The 3 most important reef aquarium equipment pieces...

What is the 3 most important pieces of reef aquarium equipment? PICK 3

  • Lighting

    Votes: 747 85.6%
  • Skimmers/Filtration

    Votes: 356 40.8%
  • Powerheads/Water Movers

    Votes: 557 63.8%
  • Live Rock/Substrate

    Votes: 227 26.0%
  • Saltwater Mix

    Votes: 92 10.5%
  • Heater/Chiller

    Votes: 153 17.5%
  • Test Kits and Additives

    Votes: 76 8.7%
  • Maintenece Tools and Supplies

    Votes: 12 1.4%
  • RO/DI

    Votes: 327 37.5%
  • Dosing Unites

    Votes: 11 1.3%
  • Reactors

    Votes: 4 0.5%
  • Aquarium Controllers

    Votes: 28 3.2%
  • UV Sterilizers

    Votes: 4 0.5%

  • Total voters
    873

revhtree

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What do you think is the 3 most important pieces of reef aquarium equipment and why?

Pick the TOP 3 items from this list and make sure to vote as well!
  • Lighting
  • Skimmers, Filters & Filtration Equipment
  • Powerheads and water movers
  • Live Rock/Substrate
  • Sea Salt Mix/Saltwater
  • Heater/Chiller
  • Test Kits, Additives & Supplements
  • Maintenance Tools & Supplies
  • R)/DI
  • [Dosing units
  • Reactors(any kind calcium, carbon etc.)
  • Aquarium controllers
  • UV Sterilizers
Thanks to @Alexreefer for the neat poll idea!

reef-in-the-sky-equipment.jpg

image via @uniquecorals
 

MnFish1

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What do you do when more than 3 are required? For example - (or I might be misunderstanding the poll) - which is why im asking - for example - without a heater (here) its a no-go. Without lighting its a no-go. Without Powerheads its a no-go. But that doesn't mean a skimmer is not important or RODI, etc.
 
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revhtree

revhtree

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Which of all of these do you think is the most important of the 3? Or is there a better way we can word this?
 

MnFish1

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Which of all of these do you think is the most important of the 3? Or is there a better way we can word this?

"If you were required to pick only 3 items - which do you think the most essential for a successful reef - though you may want to choose more, which are the MOST essential/important?"
 

Eagle_Steve

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Which of all of these do you think is the most important of the 3? Or is there a better way we can word this?
Maybe which 3 are you willing to dump more money into? Do you buy a nice titanium heater and pop it on a inkbird or do you buy a cheapo and do the same thing? The inkbird will shut the heater off it it fails on, so is a really expensive heater needed?

Maybe that is a way to approach it, since my wife used to think that way when it came to items for the tanks.
 

jda

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For me, high quality lighting, real live rock and sand can do more than the "next best thing." After that CaRx. The rest is important too, but not sure is Tunze over Vortech or Spectrapure over another good RODI will get you much separation.
 

S-t-r-e-t-c-h

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So, I'm going to answer this based on where equipment choice makes the most impact:

- Light
- Flow
- Skimmer/Filtration

Things like heaters, RO/DI, salt mix & live rock are obviously critical to any setup, but I'd argue that your exact choices matter less...
 

Eagle_Steve

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Maybe which 3 are you willing to dump more money into? Do you buy a nice titanium heater and pop it on a inkbird or do you buy a cheapo and do the same thing? The inkbird will shut the heater off it it fails on, so is a really expensive heater needed?

Maybe that is a way to approach it, since my wife used to think that way when it came to items for the tanks.
Or which one has the most effect on health of the tank. They all do something beneficial is the hard part lol. Just spit balling it here, this conf. call I am on really really sucks.
 

Ruben's Reef

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Now, since we are talking about equipment this is my list and why.

Lightning: On a "reef tank " the right light is a must have.
Heater or Chiller : Without it you will have an unstable temperature and dead fish and corals.
RODI unit: Reef tank need a good quality water.

Of course a few other equipment are also need it.
 

Eagle_Steve

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I guess I could add what I picked lol.

Lighting
Skimmer
Live Rock

The rest can all suffice with one thing or another, but a good light, good skimmer, and great live rock to add the bio-diversity help to make a good tank. At least in my opinion.
 

