So today's QOTD comes to us an inspired by member
@WallyB! I think it's a great topic and would love to hear your thoughts on it as well. So what are we talking about here? We're talking about the
TOP 5 THINGS TO NEVER BE WITHOUT! So I decided to come up with my own list and I want to hear what you think the top 5 things are for yourself. So here are mine in no particular order.
1. Generator: Something to give power to your tanks life support equipment in case of a power outage.
2. Mixed Salt Water: Fresh new saltwater ready to initiate a quick water change or to use to house corals and fish in another emergency location. This may also be dry salt with the ability to mix up some new water quickly. Which leads to my next item.
3. Fresh RO Water: The extra fresh water will give you the ability to mix saltwater or give you the ability to mix MORE after you have used the mixed water from my previous point. You can never have too much water IMO.
4. Spare Return Pump: Most hobbyists house equipment like heaters, skimmers, reactors, dosers in a sump or other areas besides the main display. If your return pump dies on you will need a back up to keep the water flowing to these important parts of your system. Just as important is the flow it provides. In the event of a power outage this may be the only item you'll want to be running. See point number one.
5. Spare Tank or Containers: I thought about spare plumbing parts here and they would make #6 on my list but let's pretend you don't have a plumbing issue but you have a leaking tank issue. In this case you're going to need a spare tank or enough containers to house your fish, corals and live rock.
It's hard to choose just the top 5 things because spare heaters, reefing buddies, carbon reactors and things like that are very important but if I have to pick just 5 these would top my list.
So what are your TOP 5 THINGS to never be without?
@revhtree .....Cool you picked my topic and I'll be looking over folks ideas (to add to my Emergency Kit)
First I have to say your Item
#1 Generator is not for the budget minded person. I agree that having a generator is a ideal thing to have, but not cheap. (It can depend on what you are protecting since losing a tank full of Fish and Corals certainly is worth the cost of a Generator) I actually bought one on clearance for like $250, and it's just been sitting in a box for over a year waiting for a power failure. There are other considerations that I haven't learned like having enough gas. Keeping gasoline fresh, etc. A better choice than a gasoline Generator would be to get a Natural Gas version, and have it close to a outside Gas line to BBQ. Those Natural Gas Gens are even more expensive.
One other option/ or
ALTERNATIVE to a Generator is an
Battery Powered Inverter, like one of these
It's similar to a generator since it provide AC power, but runs instantly off any 12 Volt Battery (ie Car battery). The more batteries you have the more time you can have your critical components up. It won't run your whole setup (and it won't run a big heater for long either), but can keep flow, and some aeration going for hours, days till power comes back.
** NOT all inverters are alike, and some won't run AC pumps, unless they are close to Sine Wave, so do your homework before purchasing one **
I got one of these Camper Inverters used, for $150, and it will run anything (I tested it). I have it wired to a couple of outlets, that I can quickly plug in stuff if there is ever a need. I run it off worn down old car batteries that still hold some charge, but not enough for a car full time. I tested a simple power failure situation and get about 12-16 hours or running time.
One point above GENERATOR vs INVERTER. Most cheap generators mean you have to be around, to start them up. Hook them up. Inverters can be hooked up to run your tank off your House AC, and only when Power fails do they kick in. The best part is they kick in automatically/Instantly. So for short power failures, your tank/system components that are running off Inverter Never shut off.
The whole Generator/Inverter solution (unless High End/High Cost) needs to be planned well and fully tested, so you don't waste money and then when needed, it doesn't work as you expected, or work at all.
I personally think to me the
#1 & #2 things you should have is SALT and Ready Made RO water to made up Salt.
Having Salt is a no brainer. Having RO Water made up in a reservoir is something I learned. When you have an event needing a big water change, you need that water right away, and making RO slowly isn't quick enough.
On the topic of
my #3 item, it would be along you line of spare plumbing. For me having some
Self Sealing Silicone Tape kicking around is a must. For fixing a hose, Water or even air type.
A product like this (Silicone I think is Tank Safe)
My #4 Item is a spare heater, since over the years, I had at least 2 fail and that's a must to keep tank Temp stable.
And last but not least,
my #5 item would be Vinegar, or Citric Acid powder. When any pump (ie Flow, Skimmer, or Return get's calcified and stalls, you need it back up an running. So having some kind of de-calcificafier handy can have your pump restored and back up and running quick.
