What piece of equipment did you think you would NEVER own?

hypermikie · #1 11/01/2007, 11:25 PM

As we go through life we sometimes see fads and new inventions and think "That will never last..., I am not getting one of those...,man that is way to expensive"

As we are all aware, hobbies can be very expensive in many ways. Sometimes in our hobbies we think there is no way I would ever pay that much for "____________".

Sometimes it's the I can easily get by without "___________" thought, then we end up purchasing the said item.

Usually in my experience I end up thinking, "MAN! How did I do this before "___________". This has made my life easier, better, etc."

What is your one reef related item that you have maybe used one or all of these phrases on and NOW own?

SDguy · #2 11/01/2007, 11:29 PM

Well, I'd say my DVR, but since you said reef related...

I'd say my AC Jr.

Maybe in the future, after I've been using it longer, I may say my ozonizer....

busterb · #3 11/01/2007, 11:33 PM

same here.. AC jr. But now it's hard to run with out it.

cbeitel · #4 11/02/2007, 12:02 AM

This is an easy one.

I would never pay that much for a... "fish tank." An in-wall reef tank. $5,000 and counting...

We're all nuts.

USC-fan · #5 11/02/2007, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cbeitel
This is an easy one.

I would never pay that much for a... "fish tank." An in-wall reef tank. $5,000 and counting...

We're all nuts.

QFT!

HBtank · #6 11/02/2007, 12:39 AM

400 dollar powerheads. Never saw that coming a year ago, neither did my CC.

Doh..

If it gets worse I am screwed.

cd77 · #7 11/02/2007, 01:59 AM

1. Pinpoint Salinity Monitor -- First I thought I'd be fine with the Deep Six. After that, I found the refractometer to be so much nicer/accurate, but the digital salinity monitor makes things even easier!

2. Auto Topoff -- I can't even imagine the thought of manually dumping in RODI water daily anymore.

...call it convenience, call it laziness... I won't even mention the AC III

Billybeau1 · #8 11/02/2007, 02:19 AM

the Wife..............

Yes she's reef related. She feeds my fishies every night while I'm at work.

spreston · #9 11/02/2007, 08:37 AM

AC jr, may not be the most important piece of equipment, but definately the coolest.

OliverM3 · #10 11/02/2007, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HBtank
400 dollar powerheads. Never saw that coming a year ago, neither did my CC.

Doh..

If it gets worse I am screwed.

Same here a $350 powerhead with a $150 battery backup add-on and a $100 Driver upgrade kit - $50 after the return of the old one.
so $550 for one water movement device. That hurts just saying it out loud.

MarkD40 · #11 11/02/2007, 10:50 AM

1. Metal Halides. Used PC's for years and thought things were great. Did not think the high cost of MH was worth it. Broke down and put in MH's one year ago and the difference it has made in my coral growth is stunning. Also like the flickering effect on the rockwork and sand bed. Looks much more natural.

2. Refractomer. Used a swing arm for years. Worked good for a while then things started dying. Found out may swing arm was way off and reading that my salinity much higher than it was. Realize now that it is a necessity.

rustybucket145 · #12 11/02/2007, 10:55 AM

Refractometer..... Same as MarkD40.... worked great for years... said I'd never spend $60 to see how salty my water was b/c I had swingarms and floating hydrometers.... well... everything started dying... Both swingarms and floating hydro were off... in different directions... I didn't know which to trust. Purchased a refractometer and never looked back.

tkeracer619 · #13 11/02/2007, 11:24 AM

A medical grade peristaltic pump to do automatic water changes...... retail $2600...... yay ebay.

drstupid · #14 11/02/2007, 02:54 PM

an english bulldog. to make amends with my wife for building a reef tank....

RicGio · #15 11/02/2007, 03:06 PM

A chiller... 500$ to cool this thing down 4 degrees? now I wish I'd bought it 5 years ago.

JimKelly12203 · #16 11/02/2007, 03:14 PM

Gotta go with the 400 dollar power head x 2 here as well. What a ludicrous price! But hey, it's the single best way to get a varied flow w/o messy external equipment, drilled tank sides, wavemakers and pump wear and tear. They're easy on the eyes too!

badhand2222 · #17 11/02/2007, 04:48 PM

my puffer sometimes?

Philwd · #18 11/02/2007, 08:32 PM

Yep the powerheads. Got 3 of them with 2 battery backups and 3 wireless drivers. No don't add it up.

2nd choice Ac jr. The ability to shutdown equip when temps get too high saved me twice.

Kalied20 · #19 11/02/2007, 09:08 PM

Well I was just getting a 24 nano cube about 2 years ago. I have been through 4 tanks and now have 2 setup. 90RR with the works for about $4K and a 50gallon Starfire glass that is working it's way up.

law086 · #20 11/02/2007, 09:26 PM

I would say that I never expected to drop the cash on an RO booster pump. Now that I have it I wonder how I lived my 1/2 output from my RO system.

Kaos · #21 11/02/2007, 09:40 PM

Definitely my ACjr. I remember seeing controllers a few years ago (when they were in the $500-1,000's) and thinking that would be awsome but I will never own one. Now I have two ACjr.'s (one blue face and one black face) and a RK1. I just keep finding deals on these things.

saltaholic · #22 11/02/2007, 09:49 PM

what is really bad is I do not know what the "ac jr" is and I already want one. What is it?

For some sick reason I think some of the fascination in this hobby is the expense. Think about it, would you think your 1000watt light system that cost you a dollar per watt was as cool if say it only cost 89.99 at wal mart? Although that would be great if that cheap. Sometimes the cost is what makes you feel that you have a unique or very sophisticated tank. Just something to chew on.

PrivateJoker64 · #23 11/02/2007, 09:53 PM

Aquacontroller Jr.
Check under Neptune in the sponsor's page.
I would never attempt a reef without one again...

hypermikie · #24 11/02/2007, 10:06 PM

When I asked this question I thought about the same items already mentioned.

1.) My New RO/DI System - I mean, come on I used tap water for years with "no problems" and everything "looked good". It does make a difference in my opinion and my set-up.

2.) My AcJR. - With the money one invests in timers, light strips, etc. This one was a no brainer purchase when building the new system. It makes life so much easier. I would have scoffed at using such sofistication a few years back!

3.) Refractometer - To think I used to rely on my Deep-Six hydrometer for the expensive inhabitants. Seems so silly. Like Rustbucket said "$60 to see how salty my water is..." LOL!

Keep them coming....

McCrary · #25 11/02/2007, 10:35 PM

My Tunze 7095 to control my powerheads.