Single technology or innovation that has most helped aquarists?

[Zante]

What is the single technology or innovation that has made the biggest difference in how we keep fish in your opinion?

[dkeller_nc]

If you mean marine fish/inverts - the protein skimmer.

Followed closely by the "natural method" using live rock (I mean that in the sense of the berlin method developed in the 1980s, not today's "natural system").

If you mean aquarium keeping in general, I would have a hard time deciding between silicone glue and small, magnet-impeller pumps, like powerheads and most submersible designs. If you'd asked me this question in the late 1970's when I first started keeping aquatic animals, I'd have said tetra whisper air pumps.

[kelrn98]

+ 1 protein skimmer

[ingtar_shinowa]

Magnet impeller pumps.

[Zante]

I would have said the internet.

Vast amounts of information and experiences easily accessible, thousands and thousands of other aquarists to ask advice from, easy access to news and innovations and online trading that has brought the price of equipment down.

What do you think?

[aandfsoccr04]

Protein skimmer. I find the auto top off units to be very helpful as well to keep maintenance less and salinity precise.

[YoungREEFA]

The sump

[saltyair]

sump, protien skimmer, many types ways to create the right flow.

on the food side - reef roids and my new fav aquavitro reef fuel

[luisagos]

The internet has changed everything, the way we think, buy, learn and teach.
This relates to anything we do.
We have so much data, and its available to everyone on the planet.

RC is one of the ways for us that keep saltwater tanks to gather information.

[BossHoggin]

Aquarium heaters and the perfection of synthetic sea salt

[DavidinGA]

Synthetic seawater salt mix.

Tell me where you would be without that in this hobby (excluding everyone next the ocean).

[Reef Frog]

GFO and the up flow reactor deserve an honorable mention.

[Hormigaquatica]

Electricity

[dotcommer]

+1 protein skimmer and Internet

[Reef Frog]

The jet airplane for getting stuff from the Indo Pacific to us alive.

[DavidinGA]

The jet airplane for getting stuff from the Indo Pacific to us alive.

The wheel that plane needs to land and take off... :D

[deleau]

Internet...

It is a great forum of ideas (good & bad) that allows people without a good local community to still be in a community and gain valuable information.

It is also a place to do "real" research. There are plenty of experts on this site and others that provide constantly updated information and real time feedback...something books just cannot do.

It is also a great marketplace for hardware and livestock. I support my LFS as much as possible, but there are products/livestock that sometime can only be obtained online.

I think the internet single handedly changed this hobby more than anything else.

Also, I think we are currently in the middle of seeing LEDs and controllers (again using the internet) significantly change the hobby.

[Stolireef]

Nobody for lighting? I'd nominate MH VHO lighting that finally allows us to keep beautiful SPS.

[sanababit]

Solar power, now i am saving instead of spending to keep my tank alive

Sana