What New Equipment to Add?

tdileo · Nov 4, 2017

Currently my tank is running with LEDs, a skimmer, 2 powerheads, and a return pump. I’d like to add new stuff, but don’t plan on replacing old equipment other than maybe getting a gyre and doing something else with my powerheads.
I am an SPS guy so I would like to buy a dosing pump and ATO to help keep my tank more stable as well as end the need to manually to top off and dose. Any idea for a reliable doser that isn’t above maybe $400 (I’m 15 so that’s too much lol!)? As for the ATO I am thinking Tunze 3155. Beyond those two pieces, what other equipment should I plan on adding on soon?

cracker · Nov 4, 2017

From your list looks like You have the necessary stuff. I'm sure You know there are plenty of "bell & whistle stuff " out there.

mcarroll · Nov 4, 2017

An $80 Jebao doser fits my 40-year old budget.

Good luck!

Can't go wrong with a Tunze ATO....either 3155 or the nano model, depending on your tank size.

tdileo · Nov 4, 2017

cracker said:
From your list looks like You have the necessary stuff. I'm sure You know there are plenty of "bell & whistle stuff " out there.

Yep my tank has been running for a few months and my acros are growing and coloring nice, at the moment just looking to add stuff that will make everything a little easier on me and my system a little healthier.

tdileo · Nov 4, 2017

mcarroll said:
An $80 Jebao doser fits my 40-year old budget. Good luck!

Can't go wrong with a Tunze ATO....either 3155 or the nano model, depending on your tank size.

I was thinking about the Jebao doser. Some
People say they work great, others say they fail quickly, some say they don’t work right out of the box. Unfortunately some of the other options are just far too expensive so I may have to risk it and hope I get lucky!

Zack K · Nov 4, 2017

Their has been a rise in Apex’s posted Lately if you want to go Automatic. Being 17 myself I️ know how tight the budget is. Their is a few good deals here.

tdileo · Nov 4, 2017

Zack Klabunde said:
Their has been a rise in Apex’s Lately if you want to go Automatic. Being 17 myself I️ know how tight the budget is. Their is a few good deals here.

Definitely want to get an Apex eventually. They are awesome but the price for a new one + probes is far out of my price range unless I want to save up for probably a year since my dad makes me put away like 75%+ of the money I make. I am hopeful I will see a used one for like $300 though, I know a guy in person who found one on eBay for a similar price!

mcarroll · Nov 4, 2017

A Reefkeeper "Lite" kit is probably a more logical place to start when you're on a tight budget.

Even buying brand new you can get out of the gate for <$150 and only "need" an additional set of outlets.

The "Plus" kit comes fully loaded for <$300.

tdileo · Nov 4, 2017

mcarroll said:
A Reefkeeper "Lite" kit is probably a more logical place to start when you're on a tight budget.

Even buying brand new you can get out of the gate for <$150 and only "need" an additional set of outlets.

The "Plus" kit comes fully loaded for <$300.

Wow I’ve never heard of that one, thank you! I see there is a ReefKeeper Elite Plus with pH, temp, salinity and that stuff so I may just try and get some gift cards for Christmas, combine them with my own money and get that one!

cracker · Nov 4, 2017

An ATO surely makes life easier. That was a good purchase well worth the $$

tdileo · Nov 5, 2017

So for now I am thinking an ATO, a ReefKeeper, and a new light for my refugium. Just have to decide on a light, I am looking at a few on Amazon rather than something like the Kessil H380. My refugium is only about 4.5x11” and 7” deep so I don’t need a huge amount of spread or strength. Plan is to split ReefKeeper and ATO through my own money and Christmas gifts and purchase the light myself.

mtraylor · Nov 5, 2017

If you are an SPS guy and have a large tank. I would get stuff in the following order. ATO (Immediately). I actually built my own. Allot cheaper. Then I would start figuring out how to get a controller. I have an APEX and love it. Try to find a used one if you have too. Mine is the old school one. Have had it for years. They are expensive, but so is everything else. Good luck.

tdileo · Nov 5, 2017

mtraylor said:
If you are an SPS guy and have a large tank. I would get stuff in the following order. ATO (Immediately). I actually built my own. Allot cheaper. Then I would start figuring out how to get a controller. I have an APEX and love it. Try to find a used one if you have too. Mine is the old school one. Have had it for years. They are expensive, but so is everything else. Good luck.

