best thing to hit the hobby?

Flippers4pups · Dec 15, 2017

Since 93........ The internet and reefing forums, especially Reef2reef! Learning, sharing, discussions, research........ Priceless.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 15, 2017

Coral. Buy coral.
Best thing to hit Reefing ever.

A second tank is probably the second best thing ever.

Salty1962 · Dec 15, 2017

Controllers, Apex for me.

Dburr1014 · Dec 16, 2017

Love the responses.
I'm seeing the next step for me may be the controller.
I have LED lights, ATO, new skimmer and the wife got me a dc pump for Christmas.
I also like reading stuff on this site for advancing my knowledge.
I going to have to do some research.
Right now I have timers for everything but that doesn't mean they are dummy proof. I've been known to flood the basement a few times. [emoji55]
Thanks all!

Macdaddymd · Dec 16, 2017

Neptune Apex has been life changing!! I thought my system was stable before, but since I’ve gotten my Apex running, I now realize that I wasn’t anywhere near stable. More coral growing success now than I’ve ever had! I’d put programmable LED lights (for me, radion XR 30W Pro) as a close second

10Seconds · Dec 16, 2017

For me, the controllers are the main thing. I still prefer and use MH lighting. Other than the Apex, almost every thing I use on my tanks was available in one form or another for more than the past 10 yrs.

cracker · Dec 16, 2017

The internet IMO. A tremendous source of information. I'm not really into fancy controllers or equipment loaded with bells & whistles .

zsuzsu · Dec 16, 2017

For me it’s a tie between radium halides and ati t5 bulbs

siggy · Dec 16, 2017

Greybeard said:
Don't discount the large number of high quality, internet based vendors. BRS, LiveAquaria, MarineDepot, etc... as well as all of the smaller online coral sellers. Being able to shop around, having such a large number of high quality products available is amazing, compared to what reefing was like when I started in the 80's.

The internet has to be the single biggest change in ten years , The informational content, how-to videos & hardware has enabled me to be successful in the more challenging areas that i never would attempt 10-15 years ago,
and I'm sure has introduced and keeps many more in the Salt.

AS for toys & goodies go, I think a SENEYE is well worth the $$$$, my next gizmo will be a
MA887 DIGITAL SEAWATER REFRACTOMETER - MILWAUKEE

Saltdaddy · Dec 16, 2017

For me I would say the ato. Best thing I have added to the tank!

jkapit · Dec 16, 2017

Flippers4pups said:
Since 93........ The internet and reefing forums, especially Reef2reef! Learning, sharing, discussions, research........ Priceless.

Could not agree more, I would never have been successful without the sharing of knowledge.

Zagreus · Dec 16, 2017

I'm gonna say 1st and foremost Reef2Reef. I had tons of absolutely incredible equipment when I entered this hobby. It was worthless until I learned on reef2reef how to properly use it. Mark

NowGlazeIT · Dec 16, 2017

I’ve never used it for this hobby. What do you use it for

brandon429 said:
its not the tool its how its wielded

peroxide, by a mile.[/QUOT

reefwiser · Dec 16, 2017

The internet for sure the hobby wouldn’t be where it is today. Starting with the Usenet aquarium forums and Compuserve FishNet. The sharing of advances in the hobby like the Berlin method of using live rock and skimmers to filter the aquarium made the reef hobby what it is today.

Cory · Dec 16, 2017

Definitely these two

Automatic alkalinity titrators
And icp testing made cheap

dricc · Dec 16, 2017

Definately the web. For me it's was garf and wetweb media. They were a big help but reef2reef has been many, many times better. The exchange of information is irreplaceable.I have another hobby it's african viotets and streptocarpus( l know an old ladies hobby lol) and because of the internet and plant and info sharing hydrids have increased exponentially.not to mention the variety of colors now are wild. I see a parallel to reefing with all the cool corals passed around and all the info on husbandry. It's truly amazing to me as an older guy.(you know pre internet) corals that were once considered impossible to keep are now considered weeds.

Mikedawg · Dec 16, 2017

Random flow generators and not the kind with moving parts that soon don't move - 3D printing kind and I hope we'll find many more applications for 3D printing in near future