The Mindstream is DEAD!! I'm getting mine soon!

[reef_ranch]

I get electrical alerts if something shuts off or if its power draw is outside of my parameters. If say a heater was leaking current or exploded in the tank and I can shut anything i need to off remotely. If my water parameters are off, the mindstream should be able to tell me that. I don't run a chiller or calcium reactor, just don't see what a controller offers me personally. I want to keep things simple so there is less that can and will go wrong. If my tank springs a leak and I'm at work, what is the Apex telling me that my floor is wet do for me? I'm not there to do anything about it.

The mindstream website also states that it is in talks with controller manufacturers (GHL and Neptune I suspect) to integrate their testing with established controllers and that the unit already has the capacity to do so built into the units that are shipping. If that is the case and I can set up a dosing pump to keep my water parameters in check automatically, i might consider an actual controller but then again the GHL stand alone doser may function in that regard anyway if it is GHL compatible.

We each manage risk differently but for me, the cost of the Apex and the added functionality far outweigh the relatively small cost. How do those alerts work with the heater? If it stays on for x hours, you get an alert? If it doesn't go on for x hours, you get an alert? If not, you could end up cooking or freezing your fish if you don't also get temperature alerts. My Apex has saved my tank from total disaster any number of times over the years in situations where there would be no electrical draw alerts. My low and high sump level float switches have prevented the tank from overflowing or the return pump burning out. The temperature sensor has shut off a heater when its thermostat broke in the on position. And my moisture sensors have turned off an RO/DI when the float switch stuck overflowing the storage tank. Luckily the moisture sensors under the 340g tank have never been triggered, but if I got that alert, I'd get my butt home in a heartbeat if only to witness the disaster in real time!!

I'm also excited about the Mindstream and it would be great if it was integrated with Apex simply from a tracking standpoint, but I use a CalRx so would not easily be able to take advantage of that added functionality.

 

[Rich Klein]

Ha - I am at retirement age, and pretty-much keep working just so I can buy new equipment for my reef. Looks like I'll take BS from my job for a few more months. I was ready to pull the trigger on the Trident, but now I am going to wait until I get a few reports from R2R users on the MindStream.

 

[rkpetersen]

Went ahead and ordered one. Basically an impulse purchase.
If I'd spent too much time thinking about it, I probably would have waited.
But I'd like to see for myself how it works, and how it compares to the Trident.

 

[Rich Klein]

No, I mentioned this in my post: "And, GHL allows you to CONTROL those parameters as well and this is very important to many users."
If Mindstream develops the ability to pair with a dosing pump, then you'll have that too. As I said in my post, these are all factors worth considering.

Not sure if I want a tester to impact dosing. I think that I would rather look at the data and then manually make tweaks to my Apex DOS, which is super easy. I would be concerned about giving that much control over a piece testing equipment. Having all that auto test data would be great though.

 

[Rich Klein]

Awesome - please post your experience!

 

[road_runner]

The more I think about this it's actually not that bad if I take out the steep entry cost of 1k.
I spend more than 50$ a month on kits for a fact. Even if the kit is not out by a month they usually go bad in a month once you open them....
The entry price is high thu.

 

[GJak]

We each manage risk differently but for me, the cost of the Apex and the added functionality far outweigh the relatively small cost. How do those alerts work with the heater? If it stays on for x hours, you get an alert? If it doesn't go on for x hours, you get an alert? If not, you could end up cooking or freezing your fish if you don't also get temperature alerts. My Apex has saved my tank from total disaster any number of times over the years in situations where there would be no electrical draw alerts. My low and high sump level float switches have prevented the tank from overflowing or the return pump burning out. The temperature sensor has shut off a heater when its thermostat broke in the on position. And my moisture sensors have turned off an RO/DI when the float switch stuck overflowing the storage tank. Luckily the moisture sensors under the 340g tank have never been triggered, but if I got that alert, I'd get my butt home in a heartbeat if only to witness the disaster in real time!!

I'm also excited about the Mindstream and it would be great if it was integrated with Apex simply from a tracking standpoint, but I use a CalRx so would not easily be able to take advantage of that added functionality.

There's a few smart power strips out there that allow you to write your own if/when programs to control the switches. Can get all the functionality of a controller for a fraction of the price.

Heaters outlets can be on for a maximum of 5 minutes each.

Get an e-mail if 1-6 turn off at all, pumps etc

Get an e-mail if anything is drawing more amps then the predetermined range

E-mail if power consumption for anything is + or - 7% for the day based off of previous numbers

Notification if anything fails to turn on at a scheduled time

You could even set one up to trigger another function also if I wanted to rig up some optical sensors. The Apex is just a plug and play version of all stuff that exists outside of the reefing community. I just have no need for most of it.

Could both of my overflows clog at that exact same time? Sure, I guess so. What would cause that to happen? I can't think of anything. With better water parameter tests that seem to be coming out independent of Neptune and GHL. I just can't justify the expense of a controller for my setup, I really don't know what it would add for me. This is coming from someone who loves to waste money on toys too. There's just no functionality that I can't get way cheaper by other means.

