok...more than 1) that I could use to hold livestock if my tank were to fail on me
• Heater - I have 3 back ups for my heater...I'm paranoid. LOL
• ATO - I have a B grade ATO on standby in case my ATK ever goes on me

What are you backing up? What additional thoughts do you have on how to backup equipment?

One additional thing I'll note is that my backup equipment is usually bought used (in good working order) to save a little money on something I hope I don't need.

I might also add that while it's a great idea to back up your equipment with what you currently have, having something that may e a B grade compared to what you usually use is still MUCH BETTER than having nothing.

What are you using? I'm putting in a poll, but definitely let me know if I need to add more categories.

I am much like you. Only item I don't keep spares of that you mention is a tank, which I regret, but probably won't remedy anytime soon. I generally just buy another new instance of whatever I'm currently using, aside from a few suboptimal old pumps and heaters that I could put into service if needed. Also spare RSR 450 ATO reservoir and plumbing components. Apex pH and ORP probes, DOS heads, optical sensors. Gyre pump and controller. Extra Tunze Aquawind. Spares of all the test equipment, test reagents, and other reef chemicals I'm currently using. Etc.