Reefing needs vs. reefing wants

[Gumbies R Us]

We all purchase stuff for our tanks, whether it is new livestock, new coral, or new equipment. However, how many of those purchases are actually essentials? Do you look at a wavemaker that you probably don't need and say, "Yeah, this would be perfect in my tank, this would be nice to have"? Onto the actual question! Do you make more "essential" or more "nice to have" purchases for your tank?

 

[NanoSteam]

I voted other because I like to think I balance it out? I look for nice to have stuff but then I buy the budget version of that item.

I.e. I don't NEED a fancy wave maker with 10 different modes and settings so I went and bought a Jebao that has some of those features.

but I do have a hard line where I won't buy the very nice to have items like an Apex. That's just not necessary to reefing.

 

[TJ42]

I'd like to have a controller computer for monitoring things but it isn't a need. I don't mind doing tests etc either. I'm just a computer nerd so it would be kinda cool to have the tank computerified.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'd like to have a controller computer for monitoring things but it isn't a need. I don't mind doing tests etc either. I'm just a computer nerd so it would be kinda cool to have the tank computerified.

They are definitely cool to have!

 

[Project1004]

As for the equiptments?! Mostly I need…
As for the corals and fish? Mostly I want…

Surely, I can get by without these equipments but most of the equipments I use are necessary…

 

[TJ42]

They are definitely cool to have!

They sure look like it would be cool. Tracking all the things all the time and having histories to pull up and compare. Just not a need but would be a very cool want. The prices though! A system with everything, even open source stuff, gets pretty pricey with all the attaching sensors etc.

 

[vlangel]

At this point, even though my tank is not even 6 months old yet I don't NEED anything! Since everything was transferred from my last tank, my aquarium acts like a mature system and is well balanced.

Now as to what I would like,,,,,more macroalgae and more zoas! As long as there is space I can never have too much of either of those!

 

[Bear22]

A "want" is better customer service. Coral and fish vendor shenanigans are getting old.
A second "want" (or wish) is for vendors to find a way to get inventory that they advertise for. Example: not some fish and/or coral that is is forever listed as "out of stock".

 

[Kooma]

Reefing is mostly wants, nobody needs a reef tank to begin with, and the want commits you to the needs.

With that said, my system is all wants. I had a 30 gallon biocube and upgraded to a 225 gallon peninsula. I don’t need any of it, but when my wife said that the tank is what the basement needed to pull it together and separate the movie theater from the gym, I felt pretty happy.

I’ve always bought tank shutdowns. It’s the best way to get a screaming deal on fish, rock, tanks, pumps, all the stuff you want but down want to buy.

Between two system purchases I ended up with 200lbs of live rock, 60lbs dry rock, 9 fish, three radions, 3 mp40s, the 225 gallon system, an apex, misc pumps, dosing equipment, chemicals, food, kessil lights, heaters, the list goes on and on. I paid around what the 3 xr15s retailed for, for everything.

So, it’s all wants, need is your heater died on a tank you wanted, so still a want lol.

One need is my peace and sanity, and the tank brings me that when I’m not chasing a sick fish around for treatment…

 

[landlubber]

when you consider, sunlight can keep some corals living, anything can be dosed by hand and a warm house could probably support some odd variety of reef tank nearly everything outside of some liverock, a return pump and tank is a want.
That being said, I can make a case for whatever I consider a want as a need and usually do lol

 

[BryanM]

We all purchase stuff for our tanks, whether it is new livestock, new coral, or new equipment. However, how many of those purchases are actually essentials? Do you look at a wavemaker that you probably don't need and say, "Yeah, this would be perfect in my tank, this would be nice to have"? Onto the actual question! Do you make more "essential" or more "nice to have" purchases for your tank?

I voted need, because if I want it, I need it. And it'll be a hydros controller to replace the apex.

 

[vlangel]

One need is my peace and sanity, and the tank brings me that when I’m not chasing a sick fish around for treatment…

I hear ya, bro!

 

[TheNative192]

Right now I will need lights, rocks, & sand if I am planning keeping corals, fish, and a nice display for my new tank. I am starting with the basic necessities though: rock, sand, tank, tank stand, saltwater, and a dream.

 

[MossyFroggyLove]

Right now, there isnt much i need, but i really want a maroon and yellow feather duster worm

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

I definitely make more “essential purchases” because I’m a frugal reefer. It’d be nice to have a thousand dollar dosing system to handle the additives I dose daily to my tank but why would I do that if I’ve been doing fine dosing everything by hand for years only using some simple BRS dosers to handle things if I’m away from my tank for an extended time.