Why do people not have spares?

[camellia]

Thanks Jeff, David and all who just made me feel better for ordering the 2 WP-25's with you Jeff.

I felt it was over kill but wanted better back-up for my 2 Vortech mp10 esw. I had one go out and had to use two nano Korilla's while waiting for the replacement and didn't feel good about it.
The return pump back up was the first thing I thought of when I set up my tank (sump). Keeping an extra Mag isn't really "extra" since I use it to mix my salt, but it is reassurance.
My UPS for $80 and Vortech's Battery Back-up keep me confident in power outages.

The UPS is AFFORDABLE insurance if nothing else.

Great thread, it should be made into a sticky in beginners section.

 

[rdnelson]

I agree with everything said here to a point. The one small issue I have is "if money is to tight maybe it isn't the hobby for you". Yes it is an expensive hobby and spare are just one more expense we should be prepared for. But for those unable (or unwilling) to commit that amount of cash to something that sits in a box in the garage I would say they should have a plan in place to rehome livestock should a problem arise.

Many of you have been around long enough to remember when Jessie's tank started leaking. Hard to have a spare 200 or 300 gal tank on hand. But, within a hour or two all of hi livestock was taken care of. He got a lot of it back but not all. He was fine with that because he put the well being of the livestock first.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[grouper therapy]

I know that a leaking tank can happen but is very very rare in lieu of a pump , heater or lights going out. Most would have a sump and or mixing barrels to serve as a emergency tank, even a bathtub will work if you have a spare pump ,heater and maybe a light. The items we are talking about could easily be purchased each for the price of one yellow tang or one nice coral. If you cannot afford these items how are you gonna stock the tank? If money is that tight maybe any hobby should be a last priority.

 

[rdnelson]

grouper therapy;890388 wrote: I know that a leaking tank can happen but is very very rare in lieu of a pump , heater or lights going out. Most would have a sump and or mixing barrels to serve as a emergency tank, even a bathtub will work if you have a spare pump ,heater and maybe a light. The items we are talking about could easily be purchased each for the price of one yellow tang or one nice coral. If you cannot afford these items how are you gonna stock the tank? If money is that tight maybe any hobby should be a last priority.

I don't disagree. But you missed an important point I was trying to make when I said "Or unwilling". All I am saying is there are things to prepare for in "addition" to having spares.

 

[davidinga]

I don't have spares because I can run to my lfs or have something dropped shipped over night. It's not like it takes so long to get a replacement that I'm putting livestock at risk.

You make it sound like if your return pump goes out your gonna have to wait two weeks to get another one

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

Rich...I guess what I'm trying to say is that if we are going to take on the responsibility of privately caring for some of God's creatures, then we should be prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure they survive. I spent over $15k on a cat to keep him alive for an additional 18 months knowing that in the end, he would die and there was nothing I could do about it. I'd do it again if I had to (still miss him terribly and it's been just over 2 years). Most people would've put him to sleep at the very beginning. We provided him a great quality of life for that time period.

Why do our sea faring pets deserve less? I do agree with you in that there are other things one can do to be prepared. I don't have a spare 180 sitting around but I do have a 150 stock tank and a couple of 40g trash cans at the ready in the event of a catastrophic failure. Every pump that I have has a backup. I have replacement impellers for every single pump that I use. I even have a backup reactor. I do not have a backup sump but that's because I use 2 already and the probability of both leaking/breaking at the same time is extremely small so if I need to, I can go to one and the tank won't suffer from it. Currently, the only thing I don't have a backup for is my skimmer and I'm working on that. So while I don't have a backup for every single thing, I at least have an emergency plan in place.

Oh and for those of you using something like an APC battery backup unit thinking it will keep you going during a power failure....you better think again. The liquid battery inside of those are only good for 3 years (I talked directly to APC about this). I found out the hard way. So check your dates on those units. If the battery is more than 3 years old, I suggest you replace either the battery or the entire unit. If you replace the entire unit, I'd like to know about it because 1)they are highly recyclable if taken apart and 2) in some cases they can be rebuilt or redirected to other uses.

