Aquarium Automation (Smart Tanks)

[Mr.Manaconda]

I've seen many controllers geared toward the Marine and Reef crowd. Who is running a "High Tech Monster Tank"? Let's see them and give us a run-down of what it can do.

I've been toying with the idea of piecing together an Arduino controlled system for some automated and 1 touch capability (water changes/top off, lights, filters/powerheads, feeding, temp control, parameter monitoring, leak warnings, etc...)

I've seen one or two from members on here, but why so few in the Freshwater community?

From the "sky's the limit" to the "DIY'er" what have you done to integrate technology into the way you approach our hobby?

 

[Rayne]

I run a Apex controller on my tank and have programmed it to do the following.

- Temperature & PH monitor & control with audible warnings for high/low limits.
- Sends text & email for various events. Low/high temperature limits, power failure, pump failures, etc.
- Lighting timer with sunrise/sunset dimming
- Vortech MP40 control. I have the vortech running on the lagoon mode to add calm random flow, then once an hour for 5 minutes it ramps up to reefcrest mode to try and flush any settled food/detridus up into the water column to hopefully get sucked into the overflow.
- Feed timer button. Stops return pumps for set amount of time and starts them back up after timer ends. Great for not getting food down the overflow.
- Turns on an air pump for 5 mins once an hour in my sump.

Pretty basic stuff right now.

Its more popular in the reefing community since their tanks are generally MUCH more complicated than freshwater tanks.

 

[Paulkline]

I'm running an APEX on my 125 and it has payed for it's self already. Having an APEX makes water changes, feeding, and all those little and big things in this hobby a Whole lot easier.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[Texchappy]

Good to hear because I've been thinking about an Apex but wasn't sure it was worth the money.

 

[brich999]

Look up the 300g high tech discus build thread. Pretty impressive automation going on there

 

[Mr.Manaconda]

Look up the 300g high tech discus build thread. Pretty impressive automation going on there

That build was certainly one that really piqued my interest in freshwater automation...Definitely an example of a "Spare no expense" budget. Seems like so far, the Apex controllers are getting the nod by the members here.

 

[Mr.Manaconda]

Here's a link to that build so others can check it out:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?524009-Ultra-High-Tech-300-gallon-Discus-install-journal&highlight=300+high+tech+discus