I know Neptune has been around for a long time I never really reaserched any others.vamptrev;4126970; said:
How do you go about hooking up a webcam? That is an awesome thing to have. I think I read a thread on this before I guess maybe it was yours
How automated is your tank?
- Thread starter HarleyK
- Start date
How do you go about hooking up a webcam? That is an awesome thing to have. I think I read a thread on this before I guess maybe it was yours
Egon;4128967; said: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.
my problem is my near water source is the bathroom right next door. but between the bathroom wall and my fish room is the circuits. and anyway doesnt the water source have to be dedicated just for the drip rate? im still in the process of figuring out drip systems myself to figure out a way to use one on my 500g
I agree about the ease of drip systems. Read about them here, didn't really think I needed one since my tank isn't that large and water changes did not take long, but I just wanted to set it up because I thought it would be an interesting plumbing project to get a water supply and drain to my tank. And now I'm loving my tank even more.
Next thing I want to do to further ease maintenance is switch from canister to sump so I can change up mechanical filter without shutting down the sump unlike now where I have to lug my FX5 out of the stand. And if I like how a sump works, then its on to plumbing 2 other tanks to it for a simple central filtration system.
also have the usual light timers
Next thing I want to do to further ease maintenance is switch from canister to sump so I can change up mechanical filter without shutting down the sump unlike now where I have to lug my FX5 out of the stand. And if I like how a sump works, then its on to plumbing 2 other tanks to it for a simple central filtration system.
also have the usual light timers
drgnfrc13;4125460; said:Wow it takes me at least 2 hours to do a wc on my 220, though I assume you use a python so that makes it go faster, but I only use 3 5g buckets for my wc's so it takes forever.I am going to do one tomorrow and it will probably take 3 hours b/c I also have to clean my filters.
Man I remember doing that, I also remmeber falling and breaking my jaw ewww Thank the lord my 5 gallon bucket was empty. After that I said forget it and just mad a mess lifting the bucket over my head. I never again stepped on a ladder with a 5 gallon bucket.
I plan on going drip thanks to all the help I have gotten here, not that I need to, takes me less then 1 or 2 minutes of my time to do a 50% water change. However some times I forget, or what ever, just like turning the lights off.
Nothing is automated. Only turn the lights on at night and turn the off when I go to sleep. Don't need a timer for a couple of hours.
I've got a 110 w/ concrete background so actual water volume is probably about 80gal.
Timer on the lights. Duh!
The heater, but that goes without saying.
I also have a timer on my UV light.
I also run a filtered tap-water drip system w/ overflow to drain. 7 gal / day, and I never have to do "water changes" anymore. It's a set and forget system. So I don't even think about it any more.
Since it's also a planted aquarium I recently acquired an industrial LMI diaphragm metering pump that will constantly meter in fertilizers. I may use a timer on this as well but it may not be necessary.
And I also use CO2 injection, so I'm using a timer on the solenoid valve. I also have a pH controller using a relay to turn off the CO2 just in case something goes screwy. The pH controller is strictly a back-up protection though.
I also use an automatic feeder for the fish when I'm on vacation. But I don't use it all the time.
And ummm..... I think that's about it. lol
Timer on the lights. Duh!
The heater, but that goes without saying.
I also have a timer on my UV light.
I also run a filtered tap-water drip system w/ overflow to drain. 7 gal / day, and I never have to do "water changes" anymore. It's a set and forget system. So I don't even think about it any more.
Since it's also a planted aquarium I recently acquired an industrial LMI diaphragm metering pump that will constantly meter in fertilizers. I may use a timer on this as well but it may not be necessary.
And I also use CO2 injection, so I'm using a timer on the solenoid valve. I also have a pH controller using a relay to turn off the CO2 just in case something goes screwy. The pH controller is strictly a back-up protection though.
I also use an automatic feeder for the fish when I'm on vacation. But I don't use it all the time.
And ummm..... I think that's about it. lol
Automation 
I have 13 tanks, about 950g total.
I have 13 tanks, about 950g total.
- Timers for lights: they come on for an hour when I get up; then back on again when I get home from work until bed time.
- Drip system on all tanks
- Fluval digital heaters, kind of counts
- Power heads to keep the sand clear - small tanks like 20g have these on a timer so the fry or whatever is in there don't feel like they live in rapids.
- I'm building a maintenance free filter for my 220. It's been running for 6 weeks, bio is 100%, 50% for mechincal. I need to add the micron filter and plumb the drain and filter maintance on that tank will be a thing of the past.
- Working towards only having to clean the glass and I have ideas how to automate that too
I have zero need for automation. It's a costly waste. The most automated feature of my tanks is my python.
