How automated is your tank?

[polish]

Fully Automated for the most part, all lights on timers and 24/7 drips.

The pond I am building will be the same way.

I don't have to worry if I leave town and it never takes my time. Doing water changes on bigger tanks takes a while so it's just a hassle. I prefer to fish watch, not drag the Python out of the closet 2x per week.

The lights are timed because it saves power, it's cheap to do, it creates a pattern for the fish to get used to and I never forget to turn them on/off this way.

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

i only have a timer on my 150 but im going to be putting new lights on their having them all on separate timers to have a dawn/noon/dusk cycle and maybe eventualy set up a drip system.


Once i have the money that is. lol

so far my 29 g is completely unautomated.

 

[jclyde13]

why not by a python? or just buys some clear vinyl hoses to help the process?

I don't think it would fit onto either of my faucets, both of them are oddly shaped decorative faucets.

 

[Dan F]

My main "Show Tank" that is in my living room is fairly automated:

The lights are on a timer.
The water change is done 6 times/day (33% total) by an automated system.
Heating and cooling is controlled by a Medusa controller.
Circulation pumps are controlled by a wavemaker/photo cell.

Things I have to do myself:
Clean glass.
Gravel vacuum - no need to refill thanks to a float valve in sump.
Replace floss in mechanical filter every two weeks.
Replace filter felt in mechanical filter every 3-4 months.


My other tanks are less automated but they all have timers for lighting (if they have lighting).

 

[vamptrev]

Light timers on all of my tanks.
Cooling fan on a timer under my 750g to pull out some of the heat since it is completely closed in under the tank
2gph drip system 50% complete on my 750g. Can't wait til its done. When my job is busy again I plan on getting a Neptune aqua controller to have complete capabilities to monitor the tank as long as I have a computer in front of me. Only reaon I want this is because I like to go away frequently and I have a few expensive fish and experience frequent power outages where I live.

is neptune a good brand? ive been researching these also...

almost everything is auto on my tanks. its takes alot of waterchanges to keep rays happy. i couldnt imagine doing manual waterchanges every day.

i also have a web cam hooked up so i can see all my tanks from any computer, when i go out of town

i dont think alot of peeps hook up drip systems because they dont know how easy they r

 

[HarleyK]

Who's got an underwater roomba (iRobot verro) ?

 

[Cleanbio]

i remember when i first got into the hobby when i was a kid the filters were plastic internal cannister filters that were filled with carbon and wool and powered by an air pump...the thing took up so much room in the tank especially if you had two, and i remember when the hobs became common on the market...they were the coolest thing ever.

 

[iloveoscars702]

I don't think it would fit onto either of my faucets, both of them are oddly shaped decorative faucets.

just get some hose then. easy to start a syphon and just drain the water out a window.

 

[iloveoscars702]

Who's got an underwater roomba (iRobot verro) ?

i have the exact same one for my pool in my backyard lol.

 

[Egon]

i dont think alot of peeps hook up drip systems because they dont know how easy they r

I agree! The drip system was so simple. I can't believe how many years I went with out it.
It was a little work initially setting it up but zero maintenance now. I think 75% of my fish keeping hassle was dragging the hoses out, over filling my tank, spilling water, cleaning the spills, and so on. I'm a very happy drip system owner. Now that I never do water changes I'm a much happier fish keeper.