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.

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.

I have a HUGE calcium reactor and would not have it any other way.

Chemicals that are gotten at the right price are significantly cheaper (I worked it out to 20% the cost) of using a reactor.

I bulk buy (100s of lbs at a time) calcium reactor media becaus I go through 2 lbs a month. It costs me a total of $6 per lb for media, about $60 a year for CO2 rental and gas, and about $950 for equipment to run it properly (54 inch reactor, dosing pump, externally run circulation pump, and head for dosing pump). I run my ph down to 6.3 and have an effluent dkh of over 65! All of this to keep my levels at 420 and 9.5.

Cost break down over 10 years:

-media $1440
-equipment $950 (assuming it lasts that long, already replaced a head for the dosing pump at $150)
-CO2 and rental fees $600

Total $2990!!!!!


Total cost of using chems (this is assuming same number of lbs of chems is required, though I think it is close):

$600


The only reason I use a reactor is because of convenience, and it takes less time. But as you can see I pay a lot for convenience!

Wow ... so much for that argument then. :lol: I still like my reactor better than dosing. So there!! :p

Hey so do I, in fact I am rather proud of my DIY biggest I have yet seen calcium reactor.:mrgreen:

I used to think that additives were the more then a reactor, that was when I was paying $26 for 2.2 lbs of calcium or carbonate alk. (+ tax)

Cost break down over 5 years for a simpler system (sans dosing pump and normal sized reactor) assuming 10 lbs of media used per year.

-media $300
-equipment $400
-CO2 and rental fees $490

Total $1190!!!!!


Total cost of using chems:

$125


There it is almost 10% the cost!


If I lost my job I would dose manually each day, assuming I could still even afford my tank at all!

I have a chiller but voted for the controller. I think in an sps tank both are actually "necessary" but the awesome flow that the (Tunze) controller creates with the pulsing action makes a world of difference. The chiller will keep my stuff alive and looking good (with no rtn/stn) through the summer heat. Now I have these items I wouldn't give them up any more than I would stop using R/O filtered water. Next on the equipment list is a calcium reactor.

Chiller here. Don't have a Ca reactor, wavysea or wavebox and the only controllers I have are 2 Tunze 7091's which hardly count. Have a Phosban reactor but it's sittin' in a closet doin' nothin' but nothin'. Need to get another chiller for the FOWLR before summa.

Cheers,

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.

very good point kwirky. i completely forgot about that. it would definitely be on of my top 3 now that you pointed it out.

Very interesting thread ,Colin !! Sure adds to to the picture for someone on the verge of taking the plunge . Keep the opinions coming guys .........
...................Dave