I should also add that having 600 wires coming out of the back of my tank is not something I'm looking for either. I know that everyone didn't get to sit down and plumb their tanks exactly how they would like an some of this equipment is necessary for those situations, it's just not for me with the setup I'm putting together.

 

[Entz]

The more I think about this it's actually not that bad if I take out the steep entry cost of 1k.
I spend more than 50$ a month on kits for a fact. Even if the kit is not out by a month they usually go bad in a month once you open them....
The entry price is high thu.

Competition may do that (or it may make it worse) ... MACNA 2019 is going to bring Ion and Xepta abex (which is closer to this).

Seriously though, this is a wonderful time to be a reefer. Just need Indo fixed

 

[Darrell Brady]

I just ordered mine yesterday I really hope its sooner than 6 to 8 weeks im ready to see this thing in action.

 

[road_runner]

Competition may do that (or it may make it worse) ... MACNA 2019 is going to bring Ion and Xepta abex (which is closer to this).

Seriously though, this is a wonderful time to be a reefer. Just need Indo fixed

Amazing times indeed.
Companies like this are leading the way.
Kh testing was led by kh guardian. Everyone else followed.
Now this and ghl ion testing are the new era of testing evolution and worh the investment better than buying old techs like peristaltic based testers...
Cannot wait to get one of these ion based testers.

 

[Torx]

Amazing times indeed.
Companies like this are leading the way.
Kh testing was led by kh guardian. Everyone else followed.
Now this and ghl ion testing are the new era of testing evolution and worh the investment better than buying old techs like peristaltic based testers...
Cannot wait to get one of these ion based testers.

CoralVue beat GHL with the Ion probes. The Xepta is taking orders from distributers yesterday.

 

[road_runner]

CoralVue beat GHL with the Ion probes. The Xepta is taking orders from distributers yesterday.

I believe development started the same time or even ghl started earlier they just did not say it and drum yo everyone we doing this until they were confident...
But they are both leading the industry for sure.
Ghl advantage is their long history I'm reading and reefing equipment. Not to mention the amazing controllers they have.

 

[Entz]

CoralVue beat GHL with the Ion probes. The Xepta is taking orders from distributers yesterday.

Nice. Xepta said August/Sept on their facebook page. So they will most likely have a hard launch which is even better. Its not going to be cheap though. I think somewhere around 1400-1500$ (since you need both bits) depending on how the conversion goes. Granted no reagent costs and no subscriptions. So get yer pitchforks ready

 

[road_runner]

Nice. Xepta said August/Sept on their facebook page. So they will most likely have a hard launch which is even better. Its not going to be cheap though. I think somewhere around 1400-1500$ (since you need both bits) depending on how the conversion goes. Granted no reagent costs and no subscriptions. So get yer pitchforks ready

Well with ion based probs you still need calibration reagents..

 

[Silver14SS]

Nice. Xepta said August/Sept on their facebook page. So they will most likely have a hard launch which is even better. Its not going to be cheap though. I think somewhere around 1400-1500$ (since you need both bits) depending on how the conversion goes. Granted no reagent costs and no subscriptions. So get yer pitchforks ready

Needs calibration fluid though right?

 

[Entz]

Needs calibration fluid though right?

Yeah forgot about that. It is an unknown.

 

[road_runner]

Yeah forgot about that. It is an unknown.

I would still invest in ion based testing over the peristaltic based testing.
Reagent will be cheaper by time.
No silly maintenance fees and sending units to vendor to change parts annually
Changing probs will be done by customer..

The way of the future my friend.

 

[Torx]

Yeah forgot about that. It is an unknown.

Doesnt need a calibration fluid as you would think, but a known base solution with know levels. Basically NSW that is medically grade tested. Technically after calibration it could be drained into your tank. Also the tested water can drain back to your tank. No reagent down the drain or test water wasted. Unfortunately their is no way to test alk with ion probes and you still require a separate unit.

That is an advantage that the Mindstream has. No wasted water or reagent fluids and can test alk.

 

[Entz]

I would still invest in ion based testing over the peristaltic based testing.
Reagent will be cheaper by time.
No silly maintenance fees and sending units to vendor to change parts annually
Changing probs will be done by customer..

The way of the future my friend.

Agreed. I think they mentioned 10$ per probe to replace. How often I guess is an unknown (Likely similar to Trident).

Someone really needs to come up with one for Phosphate, it looks like just about everything else is covered now. Maybe GHL will surprise us

 

[Entz]

Doesnt need a calibration fluid as you would think, but a known base solution with know levels. Basically NSW that is medically grade tested. Technically after calibration it could be drained into your tank. Also the tested water can drain back to your tank. No reagent down the drain or test water wasted. Unfortunately their is no way to test alk with ion probes and you still require a separate unit.

That is an advantage that the Mindstream has. No wasted water or reagent fluids and can test alk.

Good to know!