My system is about 52 gallons total so I have had no problem hand dosing and topping off but it would be very nice to not have to, and especially for when I’m away. I am thinking about maybe getting the Apex Jr rather than the ReefKeeper since it’s not terribly expensive so that I can just have a failsafe for my heater and the ATO as well as be able to control everything from my phone.

mtraylor · Nov 5, 2017

tdileo said:
My system is about 52 gallons total so I have had no problem hand dosing and topping off but it would be very nice to not have to, and especially for when I’m away. I am thinking about maybe getting the Apex Jr rather than the ReefKeeper since it’s not terribly expensive so that I can just have a failsafe for my heater and the ATO as well as be able to control everything from my phone.

Yeah with that size aquarium, a controller is not at the top of the list. I agree with you. Once you start getting into the larger aquariums that is when I say its more important. My advice would be, if you plan on one day getting a big aquarium. Hold off to get a full blown controller no matter which brand you go with. That way you will not run out of ports etc when you need them and you wont have to sell and go through the process again. Get the ATO, that is going to help you allot for stability.

tdileo · Nov 5, 2017

mtraylor said:
Yeah with that size aquarium, a controller is not at the top of the list. I agree with you. Once you start getting into the larger aquariums that is when I say its more important. My advice would be, if you plan on one day getting a big aquarium. Hold off to get a full blown controller no matter which brand you go with. That way you will not run out of ports etc when you need them and you wont have to sell and go through the process again. Get the ATO, that is going to help you allot for stability.

Well I do plan on getting a big tank one day but it won’t be for a very long time. Not until I graduate, then get through college and buy my own house. We don’t have room for a tank other than the one I have now, so do you think I should get one anyway?

mtraylor · Nov 5, 2017

Oh ok. Well you have allot of time between getting a big aquarium. So from my experience on an investment like that. I would write down what the controller would do for me....if you purchased the controller. Write down in the thread what all you would use it for. That would give everyone a chance to chime in including myself. You may see after writing everything down that you don't need it.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 5, 2017

Get something that will help your ph maybe. MORE CORAL!

tdileo · Nov 5, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Get something that will help your ph maybe. MORE CORAL!

I’m running my fuge opposite of the DT so I believe that will help keep my pH nice and stable. I will also be adding kalk (pickling lime and other names) to the ATO when I get it.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 5, 2017

tdileo said:
I’m running my fuge opposite of the DT so I believe that will help keep my pH nice and stable. I will also be adding kalk (pickling lime and other names) to the ATO when I get it.

Also half kidding too. The ato is essential. My jebao doser has been going strong for a year.

And corals do uptake co2 and give of o2. Inhad to stop the kalk

tdileo · Nov 5, 2017

mtraylor said:
Oh ok. Well you have allot of time between getting a big aquarium. So from my experience on an investment like that. I would write down what the controller would do for me....if you purchased the controller. Write down in the thread what all you would use it for. That would give everyone a chance to chime in including myself. You may see after writing everything down that you don't need it.

Thanks for that idea, I think it’s great! Here goes:
Like I said earlier, a controller could help a lot as a failsafe. If a heater were to fail on the controller would automatically shut it off, and if it failed in the off position I would be alerted of it so I would quickly know. For the ATO, I could program the Apex to automatically turn it off if it runs for longer than x amount of seconds, for if some reason the pump doesn’t stop and it would drastically drop my salinity or even overflow the sump.
I usually go away for Spring break, and 2-3 times a year I usually drive down to Florida to visit the rest of my family there. I don’t have a reefer monitor my tank so being able to view some of my parameters from my phone while away may not be super important but would help me feel a little better as well as ensure all my equipment is still running properly so if something goes wrong I could ask somebody in the hobby to go over and check it out for me.
Other than that, here are some less important things. I think the Apex could allow me to ramp up my lights rather than just turning them on, but I’m not completely sure if it can do that. It also could help offer some peace of mind if I ever just want to check on my parameters while I’m out, and of course it would make life a little easier by making me just have to press a single button to turn my pumps off for feed mode.