You 100% don't need this for your reef aquarium...

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Do you ever buy stuff you think you need but then find out you really don't need it? Of course you do! But the key is to learn from the mistakes of others so you can save your money! Then again what may work for one doesn't always work for another right? So today let's talk about something you've purchased that you really don't need at all!

What is something you've purchased for your tank that you now know you can 100% do without?

What is something you've purchased that now sits on a shelf or in the garage never to be used again?

 

[SAWFISH]

I probably didn't need a bigger tank, but it is always worth it!

 

[dvgyfresh]

I have a 30 gallon anemone tank, I’ve found that buying a protein skimmer was useless the system only needs a weekly water change , also I have two extra wave makers that gather dust lol

 

[stanleo]

Bought a used GFO/Carbon reactor six months. I don't even know where it is right now.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Bought a used GFO/Carbon reactor six months. I don't even know where it is right now.

Meeeeeeee

 

[BlennyTime]

I had grand ambitions of setting up a nudibranch breeder tank at one point, and got most of the parts for that, but just never happened.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

I once bought a 90 Gallon aquarium which I never set up and ended up selling. I now also have too many powerheads !

 

[andrewkw]

If you don't have boxes or bins of old gear that is no longer useful / may have never been useful, you haven't been reefing very long.

 

[spiraling]

Need vs want
I don't need an apex or reeflink, but I like having them.
I don't need the webcam, but like checking on things while I'm away.
My low tech tank does just as well as the high tech one.

 

[Ippyroy]

I bought a used ATK and a algae reactor. The ATK didn’t work and I made my sock area a fuge. Both are in the closet collect dust. I originally was building a 120. Had to do a 32 cube due to COVID and have a 48” T5 Hybrid still was n the box. I also have about 80 lbs of dry rock sitting around.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I had grand ambitions of setting up a nudibranch breeder tank at one point, and got most of the parts for that, but just never happened.

Aiptasia eating?

 

[brandon429]

we 100% do not need to own nitrite test kits to start a reef, finish one, or run it.

even in quarantine or medication tanks, measure nh3 it's what matters.

Randy put out his nitrite in the reef tank article years ago, yet we're still testing for it. We've been told nitrite can stall a cycle, incorrect it cannot.

nitrite testing can spurn us to buy more bottle bac, though, so its beneficial for one aspect of the hobby.

throw out nitrite test kits dont own them, best move.

 

[andrewkw]

I had grand ambitions of setting up a nudibranch breeder tank at one point, and got most of the parts for that, but just never happened.

Me too, but then my lightning maroon clowns started laying eggs and I repurposed most of the stuff for that project. I caught the nudis and put them in the parents aiptasia infested tank. Meanwhile the nudi tank sat at room temperature slowly evaporating. Eventually I decided I needed the space the tank was sitting on so I'd take it outside to hose down.

I found this guy

Way bigger then any of the others and he was at room temp with no flow and 1.035 salinity! I dripped him and put him in the 90. I haven't seen any of the nudis in there since I added them but given that this guy was fine in those conditions they may still be out there.

Really though heater, air pump and aiptasia are all you need for them and maybe not even that...

 

[BlennyTime]

Aiptasia eating?

Yep, was going to sell them through our LFS. But then things got busy and I haven't revisited it.

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

I'm developing a good/bad habbit of trading frags for other peoples used and un-needed equipment. Some of it I use, other stuff may just go to the shelf till the end of time. Doesn't bother me much though because the other person is usually pretty happy to make the trade, and costs me no real money.

 

[sfin52]

I have extra parts and seals just incase something goes down. I hope I never have to use them but most likely will.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Chemicals and additives

 

[Krixic]

As a beginner hobbyist I've realized how many poor financial decisions I've made lol. Many things (too many to count) ive purchased thinking I needed them at the time but ended up going a different direction in the end. For instance I bought an auto feeder while not even owning fish at the time lol

And now that I have fish, I don't even feed them pellets...instead I do frozen food.

Apex AFS is available if anyone wants it lol

 

[DaddyFish]

Skimmer, everyone said "You MUST have a skimmer". So I bought one and tested it for days at a time across three tanks. Not one single inch of crud ever produced.

And autofeeders!!! Not one has ever been consistent enough (in saltwater) to let it run unmonitored. Freshwater okay, but not saltwater fish. They are too "picky". Besides, who can resist hand-feeding a dogface!

 

[Krixic]

Skimmer, everyone said "You MUST have a skimmer". So I bought one and tested it for days at a time across three tanks. Not one single inch of crud ever produced.

I completely agree. A lot of it has to do with bio-load and how much you feed. Even corals contribute....I think