What kind of items/pieces of equipment do you keep as spares?

[mapleredta]

I've been thinking a lot about the 'what if' 's lately. One thing that I am not currently prepaired for is back up equipment. I know a back up return pump will be my first piece of equipment I buy as far as spare equipment goes. Light bulbs, tons of towels, buckets and salt as well. A generator will also be purchased within the next month or so. What else is everybody keeping extras of?

 

[tony_caliente]

An submersible pump for my display I also use it for water changes
An extra heater
Extra power head
Thermometer
Extra air pumps

 

[jeffh]

Spare powerheads, heaters, bulbs, extra empty buckets, 7 gallon jugs of RO water for emergency water changes, polyfilter pads (sort of like carbon)

 

[acroholic]

I always keep my old bulbs as a replacement after I install new ones in case one blows out.

 

[rbredding]

I keep everything if there is a chance I can use it again..

I've even gone online to buy "rebuild" parts for ph's that stopped working (I replaced them with new, and now have a rebuilt backup)

I'm getting ready to replace my skimmer but I'll keep my existing one just in case.

I've got a submersible pump that I can plumb to act as my return (which is currently external) in less than 10 minutes..

like Acro.. I keep all the old lamps that I take out of the fixtures in case I need a quick replacement.

 

[ricksconnected]

i keep a spare poly filter at all times.
then theres a canister filter on hand too.
i have 2 spare skimmers. (one never knows)
theres no shortage of spare tanks in this house either.
carbon is a good thing to have on hand also.

 

[petlandksaw]

I keep multiple heaters, power heads and skimmer pumps. I also keep alot of filter pads and that sort of stuff. I also have a few empty tanks and a quarantine/holding tank large enough to hold my fish in case (god forbid) something happens to my display tank.

 

[grouper therapy]

Fire extinguishe, not really an extra but well worth it should you need it

 

[ricksconnected]

grouper therapy;502148 wrote: Fire extinguishe, not really an extra but well worth it should you need it

better to have one and not need it than to need one and not have it.

 

[jennm]

Best to have a few basic medicines on hand too - coral dip, metronidazole/Focus, whatever you might need to use in a QT tank in case of fish sickness.

Spare impeller/volute for return pump, powerheads, polyfilter, carbon - lots of stuff that was already mentioned.

Jenn

 

[demifelix]

power strips, air pump...My last one got salt creep and shorted the whole breaker.....

 

[ichthyoid]

GAC, pumps/power heads, heaters, meds, salt, DI or distilled H2O, empty tank, buckets, cannister filter, 10 gal QT.

 

[ichthyoid]

Oops, forgot one... +1 the air pumps

(I have at least 3, two of which are battery powered, this is critical IME)

I also keep a large bottle of hydrogen peroxide, which can be used to oxegenate a tank <u>IF</u> you know what you are doing. If you don't know, you can nuke a tank REAL quick! Also useful as a med for some conditions and as a dip.

 

[dakota9]

ichthyoid;502368 wrote: I also keep a large bottle of hydrogen peroxide, which can be used to oxegenate a tank <u>IF</u> you know what you are doing. If you don't know, you can nuke a tank REAL quick! Also useful as a med for some conditions and as a dip.

http://theaquariumwiki.com/Hydrogen_peroxide">http://theaquariumwiki.com/Hydrogen_peroxide</a>

Interesting read on the topic

 

[ichthyoid]

Yep, good article, I forgot about it. Thanks for the link.