 

[jdavid]

Heck, I might be slightly better off if I never became addicted to reefing. I just know that I can't spend $ like some can. At least, not yet. I have to have something to
Do though, something that excites me that I am passionate about. Regardless, Jeff is right about taking on some responsibility. A lot of us learn early on in the hobby that we can (and will) kill something if we aren't prepared.

Plus, paying for extra equipment is a small price to pay compared to losing everything.

Edit: Also! If I never got into reefing, I never would have met some of the best people/friends I have even been lucky enough to know!

 

[wildernets]

Really it is a building up process. Just like the tank SHOULD be. I did not have all the equipment I have now starting out. It has been a building up process just like my tank and the level of animals I care for. Even some of the best tanks I have seen started off running then added extra equipment over time. Usually the experience of something breaking showed the need. I have experienced this with several things throughout the course of my life. I believe that some of you may have also.

Respectfully, it seems like you guys are talking down a bit to those who have not had the time to learn like you have.

I will say it is fantastic advice and luckily a point I have gotten to. I just did not start that way but I sleep a little better now.

Just my 2 cents. I mean no disrespect. You are some great reefers and I have learned a lot here.

 

[rdnelson]

wildernet;890539 wrote:

Respectfully, it seems like you guys are talking down a bit to those who have not had the time to learn like you have.

I will say it is fantastic advice and luckily a point I have gotten to. I just did not start that way but I sleep a little better now.

While I know that is not the intent, I would agree that those with varying degrees of experience and funds do sometimes come off sounding that way. Still being relatively new to all this I sometimes feel this way. But at the same time I see the compassion and dedication that the old hands have and use that as inspiration to better myself. The old hands need to have patients and nurture and us novices need to have thick skin. If we all live up to that, us new guys will be old hands before you know it.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk -

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

I don't at all mean to sound like we're talking down to anybody. Lord knows I've made my fair share of mistakes in this hobby and I still do. It IS a learning process and as they say, you're never to old to learn.

And you're absolutely correct in the statement that it's a "build up" process. I didn't have all the equipment in the beginning. I was so poor that I even had to build my own protein skimmer and bulb endcaps. The thing is, they worked until I could do something else and move up to better equipment. I certainly didn't get here overnight...it's been a VERY LONG process.

It was all really meant to be advice to the noobs in the hobby. Again, I hate to see people get in and then get out because they weren't prepared. It's a very rewarding hobby and it makes me smile every single day that I get to view the beauty in my office.

 

[joseayes]

I agree with the point of always have extras, I have accumulated equipment that I really don't want to get rid of it, in the other hand I had an extra ATO that was laying around for a year, decided to sale it, then it happens that I was traveling for work and when I came back home the ATO failed during that week, I didn't loose anything, just have to invest in New float sensors, were if I had the other I could only make a swap, still, I have more equipment around, but seriously, I have metsome fellas that have backup hardware like no one here imagine

 

[grouper therapy]

wildernet;890539 wrote: Really it is a building up process. Just like the tank SHOULD be. I did not have all the equipment I have now starting out. It has been a building up process just like my tank and the level of animals I care for. Even some of the best tanks I have seen started off running then added extra equipment over time. Usually the experience of something breaking showed the need. I have experienced this with several things throughout the course of my life. I believe that some of you may have also.

Respectfully, it seems like you guys are talking down a bit to those who have not had the time to learn like you have.

I will say it is fantastic advice and luckily a point I have gotten to. I just did not start that way but I sleep a little better now.

Just my 2 cents. I mean no disrespect. You are some great reefers and I have learned a lot here.

I wasn't born knowing how to keep fish I had to learn as well and it does take time.Is it really a large learning curve to know that you need backup on hand or perhaps a plan like some have in place to sustain the life of an animal that one chose to care for. I am just saying be responsible before one accepts it.

