What Backup Items Do You Keep?

[mike550]

New to reefing and started with a 120G tank. I’ve already got power backup in place and a QT.

So my question is what spare equipment, chemicals, medications, should I keep on hand ?

Very pricey but thinking return pump, heater, powerhead. Would like to learn what others are doing.

Thanks in advance

 

[SuncrestReef]

See this thread from last week:

What Equipment Do You Keep Backups Of?

With the winter months approaching Ohio, I have been slowly accumulating backups of equipment that I feel are important. This began a few weeks ago when the low-water-level sensor on my Neptune Systems ATK failed as well as the PMUP; both were first-generation products, and I replaced them with...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Brew12]

New to reefing and started with a 120G tank. I’ve already got power backup in place and a QT.

So my question is what spare equipment, chemicals, medications, should I keep on hand ?

Very pricey but thinking return pump, heater, powerhead. Would like to learn what others are doing.

Thanks in advance

Other than making sure you have enough salt and dosing chemicals to keep the tank going for a few days I'll list what I try to keep.

For filtration, I keep at least a few cups of GAC and GFO along with some Polyfilters and Prime.

For meds I keep Ruby Reef Rally, Metroplex, General Cure, and Focus.

For spares, I keep a spare return pump identical to my main but I prefer Sicce AC pumps for reliability which are relatively cheap. If I ran an expensive DC pump I would probably get a cheap spare to use in an emergency. Just make sure you have everything you need in case the plumbing doesn't match.
I run 2 heaters, with 1 as an installed spare so I don't keep an extra outside the tank.
I run 4 powerheads so my tank would be fine without one for awhile if one failed. If I only used one or two, I would probably get a spare.

Since I have an automatic doser, I keep spare wear parts and a replacement head along with extra tubing. They don't fail often, but they call them wear parts for a reason. They will wear out eventually.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I have a spare heater and I have enough flow so if one powerhead dies, the water will still move until I purchase another one. I have medication on hand and I have a small R.O. unit that I used when I had a smaller tank. I kept it in case of an emergency when I upgraded. Many of my spares are from when I had a smaller tank. I would start with the medication first and go on from there. Next, I would grab a heater -- when they decide to go, they don't give you a warning.