Gear Score Methodology
PetPal Gear Score
Reef Tank Maintenance Schedule: Daily, Weekly, Monthly (2026)
Editorial synthesis of reef-tank maintenance guidance — reef-keeping education consensus (Bulk Reef Supply's maintenance curriculum and the reef community), published reef water-chemistry targets, and saltwater-aquarium husbandry consensus. Manufacturer documentation from Tunze, Bulk Reef Supply, Instant Ocean, Red Sea, ESV, Kamoer, Aquatic Experts, Python, and Aqueon was reviewed. Community consensus from reef-keeping forums was included as consensus, not quotation. No first-hand product testing — PetPalHQ does not run a testing lab.
PetPal Reef-Upkeep Score = (Expert Consensus × 0.35) + (Schedule Fit × 0.25) + (Reef-Chemistry / Water-Quality Design × 0.20) + (Value × 0.20)Factor breakdown
Expert Consensus
35%Synthesized from reef-keeping education consensus (Bulk Reef Supply's maintenance curriculum and the reef community), published reef water-chemistry targets, saltwater husbandry consensus, and manufacturer documentation. The PetPal Reef-Upkeep Score is a composite of expert opinion — PetPalHQ does not run a testing lab.
Schedule Fit
25%How directly the item serves a recurring maintenance task on its own cadence — the daily top-off, the weekly water change and chemistry test, the every-few-days sock swap, and the monthly service — rather than how it performs as a standalone product ranked against rivals.
Reef-Chemistry / Water-Quality Design
20%Alignment with reef-upkeep principles — stable salinity near 35 ppt, balanced alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium held by test-then-dose discipline, RO/DI-based water, and detritus kept out of the water column. Consistency is valued over chasing perfect numbers.
Value
20%Cost relative to the item's role in the schedule, including the ongoing consumables each one carries — salt, reagents, two-part, DI resin, and filter socks. This bench is the equipment cost, not the recurring cost of running a reef.
See all score methodologies on the Gear Score index.