Digital Water Chemistry?

[DeathStalker]

I have seen a product called "seneye" - which seems to be at least the start of a good idea - a constantly on, in-tank, water chemistry/temp monitor that you can check on with your smartphone or comp. But the review on this unit are crap - clearly "not ready for prime time".

I'm wondering if there is any other tech out there like this? (Considering that no one puts it in the filter, which I think they should - see my other post on that )

Wouldn't it be nice not to have to do the test kit tests?

 

[tlindsey]

I have seen a product called "seneye" - which seems to be at least the start of a good idea - a constantly on, in-tank, water chemistry/temp monitor that you can check on with your smartphone or comp. But the review on this unit are crap - clearly "not ready for prime time".

I'm wondering if there is any other tech out there like this? (Considering that no one puts it in the filter, which I think they should - see my other post on that )

Wouldn't it be nice not to have to do the test kit tests?

duanes

 

[duanes]

I have never used Seneye so my comments will be general at best.
I worked in a water treatment plant as chemist/microbiologist that used a SCADA system to monitor most water parameters, (basically a computer system attached to moniters feeding real time data to operators).
The computer system needed typical, regular maintenance, as you would expect.
The electronic monitors needed constant, frequent tech support, daily calibration and frequent reagent change (this was over 7 years ago).
Although technology may have taken leaps and bounds since then, most monitoring devices still require chemical reagents to illustrate data to the computer in order for it to spit out accurate numbers, and because chemicals are used, must be fresh, and the membranes replaced, regularly, and probes calibrated. Most of the reliable gear ran @$50K and on up.
A decent pH probe, one of the simplest pieces was in the $100 + range, and needed daily calibration, reagent change, and monthly salt plug changes (just for pH alone).
So what's my point?
My guess is, unless technology has removed many of these significant bumps, I would suspect that anything affordable, may have reliability issues, and you would need to check any parameter with a box type test to assure it was reading were correctly.
I did daily indigo blue tests on ozone for about 2 years before the monitors were tightly calibrated enough to be trusted to be accurate.
So I believe before buying, read the fine print that explains about any calibration, chemical reagents needed, and whether or not you have the time, inclination, or chemistry background to perform and interpret them.
And if there isn't the "fine print" , maybe the "crap reviews" are not so far fetched.

 

[DeathStalker]

Thanks for the background Duanes! I figured as much (I used to work at a major public water supply/treatment company as well, though that was over a decade ago). Was hopining that technology might have progressed a bit since then Just surprised that drop kits are still the most accurate method.