Reef Essentials

[Spectre2006]

In our modern day busy lives, trying to maintain reef chemistry stability is essential for longevity in the hobby. Otherwise daily maintenance eventually can burn you out. Since starting this hobby, you learn that buying top of the line equipment will save you money in the long run.

1) Built in Overflow(s)

2) Starphire Glass

3) Sump with Partitions

4) Reef Controller

5) Top of the Line Protein Skimmer

6) Two or more Heaters

7) T5 Lighting with or without MH

8) Auto-Top Off with overflow Sensor

9) Multistage RO/DI System with Auto Replenish with TDS Meter

10) Auto Water Change

11) Refugium w/Light with or without Miracle Mud, Macro Algae

12) RO Reservoir with heater/pump

13) Saltwater Mixing Reservoir with heater/pump/extra salinity probe

14) Sump Probes - Salinity/PH/ORP/Temp

15) Self Contained Quarantine System

16) Live Rock/with Treated Dry Rock

17) Three Component Dosing or Calcium Reactor

18) GFO/Carbon Reactor with Pumps

19) Filter Socks with holder

20) Waste water drain

21) Carbon dosing(Vodka) or NP Biopellets Reactor Tied into Protein Skimmer

22) Black/Grey PVC plumbing for Returns and Overflows

23) Barebottom or Live Sand

24) Direct Sunlight

25) Reef Cleaners

26) Return Pumps to max out Overflows

27) Ecotech Vortechs for Flow

28) Daily System Component Checks

29) Coral Food/ Additives

30) Reef Friendly Stand

31) Foam/Plywood under Large Tanks

32) Glass/Acrylic Cleaners

33) Magnetic Probe Holders

34) Magnetic Dosing Tube Holders

35) Frag Tank tied In to Main System Plumbing

36) Generator

37) Dosing Pumps


Weekly/Monthly Purchases

1) GFO/Carbon/Filter Socks/Additives/Coral Food/Salt
2) Bulb Change and RO/DI membrane changes (6-12 months)


Key is maintaining reef chemistry stability and to avoid major swings.

 

[Misled]

2) Starphire Glass

4) Reef Controller

6) Two or more Heaters

7) T5 Lighting with or without MH

8) Auto-Top Off with overflow Sensor

9) Multistage RO/DI System with Auto Replenish with TDS Meter

10) Auto Water Change

12) RO Reservoir with heater/pump

13) Saltwater Mixing Reservoir with heater/pump/extra salinity probe

14) Sump Probes - Salinity/PH/ORP/Temp

15) Self Contained Quarantine System

17) Three Component Dosing or Calcium Reactor

18) GFO/Carbon Reactor with Pumps

19) Filter Socks with holder

20) Waste water drain

21) Carbon dosing(Vodka) or NP Biopellets Reactor Tied into Protein Skimmer

24) Direct Sunlight

26) Return Pumps to max out Overflows

27) Ecotech Vortechs for Flow

28) Daily System Component Checks

33) Magnetic Probe Holders

34) Magnetic Dosing Tube Holders

35) Frag Tank tied In to Main System Plumbing

37) Dosing Pumps


Weekly/Monthly Purchases

1) GFO/Carbon/Filter Socks/Additives/Coral Food/Salt
2) Bulb Change and RO/DI membrane changes (6-12 months)


Key is maintaining reef chemistry stability and to avoid major swings.

So out of your list, those are the things I don't have, (the RO/DI doesn't have auto replenish). I agree with what you are trying to say, but things really can be simplified. There's also the KISS method.

 

[Spectre2006]

So out of your list, those are the things I don't have, (the RO/DI doesn't have auto replenish). I agree with what you are trying to say, but things really can be simplified. There's also the KISS method.

if you have a disciplined schedule, its okay to forego on the automation and other things, but for me personally I've found having those extra things, the hobby is more doable and enjoyable. My tanks suffer when everyday life work/stress take away time from doing essential things for the reef.

 

[cherubfish pair]

You forgot to list LEDs. No bi-annual replacement.

 

[cap032]

Dont get "return pumps to max overflows". Many of us subscribe to the "slow flow through the sump" principle.

 

[Spectre2006]

You forgot to list LEDs. No bi-annual replacement.

