Measured, not guessed
Saltwater aquarium gear, with the math shown.
Data-driven reviews, side-by-side comparison databases, and calculators for saltwater aquarium gear — so you buy the right skimmer, pump, or light the first time.
Real number, not marketing
of box-rated GPH is the average modeled flow in our reference 75-gallon setup. This is a calculation from the pump dataset, not a bench measurement.
See your pump's real number →
41 pumps · 36 skimmers · 11 salts · 9 controller kits · 4 lights rated
Reference: 4.5 ft lift, 10 ft pipe, 1.029 in internal diameter, 4 elbows. Pumps with zero modeled flow are excluded from this average.
The tools
Answers you can’t get from a listicle.
Start with the return pump calculator for your plumbing, then compare the protein skimmer rankings against your tank's bioload before buying.
Find the right reef tank calculator for the job: the reef calculator for alkalinity, calcium and magnesium, reef protein skimmer sizing, aquarium electricity cost, or Instant Ocean salt cost. Each shows the inputs behind the answer.
Return Pump Calculator
Estimated flow at your actual head, using pump curves and plumbing inputs. 41 pumps, ranked.
Calculator · LiveProtein Skimmer Sizer
Which skimmers actually fit your tank once we derate the optimistic ratings for your bioload.
Calculator · LiveReef Build Cost Estimator
Itemized up-front + monthly running cost for any tank size and tier.
Gear, organized by your tank
Start with your setup.
For return pumps, compare the best return pump for your reef tank size and the AC pump vs DC pump trade-offs. For daily care, compare reef dosing pumps and the best ATO options for reef tanks.
Protein Skimmers
By tank size, by budget, by real bioload rating — not guesses.
Return Pumps & Flow
DC vs AC, turnover math, and real delivered flow at your head.
Salt & Consumables
Every major salt mix ranked by true cost per mixed gallon.
Controllers
Apex vs GHL vs Hydros, plus budget/DIY picks and why ReefKeeper is off the list.
Reef Lighting
Four fixtures with recorded PAR points, their test limits, and a checklist for choosing reef lights.
Dosing Pumps
Ranked, plus which well-known doser can't run at all without a controller you probably don't already own.
Wavemakers
Ranked by real dollars per GPH — with recorded flow, mounting, and control options.
Test Kits
Hanna vs Salifert vs Red Sea on the specs they publish but nobody compares — accuracy, resolution, cost per test.
Setup Guides by Tank Size
30, 40B, 55, 75, and 120 gallon — the full build, sized piece by piece, with honest costs.
Planning a new reef or changing a routine?
The 30-gallon setup guide starts with AIO and hang-on filtration; the 120-gallon setup guide covers the wider footprint, sump, and water storage. Use the whole-build budget before buying. For nutrient export on an established tank, read carbon dosing and its oxygen risks. The guides hub separates setup, mineral dosing, and nutrient export.
Free — one email
The Reef Gear Cheat Sheet.
The exact skimmer / pump / light picks by tank size, plus our full build-cost worksheet — as one email, no spam.
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