What was the best investment you ever made for your reef tank?

[ahill3780]

As the subject says, what was your best investment - what made the most radical changes for the good?

Personally, this early in the game I can say that getting a 4 stage Kent Maxxima RO/DI unit was the smartest purchase I've made for my tanks. Followed closely by an RC membership!

[tag]

RO/DI unit

[tulkas71]

1. using RO/DI water for me as well. (dont have a unit, but the Walmart water is a temporary investment until I get a unit, but the end result is the same.)

2. A 'working' protein skimmer!

3. Going from CC to Sand

[gibbswagon]

i second the wal-mart water!

[Zach117]

Never take advice from a redskins fan!!

[bjonesjr1]

lol, go seattle..... Yea the RO/DI unit I bought was a good investment, it saved me from going to LFS all the time just to get water and transport it to my house, I couldn't ever trust the walmart or any place let alone that had those water machines, Who knows if they keep up with the maintence on those machines, I.E. changing the filters for as much people might use those machines...

[MattG]

Purchasing a tunze osmolator for topoff is the best thing i have purchased. Doesnt make a noticeable improvement in the tank but makes life much easier.

[dr.darkness]

Live Rock!

[toxqc]

1- refractometer
2- RO/DI

[ahill3780]

Wow, only a few posts and yet it seems that an RO/DI unit should be considered a mandatory purchase for reef tanks - and I say fishtanks in general! I was thinking to see much more posts spouting Calcium Reactors, or this skimmer versus that skimmer. Looks like I made the right purchase right off though with the Kent unit.

Keep the suggestions and comments flowing and maybe we can find out some critical components needed to fuel the elusive "perfect" setup - doubt it - but we'll see!

[MCary]

I agree with the RO/DI being almost mandatory. If you can include that, then I say the best investment I made was that glass box. Otherwise the water would have gotten all over my house.

Best investment of something that you don't need but is nice. I would go with my neptune controller. Although I give a ditto for the Osmolator.

Mike

[zimmy1979]

1) Refactrometer.
2) PH pin-point monitor.

[JaMan]

I agree, RO/DI and skimmer should be considered mandatory.

the best purchase for me would be a Top-off doser.

I would have said a Ca reactor but mine has been a pain in the butt from day one....does well at keeping the Alk & Ca. when running properly.

[YoungReefer06]

Concientous Marine Aquarist
Pocket Book Guide To Marine Fish
Pocket Book Guide To Marine Invertabrates

Books, without them I ouldnt even know what a RODI or refractometer was!!!

Kyle

[MNorton456]

A digital temp and salinity tester! It's so convenient and accurate.

[reefpeep2004]

RO/DI
Refractometer
Sump & Skimmer

[jay24k]

1. RO/DI
2. Skimmer
3. Calcium Reactor
4. Metal Halides
5. Refractometer
6. ORP equipment

[aquaman67]

$24 to Reef Central.

[collective21]

SALT

[skeeter_ca]

A electronic PH pen

But the best has to be high quality live rock form tampa bay saltwater. it has so much life i don't mind not having any corals or fish yet!

aquadw

[orionsmamma]

RC membership, for sure. Couldn't live without that search feature!

[MiddletonMark]

Hard to pick:

1. Skimmer upgrade. Even my wife noticed the positive change.
2. Auto Top Up. I use an Osmolator, has made life much easier.
3. RC Membership/books. The better educated I am, IMO, the better I can know how to care for my wet pets

[20 20]

RO/DI here also. Second would be switching to Salifert test kits for alk and calcium. Next on the list (hopefully) will be an auto-top-off system.

[Agu]

TRA (The Reef Aquarium ) vol 1 by Delbeek and Sprung.

Without it I wouldn't have stayed in the hobby long, and would have killed a lot of innocent animals before giving up.

[NetFish]

RO/DI..
and this post inspired me to become a RC member.. paypal on its way!!! cant imagine getting into this hobby without RC now