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

[robbyg]

I am not sure if spare parts are considered needed so I just voted other.
I have spares for every possible thing that could cause a disaster if not replaced quickly.

 

[12gallonsofhex]

Aptasia X. Leave it on the shelf. The X stands for multiplies, not extermination.

 

[Conovan]

I have only had a saltwater tank up (can't say I am a reefer with no corals as of yet) for 3 months and I already have 2 rubbermaid totes on the back porch full of unused stuff. can't wait to see what will happen with the next tank I have already started planning next year.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Majority of the pets I own is based on impulsive needless buys.

 

[ZoWhat]

 

[Ross B Reef'n]

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

I did almost the exact same thing, lol. BRS double chamber with a sicce pump? Yeah... in a box. For that rainy day I guess.

 

[Tony R.]

I'm like that i think I upgraded 100% of my equipment in the first 3 months. I tried to do it on a budget but very quickly found it would have worked out cheaper just to buy the right stuff first time around. Instead I tried to make my tank work on the cheapest equipment possible.

What an expensive fail that turned out to be

This should be the top pinned advice when looking up how to set up a Reef!

 

[Dennisd]

I see stuff online and it always looks really cool , but when I get it I don't really find it to be something I need. I give it to my daughter for her tank.

 

[Jerry Barnes]

I find it odd that buying colorful pipe and expensive fittings will make the tank perform any better. Fancy color coordinated sumps etc. Complete waste of money.

 

[Debramb]

I have to admit we’re so old school we pretty much haven’t gotten all the bells and whistles “new reefers” talk about, Because I found R2R ( and PaulB) it’s been helpful to see pros and cons. What upsets me the most is how unhealthy fish seem to be vs the 80’s and 90’s when a 15 min acclimation = healthy fish.

 

[Debramb]

Oh, and those plumbing parts are handy for husband’s water sprinklers too!

 

[NinnJinn]

Apex and 2 Dos systems....

It took 4 months after I got the Apex (Christmas 2019) before I set it up haven't even opened the app in over 2 months.

Bought 2 Dos systems back in March.. one is still sealed in the package and the other one was used for maybe two months at the most.

 

[WallyB]

I do buy stuff that I shouldn't.....like (Addtives, Snake Oils), eg. Coral Foods that usually mess things up for me. They go back on shelf, or in Fridge out of sight so I don't use them.

I do buy stuff that I don't need (comes in handy), Most aquarium parts come in handy for unrelated purposes. (like a Magenetic Holder, extra pipe/tubes/connectors,a small-pump, etc)

I once I bought something I thought I needed...which was a Robo Snail Auto Glass Cleaner. It was cool to watch, and cleaned ONLY Side of my Tank (so really didn't lesson my work). Also turned out difficult to keep running since having stuff on Glass, or Near Glass got in the way. Now.... Sitting in Box almost new collecting dust (and it wasn't cheap)

 

[Memisis]

Kalkwassler for me.

Whats your alternative to managing ph and calc?

 

[LatinoHeat]

Whats your alternative to managing ph and calc?

For my tank all I needed was water changes every 3 weeks. You can probably try 2 part for your tank. That's probably the best alternative if you definitely need it.

 

[Coral therapy]

Corals I cant stop buying corals. The reasoning I use to have multiple tanks.

 

[kaceyo]

Things bought on advice from the "Pro's! I was looking to add some trace elements to my tank to stretch out the time between WC's. On advice from BRS (can I say that?) I bought Tropic Marin's Original Balling method Part C to replenish the trace elements only to find out that Tropic Marin themselves say it cant be used for that purpose. Ahh Well!!!

 

[gray808]

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.

Is there may thread that you don't want to wade into and preach this?

--Gray

 

[Brian Drab]

Dissolved Oxygen Probe.