unnecessary equipment but best investment

[niloc16]

which piece of 'unnecessary' equipment do you own that you think was the best investment?

[Sushiman]

40w UV & SQWD.

[danny zubot]

I don't have any of those, but I'm interested to see what items people really enjoy having.

[christyf5]

I'm on the fence between chiller and calcium reactor. I've decided to select calcium reactor because I've had it longer (4 years vs 1.5 yrs for the chiller)) and it gets used more often than the chiller (ie. year round vs summer months). I really do feel I couldn't live without either though. The calcium reactor keeps me sane from not having to dose daily and the chiller gives me piece of mind knowing I'm not cooking my critters.

[niloc16]

you can select multiple choices. i was probably the worst to vote because i chose, calcium reactor, wavysea, wavebox and controller. in the beginning it thought these units were 'wants'. but after using them i have found huge benefits from each one. the latest unit being the wavebox has given awesome PE on the sps, and the wavyseas give crazy flow with the tunzes on them. when i was building the setup i took the advice of Fudge to get a calcium reactor. a huge thing for me with this setup was to not have to do daily stuff aside from feeding and trying to judge if corals grew over night so i did not want to have to dose for calcium each day. i really really contemplated getting a controller at first. i just wanted one because it was a new cool toy but after having it and seeing the benefits of it i would not go without it.

[christyf5]

Oops I didn't see it was multiple choice. I added my vote for chiller then.

I have a wavebox as well, and while I agree that it is a great piece of equipment to have and I've never seen my corals with such incredible polyp extension. I don't think I would have any problems going without it as my Tunze powerheads were getting the job done for me before I got the wavebox. Not that I'm saying the wavebox isn't great, its just not a neccessary piece of equipment IMO. Just as a ca reactor or chiller isn't necessary if you don't have a tank crammed with sps or your tank is in a cool basement or something

As for the aquarium controllers, they're out of my league. I have read up o them several times and I still don't really "get it"

[Ruth]

Hands down - feet down - the calcium reactor for me although I really do need to get a chiller or 2 before summer hits again.

[BMW Rider]

I had to say controller, its mainly made things tidier and simpler to run and its potential uses are amazing.

My calcium reactor has proven itself to be an essential and very necessary piece of equipment. I couldn't keep my calcium and alk levels right before it, despite regular testing and dosing and testing and dosing and testing and dosing..... One or the other or both were usually way off.

Only other item I have is the Phosban reactor, and its hardly worthy of "investment" status compared to the rest of the gear. More of a trinket, but a handy one at that.

[Quagmire]

I voted phosban reactor.Like Tony I'm running carbon in mine.Best way to run carbon IMO.One thats missing on the list is a nano stream,which I would have voted for also.Or maybe that falls under necessary.

[kwirky]

reviving a dead thread, but this morning I realized that my magnet cleaner is my most valuable unessesary equipment. I don't need it, but I physically use it every single day, and I will never be without one ever.

So cheers to my most overlooked but well used piece of equipment, my magnet cleaner lol.