Edit:

DavidinGA;890396 wrote: I don't have spares because I can run to my lfs or have something dropped shipped over night. It's not like it takes so long to get a replacement that I'm putting livestock at risk.

You make it sound like if your return pump goes out your gonna have to wait two weeks to get another one

I think if you reread the original post you would see that Jeff mentioned the threads where some have had emergency situation and waited until that time to act.

Edit: And for the record I HAVE A BUDGET AS WELL JUST LIKE JEFF DOES ( I know I did his kitchen cabinets) but a plan or backup parts should be in that budget BEFORE you buy fish and if you cannot do that and act responsibly then maybe you should forgo buying the fish.

 

[grouper therapy]

I'm dissapointed if anyone felt I was talking down to them . Not my intent. I look at these animals the same way others look at their PETS and I feel that the same research, learning, preparation and budgeting should take place before taking on the responsibility of these animals just like for a dog or cat.

Edit: And FWIW it cost nothing to ask questions first!!!

 

[dball711]

I just ordered 2 more back up pumps for my tanks this AM. I had to replace a reactor pump last night and used my last spare pump as a replacement. I keep extra everything just incase. Its really nice to be able to walk over to my shelf when I need something.

No generator right now but like Josh, I think thats going to be my next investment.

 

[jennm]

It doesn't have to cost a fortune to have a "Plan B" in place.

It's also usually proportionate to the size of the tank...

It's also usually after somebody learns the hard way, that a few dollars could have prevented catastrophic losses.

We all know this isn't a cheap hobby. What we collectively can tend to overlook, is the priority of hobby-related purchases.

I recently got caught with the proverbial pants down when we experienced a 27 hour power failure and our generator was not in working order. Thankfully, a neighbour in the plaza came to my rescue with a loaner - my generator is now REPAIRED and that won't fall off my radar again.

Running to the LFS stops being an option if your pump dies at 10:30 at night... I've been called at home - and out of bed, in wee hours to help somebody - and happy to do so but if you can't reach your "person"....

And overnighting something might be a bit too late....and it's way more expensive than having a spare at the ready.

Powerheads will keep a tank limping along until a return pump or part can be sourced.

Sometimes, emergency purchases may end up costing more, than having a spare already - an impeller is cheaper than a whole pump if an impeller isn't available. A decent used pump as a spare is cheaper than a new one bought in haste.

For small tanks, a battery powered air pump is about $25 plus the batteries... and that can be the difference between survival and failure. Use 2 on a medium-sized tank.

When you replace your lamps - keep the old ones if they still light - an old bulb is better than no bulb.

Have access to a container of some type that can contain your stuff in the event of a tank leak - that is a rare occurrence, it's more important to have water-circulating devices and heaters and alternate light sources (IMO in that order).

I'll go one further... it's equally important to have a quarantine of some sort, and a few basic necessities for that as well as an "emergency kit" for your tank. Prime or Alpha for a variety of uses (dechlorinating tap water if an emergency water change is needed and not enough RO is available, binding ammonia/nitrite, etc.), a PolyFilter to remove a variety of toxins and/or medications, and maybe a basic medication or two. Again, doesn't have to cost a fortune, but a small wise investment here and there can save many, many dollars - and lives - and grief, in the long haul.

An ounce of prevention is most definitely worth a pound of cure. Not having at least a minimal back-up kit, is like driving a car without a spare tire.

Jenn

 

[rdnelson]

Hold on a minute! I need a spare tire for my car????? Oh crap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk -

 

[jennm]

::::Refrains from commenting on Rich's "spare tire"...::::

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

Well put Jenn...I was going to comment on a QT tank but forgot. I've got 2. A 40 for QT and a 15 if I need to medicate.

 

[rdnelson]

JennM;890669 wrote: ::::Refrains from commenting on Rich's "spare tire"...::::

Now wait just a minute. That is not a spare tire. It is a tool shed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk -

 

[jennm]

A bow-front tool shed. :lol: