Do I need reactors, top offs & drip automater's for my 8ft 222G reef tank?

Cshabz · 06/15/2014, 09:48 AM

Hey guys, I'm fairly new to the hobby (properly) about a year or so...

I got my dream tank.. an 8ft which is currently a reef tank, you check see the video or pics below..

It's currently pretty basic, I'm changing the sump to include a fuge and change where the skimmer in.. but I've watched a lot of videos and read a lot of build threads and it seems with majority of these larger tanks there are always more stuff added to it..

so I wanted to check what you guys thought, its currrently & soon to have,A skimmer, fuge, marine pure blocks and LR in sump.. also a UV which is running after the whole sump..
heaters & the tank with wave makers..

Do I need all those reactors, drips, auto top offs, controller systems (neptune & the sort)?

I know I do a lot of manual labor daily to adjut water top off etc.. and ill automate as I go to make easier.. but do i need all of it?

thanks in advance guys

Video
http://youtu.be/2Eje_W4thJI

james30ct · 06/15/2014, 10:10 AM

Nice tank. If your home to do top offs more than once a day I dont see a problem but my tank evaporates 3 gallons a day so I love that the ato does it for me keeping things more stable.

james30ct · 06/15/2014, 10:11 AM

Controllers are nice but aren't necessary. As far as dosing goes, if you do regular water changes you shouldn't need to dose anything until you have a bunch of coral.

andrewkw · 06/15/2014, 10:18 AM

my 2 gallon pico has an auto top off, as do all of my tanks.

I don't want to be out somewhere and realize I gotta go home to top off. I like the option of staying out for the night, visiting people and taking vacations or even just forgetting about my tank for more then 24hrs at a time.

Av8bluewater · 06/15/2014, 12:37 PM

I manually top off mine about every 3 days. It depends on the sump set up. A big return section could go longer than a small one. .. and mine is small. I do own an auto top off for vacations. If you have one it will make life easier just be aware of failure points.

You can get away without all that stuff but it depends on the setup and person running it.
I won't run a tank without a controller. I've cooked two tanks with regular heaters. I would never trust a heater with a built in temp. controller.
Reactors may or may not be necessary depending on your filtration. For most people until you figure out how to balance things a GFO and carbon reactor will be one of the easiest methods to help you combat algae and bad things in the water.
Its a simple easy way to do it but there are other methods that you may or may not choose to do.
I wouldn't run out and buy all that stuff though. Read up and research each item first. There's no hurry.

Cshabz · 06/15/2014, 07:03 PM

Hey guys,

thank you for the replies and advice! that's awesome to hear..

I do definitely see the benefit in having the ato for both stability and peace of mind..

I'll start reading up on GFOs and other reactors because I can't whole heartedly say I know what each one does..

I'm calling around to glass cutters now to start changing the sump.. wish me luck! ill post more pics

06/15/2014, 09:48 AM	#1
Cshabz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 105	Do I need reactors, top offs & drip automater's for my 8ft 222G reef tank? Hey guys, I'm fairly new to the hobby (properly) about a year or so... I got my dream tank.. an 8ft which is currently a reef tank, you check see the video or pics below.. It's currently pretty basic, I'm changing the sump to include a fuge and change where the skimmer in.. but I've watched a lot of videos and read a lot of build threads and it seems with majority of these larger tanks there are always more stuff added to it.. so I wanted to check what you guys thought, its currrently & soon to have,A skimmer, fuge, marine pure blocks and LR in sump.. also a UV which is running after the whole sump.. heaters & the tank with wave makers.. Do I need all those reactors, drips, auto top offs, controller systems (neptune & the sort)? I know I do a lot of manual labor daily to adjut water top off etc.. and ill automate as I go to make easier.. but do i need all of it? thanks in advance guys Video http://youtu.be/2Eje_W4thJI

06/15/2014, 12:37 PM	#5
Av8bluewater Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 763	I manually top off mine about every 3 days. It depends on the sump set up. A big return section could go longer than a small one. .. and mine is small. I do own an auto top off for vacations. If you have one it will make life easier just be aware of failure points. You can get away without all that stuff but it depends on the setup and person running it. I won't run a tank without a controller. I've cooked two tanks with regular heaters. I would never trust a heater with a built in temp. controller. Reactors may or may not be necessary depending on your filtration. For most people until you figure out how to balance things a GFO and carbon reactor will be one of the easiest methods to help you combat algae and bad things in the water. Its a simple easy way to do it but there are other methods that you may or may not choose to do. I wouldn't run out and buy all that stuff though. Read up and research each item first. There's no hurry. __________________ 225 gallon SPS dominant. Reef octopus dual cx reactor w/ AP regulator . Vertex alpha 250,Apex, ATI 8X80w BML XB Super actinic strip , Aqualund bio pellet RX, 3 MP40s. Current Tank Info: 230 Rimless.

06/15/2014, 10:10 AM	#2
james30ct Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Groton, Ct Posts: 1,218	Nice tank. If your home to do top offs more than once a day I dont see a problem but my tank evaporates 3 gallons a day so I love that the ato does it for me keeping things more stable.

06/15/2014, 10:11 AM	#3
james30ct Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Groton, Ct Posts: 1,218	Controllers are nice but aren't necessary. As far as dosing goes, if you do regular water changes you shouldn't need to dose anything until you have a bunch of coral.

06/15/2014, 10:18 AM	#4
andrewkw Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: St. Joseph Island Posts: 1,069	my 2 gallon pico has an auto top off, as do all of my tanks. I don't want to be out somewhere and realize I gotta go home to top off. I like the option of staying out for the night, visiting people and taking vacations or even just forgetting about my tank for more then 24hrs at a time.

06/15/2014, 07:03 PM	#6
Cshabz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 105	Hey guys, thank you for the replies and advice! that's awesome to hear.. I do definitely see the benefit in having the ato for both stability and peace of mind.. I'll start reading up on GFOs and other reactors because I can't whole heartedly say I know what each one does.. I'm calling around to glass cutters now to start changing the sump.. wish me luck! ill post more pics