What equipment do reefers overcomplicate the most?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I think sometimes we get really excited about the new bells and whistles on our tech. (I know I do!) And we start treating things as essential that previously weren't even "a thing." Take lighting for example, we used to just have it set on a timer to come on at a certain time of day and go off at the end of day. Now, we have lighting schedules that can quickly turn into a maze of sunrise ramps, moonlight settings, color channels, PAR maps, and endless tweaking if we aren't careful. I'm not saying these things are bad, but I do wonder if we've created unnecessary expectations and potential learning curves to what used to be very simple equipment setups. What do you think? What equipment do reefers overcomplicate the most?

Photo by @Duxiansheng

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

I think you answered your own question. LED lighting definitely.

 

[56longroof]

Lighting,dosing and monitoring are just a few. Other than an ATO I run my reef like you would have in the mid 90's. I feel a hands on approach gives more control over the tank. Not much equipment to fail this way.

 

[BryanM]

Maybe the most overly complex things are the ones the user buys and doesn't understand how to use.

 

[edsbeaker]

Powerheads! Every minute of the day you can have them programmed to do something different. I just use random all day and night on my Jebao DMP’s

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I think you answered your own question. LED lighting definitely.

That's my take for sure. I mean, we got lighting that simulates storms and various other phenomena.

I think there are likely others that should be honorable mentions too.

Powerheads! Every minute of the day you can have them programmed to do something different. I just use random all day and night on my Jebao DMP’s

Yep. I agree that we've got a bunch of different flow possibilities that can be both fun and overwhelming.

 

[PPBlimpy]

I just recently switched back to Halides from LED. no ramping. just on / off.
I have added an Apex in the last year but it came with a tank I purchased so I figured why not. I use it as a fancy timer that I can monitor from my phone. I do want to implement AWC one of these days, would love auto testing alc / cal. I probably should actually calibrate the probes eventually. I have only calibrated the PH.

Do I need the controller, not really. Have toyed with selling it.

Tank looked better when I was not messing with it all the time.

The one that gets me is the power heads and flow etc. the programming etc is nuts.

I just installed a seaswirl on my newest tank and had run an ocean motion valve on my old tanks closed loop.

One day I may go back to the above tank refugium and surge system like i had 20 years ago.

 

[commod0re]

I think the main thing that makes powerheads feel complicated is that there’s not enough guidance available that is sufficiently detailed for novices to fully understand. @Reefara was very kind and gave me the most detailed information I’ve found on that and it helped me a ton

I’ve noticed over on the DIY board that there’s a tendency to overcomplicate one’s plumbing which then makes troubleshooting it harder

My real answer though, and I say this as someone who does not manually test often enough, is I think that the proliferance of controllers and auto testers really contributes to the image that reefing is difficult and expensive. Because it can’t be easy if it needs constant monitoring, and the gear to monitor with is all really spendy…

 

[BuffaloLake]

I had to turn off the moonlight feature of my Radions, they just let the Powder Blue bully 24-7. The other fish can finally sleep now.

 

[rtparty]

Lighting, dosing, testing, controllers

 

[X-37B]

Proper tank flow with whatever you use.
In my old 120 I had 6 powerheads.
My current 150 has 2 with sweeps.
I never liked the 6 and now that Tunze has the Orca many can enjoy their reef with less equipment in the system.

 

[billyocean]

Lighting is probably number one as mentioned. On/off woth no ramps will treat the coral just fine. Most reef lights will do the job if there is enough coverage for your type of coral. Really, unless the tank is eating more than a waterchange can handle, or something like afr can handle..thats all you really need imo. Us psychos that like to tinker for that extra 5% on color for acros isnt really necessary to have success.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I think the main thing that makes powerheads feel complicated is that there’s not enough guidance available that is sufficiently detailed for novices to fully understand. @Reefara was very kind and gave me the most detailed information I’ve found on that and it helped me a ton

I’ve noticed over on the DIY board that there’s a tendency to overcomplicate one’s plumbing which then makes troubleshooting it harder

My real answer though, and I say this as someone who does not manually test often enough, is I think that the proliferance of controllers and auto testers really contributes to the image that reefing is difficult and expensive. Because it can’t be easy if it needs constant monitoring, and the gear to monitor with is all really spendy…

I definitely have been confused by flow a lot before!

 

[winxp_man]

I had to turn off the moonlight feature of my Radions, they just let the Powder Blue bully 24-7. The other fish can finally sleep now.

My tangs go nuts with the moon mode! I figured this out long ago that off was better! My 6 powders get to the point of murder with them on! All is quiet in the western front now, in what I said after I turned that feature off haha.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Lighting! I know for me I would always make it way more complicated than what I needed to be

 

[Reef Wizard Steven]

I think sometimes we get really excited about the new bells and whistles on our tech. (I know I do!) And we start treating things as essential that previously weren't even "a thing." Take lighting for example, we used to just have it set on a timer to come on at a certain time of day and go off at the end of day. Now, we have lighting schedules that can quickly turn into a maze of sunrise ramps, moonlight settings, color channels, PAR maps, and endless tweaking if we aren't careful. I'm not saying these things are bad, but I do wonder if we've created unnecessary expectations and potential learning curves to what used to be very simple equipment setups. What do you think? What equipment do reefers overcomplicate the most?

Photo by @Duxiansheng

Personally I think lighting and dosing. I use kamoers and just dose AFR, and then manually do some calicium and magnesium as needed to ensure a good balance. Sometimes AFR will keep my alk stable, but my other parameters drop some. I think dosing with multiple tubes, multiple reservoirs, and all sorts of trace elements can kind of overdue it sometimes. It means more testing and monitoring too.

With the lighting, it can be fairly hard to know exactly what spectrum to have on and when, and what it should be at, exact PAR numbers etc. I have a few tanks with a light that just comes on and off via timer, and it definitely contributes to a lot less fiddling around with things. Corals need stability more than anything, lights flow, parameters, and changing stuff often is what stresses the animals out. As long as your ranges arent in crazy extremes, you dont need to go nuts and control every tiny little aspect. Do i like the extra control? Sure, but sometimes it does more harm than good when trying to tweak things into a "perfect" spot