My nano-reef tank is gone...

[nanoreefer1985]

I dropped my food in my nano-tank a few days ago, well, my cat pushed it and the food container fell in the water. I didn't know about it, until it was too late. Usually, I measure my water quality every week, so I couldn't have noticed the chemistry got out of control in such a short time. Is there a way to automatically test your water everyday, so I could react rapidly?

 

[James M]

Welcome to reef2reef!!
I think a Apex controllers have this option...again I think but just wanted to welcome you

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

the apex orp probe *could* be useful to detect changes in your water quality but by that time, it could be too late in a catastrophic situation. at this time i would say there’s no reliable way to automatically test all aspects of your water daily or real time.

 

[Oscaror]

I dropped my food in my nano-tank a few days ago, well, my cat pushed it and the food container fell in the water. I didn't know about it, until it was too late. Usually, I measure my water quality every week, so I couldn't have noticed the chemistry got out of control in such a short time. Is there a way to automatically test your water everyday, so I could react rapidly?

Welcome to R2R. I'm sorry about what happened to your tank. Currently there is not surefire way to automatically test water, however that technology is being worked on and has been being talked about for a long time now. Look up the mindstream, it never really took off unfortunately but it is exactly what you're talking about. I'm very certain that soon someone will figure out a way to affordably monitor water parameters in live time.

 

[nanoreefer1985]

Welcome to reef2reef!!
I think a Apex controllers have this option...again I think but just wanted to welcome you

I talked with my local fish store, and they told me that Apex does not currently offer such an option, but they are working on something that will test Magnesium, Calcium and Alkalinity. I was wondering if there was another product that could test all parameters (pH, Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia, Phosphate, Salinity).

Thanks for the welcome!

 

[nanoreefer1985]

Welcome to R2R. I'm sorry about what happened to your tank. Currently there is not surefire way to automatically test water, however that technology is being worked on and has been being talked about for a long time now. Look up the mindstream, it never really took off unfortunately but it is exactly what you're talking about. I'm very certain that soon someone will figure out a way to affordably monitor water parameters in live time.

Mindstream looks interesting! I’ve checked it out and they’re trying to start since 2013, but didn’t release it. Do you know why they couldn’t achieve what they proposed?

 

[James M]

I talked with my local fish store, and they told me that Apex does not currently offer such an option, but they are working on something that will test Magnesium, Calcium and Alkalinity. I was wondering if there was another product that could test all parameters (pH, Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia, Phosphate, Salinity).

Thanks for the welcome!

Ohh you’re looking for a Triton test but will take a long time
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/icp-oes-testing-kit-triton-1.html

 

[WVNed]

You eyeballs will do this.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!! Will be awesome the day we can see all the parameters without testing the water, like a machine that's do that automatically. But we getting there. Looking at many years back where none of this gadget that we have today existed, give me the look into the future where the automatic test is done with a click.

 

[Chrysus]

You eyeballs will do this.

While I do agree that automated water testing would be nice, I have to agree with this. Especially with something like a bottle of food being pushed into the tank - testing ammonia won't tell you that has happened until it's too late, you'd need to do a large water change to get as much out as possible before your ammonia/phosphates/nitrates have a chance to spike...

 

[WVNed]

Like people that take their cars to the garage as soon as the check engine light comes on.
except that happened 10,000 miles ago.


It occurs to me I bought an instant read digital thermometer for my kitchen.
But I never use it because I learned to cook before they had such things.

 

[Oscaror]

Mindstream looks interesting! I’ve checked it out and they’re trying to start since 2013, but didn’t release it. Do you know why they couldn’t achieve what they proposed?

Yes, at the time everyone was very excited about it but there were 2 problems that stopped it from getting off the ground. One was funding, they had trouble raising enough money to get it going. The other reason, which is also likely why they had trouble getting the funding for it is because the plates on the device that had to be changed out monthly were prohibitively expensive. The sad thing is they said they were going to work on making it cheaper but I guess the funds just weren't there. Still, I see it as a big step in the hobby. I'm sure someone will figure out a better way to do it.

 

[rushbattle]

Yes, at the time everyone was very excited about it but there were 2 problems that stopped it from getting off the ground. One was funding, they had trouble raising enough money to get it going. The other reason, which is also likely why they had trouble getting the funding for it is because the plates on the device that had to be changed out monthly were prohibitively expensive. The sad thing is they said they were going to work on making it cheaper but I guess the funds just weren't there. Still, I see it as a big step in the hobby. I'm sure someone will figure out a better way to do it.

I think it’s nearly here now. They had development delays that were unforseeable, like not knowing that aluminum can interfere with the alkalinity determination. Should be out soon, or I think they will give up.

 

[Oscaror]

I think it’s nearly here now. They had development delays that were unforseeable, like not knowing that aluminum can interfere with the alkalinity determination. Should be out soon, or I think they will give up.

That's good news! I really hope they manage to get it going, automatic live testing is the final step in ULM tank technology IMO

 

[Aquavaj]

The big question is, will something that can do all this be affordable? Just to add salinity monitoring to the Apex is already $200. It'll be a game changer for the hobby for sure but let's hope it's not priced out of reach for many of us.

 

[Oscaror]

The big question is, will something that can do all this be affordable? Just to add salinity monitoring to the Apex is already $200. It'll be a game changer for the hobby for sure but let's hope it's not priced out of reach for many of us.

At the time the reason it was considered so expensive was because there was a plate that had to be changed out every month for 60 dollars

 

[rushbattle]

$35/mo, plus $800 purchase cost for the mindstream, which monitors ammonia in real time. When (if) it comes out. So, not cheap for the average consumer. Super cheap for anyone who owns thousands in corals and fish.

 

[Japtastic]

Seneye

 

[Oscaror]

$35/mo, plus $800 purchase cost for the mindstream, which monitors ammonia in real time. When (if) it comes out. So, not cheap for the average consumer. Super cheap for anyone who owns thousands in corals and fish.

So they did manage to lower the price, awesome

 

[rushbattle]

Seneye

Hopefully they come out with something reasonable, but you pay at least $70 a month to get both ammonia and Alk in real time, and they aren’t done developing Alk monitoring either. Hopefully seneye and mindstream both help start another wave of monitors that push the market along.