I've recently upgraded to a TP-Link household mesh, so decided to stay with the same eco-system and have ordered a TP-Link Tapo - at £19 I figured it's worth a shot!
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I used to be gone for work for long periods. I "invested" in a broadcast quality web cam. Mine is an Axis V5915 with full PTZ, auto white balance, and a 20x optical zoom. I used it to enjoy my tank while I was away from home.
With it's built in web-server I put it on the web to share my tank with anyone interested. You can check it out at o2manyfish.com --- Tank lights aren't on till 4pm PST.
It's neat to check the camera logs and see people logging in from around the world. We avg about 100 people a day and that number doubles on the weekends. If I do a good youtube update on the tank then the daily views can hit 1000.
I then took the web-cams feed and integrated it into our security camera system. In our theater, living room, kitchen, master bedroom we have 32" monitors showing the security cameras, and one of those feeds is the reef tank.
Now that I am retired and don't travel for work anymore I get to enjoy my tank from more rooms in the house than just the room the tank is viewable.
For when things go wrong, the PTZ has been invaluable. We were on an Alaskan cruise when there was an 8hr power outage. Fish loss was over 100 fish. Using the camera we were able to guide the house sitter to a majority of the bodies to remove them from the tank.
In addition to the Axis camera on the main 750g tank, I have 5 standard 4mp security cameras on the outdoor frag tanks and the outdoor filter wall so I can keep track of everything, whether at home or away.
The Axis is probably outside of most people's budgets for a webcam, but it's an amazing camera and for me has been well worth the investment.
Dave B
Wyze has been great for years, even since they switched up the subscription model it is still the best value for us. Their cameras have been really increasing in quality for how cheap they are. The new v3s and the new pan/tilt have great quality - if you pay more for something like Ring the quality is even better, but that is likely overkill for a school.We are putting in new tanks at the high school I teach at and the students keep asking for a livestream of the tanks. Any camera suggestions?
I have this trained on my Sump...good buy!I just bought one of these last week, timely thread!
I’m going to mount it on the ceiling so I can pan/tilt to view the sump and the tank.
What's an Anemone incubator?I have a cheap, $20 web cam to watch my anemone incubator basket. It works OK, but I really wish I could find one with a shorter focal distance. The anemones I am checking on are small and I lose a lot of details at 3+ feet.
yeah we got ours just as a precaution. the pup is still young so we’re a bit weary of him with his impending teething.Also have a living room cam, used to have a chewer on everything... Found out it was my 4 pounder dog (shocker ironically). Also helps when I have to have a non regular dog/fish sitter.
he is gorgeous!!! our dal just turned 4mo. surprisingly likes to watch the tank right before he falls asleep and hasn’t been destructive…….(yet)!You both are very brave. I work from home, but when I leave home mine goes into a playpen attached to a crate. He ate 1/2 my couch one day after months of being perfect - at least it was just the couch
Lol, she was the chair eater (the small one). Literally gnawed/scratched down a wood chair leg to a nub. I have to cover the cushions or use baskets as I dont want my couches ruined.You both are very brave. I work from home, but when I leave home mine goes into a playpen attached to a crate. He ate 1/2 my couch one day after months of being perfect - at least it was just the couch
It's where I keep all my small/sick anemones to nurse them back to full size & full health. I especially like to take in ones that are being troublesome for other hobbyists. The camera view is terrible, but I'm currently watching 3 RBTAs, 1 GBTA, and 1 gigantea, as well as 2 I haven't ID'd yet.What's an Anemone incubator?
Here's a cell phone picture for comparison:It's where I keep all my small/sick anemones to nurse them back to full size & full health. I especially like to take in ones that are being troublesome for other hobbyists. The camera view is terrible, but I'm currently watching 3 RBTAs, 1 GBTA, and 1 gigantea, as well as 2 I haven't ID'd yet.
Remodeling the fish equipment room was a beginning of Covid project, which lead to display tank upgrade, which lead to bigger skimmer and CaRx (over the last holidays).I’d love to see some more pictures of your fish room if you care to share! I’m doing a tank build with fish room in my basement right now.
May I ask which webcam you use? You can often times buy the focal lenses.I have a cheap, $20 web cam to watch my anemone incubator basket. It works OK, but I really wish I could find one with a shorter focal distance. The anemones I am checking on are small and I lose a lot of details at 3+ feet.