Never lose track of maintenance
Set your own recurring tasks, from water changes to filter socks. See what’s due today, tick it off, and undo a mis-tap.
For UK reef keepers
Plan it. Run it.
Keep it thriving.
Free tools to cost your build and organise your maintenance, plus independent UK buying guides that show their working. Everything a reef keeper needs, in one place.
Free, no sign-upUK prices & unitsNo paid rankings
REEF COMPANIONFREE
Your whole reef routine, in one placeTasks · water tests · spending · cost plan
Editorial image—not a Reef Bench test aquarium.
01 / REEF COMPANION
The reef log
you’ll actually keep.
Spreadsheets get abandoned and notebooks get lost. Companion keeps your routine, readings and spending together, free and ready in seconds, with no account.
See where your parameters are heading
Log alkalinity, calcium, nitrate and more with clear units, then spot a drift on the chart before it becomes a problem.
Know what the reef really costs
Record actual spending beside your planned budget, so the gap between the estimate and reality is never a surprise.
02 / START WITH AN ANSWER
Popular buying guides
The shortlists readers open first. Every pick sits beside its UK price, the tank it suits and the catch you should know about.
01Tank kits
The best reef tank kits in the UK
Three very different ways to start, compared on what’s in the box, what isn’t, and what your first year will really cost.
3 systems comparedRead guide →
02Nano tanks
The best nano reef tanks in the UK
Fluval, Aqua One, Red Sea and Waterbox, compared on real water volume, footprint and how much you’ll need to add.
4 systems comparedRead guide →
03Lighting
The best reef lights in the UK
Five LEDs judged on coverage, control, mounting and price, and matched to the tanks each one genuinely suits.
5 lights comparedRead guide →
04Skimmers
The best protein skimmers in the UK
Ignore the headline tank rating. We shortlist by sump fit, footprint, water depth and the capacity manufacturers actually document.
5 skimmers comparedRead guide →
05Flow
The best reef wavemakers in the UK
Flow range, glass-thickness limits, power draw and UK price, so you buy the pump that suits your aquascape.
4 wavemakers comparedRead guide →
06Budget
What does a reef tank really cost?
Three fully costed UK builds: a compact all-in-one, a 120-litre sump system and a larger reef.
3 worked budgetsRead guide →
03 / HOW WE RECOMMEND
There’s no single “best”. Only the right fit.
A nano tank and a 400-litre system need different kit, so we don’t crown one winner. We put the price, the fit and the main drawback side by side, and link every conclusion to its source.
Read our research standard →WORKED EXAMPLEComplete reef systems
Prices checked 14 Aug 2026SystemChecked priceBest forThe catch
Fluval Sea Evo 52L£149.99–£169.99A low-cost compact startSmall water volume; you’ll still need a heater and core supplies
Aqua One MiniReef 120£499.99A sump system you can customiseNo return pump or core equipment included
Red Sea MAX NANO G2 XL£949–£1,169A premium, fully integrated packageHighest entry cost and a bigger commitment to one ecosystem
04 / RUNNING COSTS
What will it cost to run?
The price tag is only the beginning. Check one device’s electricity here, then cost your whole system (equipment, power and consumables) for year one and every year after.
Estimated annual cost
£113.88approximately £9.49 per month05 / EQUIPMENT LIBRARY
Understand every part of the system.
Buying advice sits beside the sizing, setup and running-cost guidance you need to get the most from it.
01↗
Complete systems
AIO & nano tanks
Kits, sump or no sump, real dimensions and the true cost of a finished system.
02↗
Coverage first
Reef lighting
Match spread, mounting height and output to the tank you actually own.
03↗
Return & circulation
Pumps & wavemakers
Size the return pump for head height and the wavemakers for your layout.
04↗
Nutrient export
Protein skimmers
Find out whether you need one, then check its rating and its fit.
05↗
Source water
RODI & salt mixing
Control TDS, size your RODI output and keep filter costs predictable.
06↗
Measurement
Test kits & monitoring
Choose methods you can repeat, and react to trends rather than one-off readings.
07↗
Stability
Dosing & controllers
Add chemistry and automation once your reef’s consumption proves the need.
08↗
Recurring essentials
Salt & consumables
Compare salt mixes on real yield, and see what each water change costs.
06 / NEW TO REEFING?
Plan your first reef in the right order.
Budget and tank size first. Then lighting, flow, water and testing, plus only the automation your reef proves it needs. Get the order right and you won’t pay twice.