Bpb

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Well....without lighting, flow, and water there is no reef. Period. All three of those are the absolute minimum requirement otherwise you have dry equipment, or a cryptic fuge.

I feel like the spirit of this post is more in what are the 3 most important components to do correctly or pay close attention to for success....in which case I’ll have to go

Light quality
Saltwater
Flow

The rest you can work around and even skimp or omit and still be successful. But from the easiest of pest corals all the way up to acropora dominant those are the big 3

Correct spectrum and intensity
Appropriate flow levels to allow for coral and fish respiration
And appropriate water parameters.

Those take the lions share on importance and they’re still the 3 things I pay the closest attention to. Way more than skimmer quality, or any other accessories. I virtually ignore my skimmer actually and don’t even really respond if the foam stops producing skimmate for weeks on end. Dosing/calcium reactors are of some importance if they’re needed for stony corals but if a soft coral scape is someone’s favorite thing, those aren’t really necessary. Trying to think overall hobby here not just stonies
 

Hitman

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I picked my top 3 in the poll but I have these all on back up power as I feel my tank shouldn't ever be without:
  • Lighting Led only on back up power T5s are left off
  • Powerheads and water movers
  • Return Pump
  • Heaters
  • Dosing units
  • Reactors
  • Aquarium controllers
  • UV Sterilizers
Now if it was not due to a power loss just what I can't live without in general: I want it all lol.
 

shred5

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Lighting and circulation.

I have ran a 100 gallon tub for a year with lots of fish and coral with just a circulation pump and lighting. No filter, no sump, no skimmer.
Never any problems either with problem algae or nutrients. Matter of fact they got pretty low.
Was going super strong to till I moved the stuff into a tank.

Assuming temps can be met for some a heater is needed..
 

MnFish1

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Lighting and circulation.

I have ran a 100 gallon tub for a year with lots of fish and coral with just a circulation pump and lighting. No filter, no sump, no skimmer.
Never any problems either with problem algae or nutrients. Matter of fact they got pretty low.
Was going super strong to till I moved the stuff into a tank.

Assuming temps can be met for some a heater is needed..
Do you use RODI? or Dose? You must test nutrients since you said they were low? That said - I tend to agree with you - the more stuff I had on my tank - the more difficult it was to keep stable. Gradually I'm removing stuff - now just have a carbon reactor and skimmer. (and dose BRS 2 part)
 

shred5

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Do you use RODI? or Dose? You must test nutrients since you said they were low? That said - I tend to agree with you - the more stuff I had on my tank - the more difficult it was to keep stable. Gradually I'm removing stuff - now just have a carbon reactor and skimmer. (and dose BRS 2 part)

Yea I had a auto-top off system. I have ran tanks for years without one though.
When I got in the hobby there wasn't any.
 

MnFish1

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Yea I had a auto-top off system. I have ran tanks for years without one though.
When I got in the hobby there wasn't any.
Yes - I dont have one myself. I was only asking because you picked 2 rather than 3 - I was wondering if you didn't use any of the other choices on the list either
 

link81

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depends on the tank. FO can get by with saltwater mix and a heater (or a 78F room). Reef tank would really just need the same with the addition of a light.


*** edit after vote***

how on earth is saltwater mix not the MOST important lol? this is a saltwater site right? :rolleyes::p:D
 

Nburg's Reef

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I know more than three are required, but I viewed this as the three things to not mess up or can have a big impact on success. I think lighting is very important to get right. Its easy to get right but also very easy to mess up on. RO/DI for clean water. water changes are important for basic tanks (not counting specific no water change methods that rely on other methods to export 'stuff'). If you are changing bad water with bad water, there will never be success. I also think flow is up there with things to get right. Its like lighting, easy to get right, but also very bad if wrong.
 

d2mini

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Cant have a reef tank without salt! ;)

I think it needs to be worded something to the effect of the choices/brands we have. Much of those items are absolute essentials to a reef tank. We NEED salt, but many would argue that brand doesn't matter, any salt will do.
 

MnFish1

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In which items is the brand specific brand 'most important'. For example - I dont care which salt I use - but I would never not use RODI. I do care about the light I use -but not the dose. etc etc. Perhaps @revhtree can clarify
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 80 38.5%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 69 33.2%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 26 12.5%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 31 14.9%
  • Other.

    Votes: 2 1.0%
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