I have the ecotech radion and AI on different tanks, so far for me not convinced, the corals are bleaching to a certain degree. So the jury is still out for LEDS, on another tank I have T5's and MH combo fixture, corals seem to like that more.

 

[Spectre2006]

Dont get "return pumps to max overflows". Many of us subscribe to the "slow flow through the sump" principle.

sorry just meant to get a decent size return pump that your overflow can handle, to increase turnover of tank volume.

 

[Spectre2006]

In our modern day busy lives, trying to maintain reef chemistry stability is essential for longevity in the hobby. Otherwise daily maintenance eventually can burn you out. Since starting this hobby, you learn that buying top of the line equipment will save you money in the long run.

1) Built in Overflow(s)

2) Starphire Glass

3) Sump with Partitions

4) Reef Controller

5) Top of the Line Protein Skimmer

6) Two or more Heaters

7) T5 Lighting with or without MH

8) Auto-Top Off with overflow Sensor

9) Multistage RO/DI System with Auto Replenish with TDS Meter

10) Auto Water Change

11) Refugium w/Light with or without Miracle Mud, Macro Algae

12) RO Reservoir with heater/pump

13) Saltwater Mixing Reservoir with heater/pump/extra salinity probe

14) Sump Probes - Salinity/PH/ORP/Temp

15) Self Contained Quarantine System

16) Live Rock/with Treated Dry Rock

17) Three Component Dosing or Calcium Reactor

18) GFO/Carbon Reactor with Pumps

19) Filter Socks with holder

20) Waste water drain

21) Carbon dosing(Vodka) or NP Biopellets Reactor Tied into Protein Skimmer

22) Black/Grey PVC plumbing for Returns and Overflows

23) Barebottom or Live Sand

24) Direct Sunlight

25) Reef Cleaners

26) Return Pumps to max out Overflows

27) Ecotech Vortechs for Flow

28) Daily System Component Checks

29) Coral Food/ Additives

30) Reef Friendly Stand

31) Foam/Plywood under Large Tanks

32) Glass/Acrylic Cleaners

33) Magnetic Probe Holders

34) Magnetic Dosing Tube Holders

35) Frag Tank tied In to Main System Plumbing

36) Generator

37) Dosing Pumps


Weekly/Monthly Purchases

1) GFO/Carbon/Filter Socks/Additives/Coral Food/Salt
2) Bulb Change and RO/DI membrane changes (6-12 months)


Key is maintaining reef chemistry stability and to avoid major swings.

38) Stray Voltage to Ground Probe in Sump

 

[Spectre2006]

A cool video on stability, SPS, Zeovit..

http://youtu.be/ZgH5O1crZAc

 

[sirreal63]

IMO most of that is far from essential, it is just nice to have if you can incorporate it.

 

[Spectre2006]

IMO most of that is far from essential, it is just nice to have if you can incorporate it.

Your correct, I should change the title to Reef Essentials for Low Daily Time Constraints.

 

[Spectre2006]

39) Reef Test Kits / Alk ca mg pho nitrate

 

[Spectre2006]

40) Chiller

 

[Spectre2006]

41) UV sterilizer

 

[Spectre2006]

42) PAR meter

 

[d2mini]

I think this post will be a little confusing for newbies.
Lots of those are debatable, especially in relation to your first sentence about helping with daily maintenance and stability. In fact, many just add to the daily/weekly maintenance.

Starphire glass? Actually i think this the opposite. I have it and it's easily scratched. Not something for someone in a hurry or someone who let's algae build up due to lack of time.

Direct sunlight just adds to algae problems.

No heater needed in an RO resorvoir if you are doing auto top off and auto water changes, (which IMHO is the best thing on the list outside of a quality controller).

Black PVC? How does color help?

Bare bottom or live sand?

PAR meter?

This list needs a serious culling.

 

[Squidmotron]

Just retitle: reef wants

 

[t4zalews]

I just pulled out my vortech's in favor of Tunze. I'll save the money from not using starphire to putting more colorful things in the aquarium.

 

[MiracleFish]

Is it recommended to use a simple filtration system on the side such as a Fluval 204 for a nano reef?

 

[d2mini]

Is it recommended to use a simple filtration system on the side such as a Fluval 204 for a nano reef?

no.