00W's AIO Smorgasbord

[kingranch2003]

Lol no you're not Kev. :)

 

[kingranch2003]

My take is either use a controller like a Hydros X2 or a dedicated power monitor. I would not rely on an Inkbird as a power monitor. Use it for its intended use, a temperature controller with notifications.

But for Shelley who wanted a cheap option for use on someone else's tank it's perfecto!

She'd probably buy that hydros system for herself if anything

 

[tharbin]

I know im splitting hairs, but wouldn't your phone show that it was disconnected from wifi usage if it was wifi and not power?

Only if you are onsite. All you would know remotely is you can't connect to the unit.

 

[tharbin]

But for Shelley who wanted a cheap option for use on someone else's tank it's perfecto!

She'd probably buy that hydros system for herself if anything

Many of the dedicated power monitors are between 25 and 60 dollars.

The Hydros (or similar) is the only way I can think of to also have some indication of a return pump failure. Quite often the only visual indication of a return pump failure is water level. My SDC 6.0 failed and the only way I knew it failed was the water level in the tank. The controller and the app thought everything was fine.

 

[code4]

Return pump failure is more difficult because of the multiple failure modes. A pump can lose power, or overheat but it can also lose head without any outward indication, like an impeller that comes loose on its shaft, or cavitation, a bulkhead that breaks loose, etc.

The only thing I can think of that would work for most of the issues a return pump can have is a level sensor set so that it triggers when the water level is at the level for when the pump is turned off.

This is actually starting to make pretty strong case for a simple Hydros controller like an X2.

I just may have to break down and buy one myself.

Do, save our pets. I never want to scoop out a bucket of fish again if it's preventable.

I wonder if there's a way to enable push notifications on Inkbird. I know I have them on my Inkbird BBQ thermometers.

Would be great. Still checking this

I understand that. Im saying if your inkbird goes our, you're going to see a difference on the app. It's not going to continue to give a temp reading. At this point, im going to assume my power is out

I will be honest. I won't always check it several times a day. At first I will. But then I will become complacent.

Yes. She's looking for a push notification though.

This

What you're saying works for sure. It's an easy way to see that, at a minimum, WiFi was lost. All she'd need to do is make sure she has it display on her screen. She'd just need to make sure either she or the shop owners check throughout the weekend.

If hers has push notifications (which it looks like all of my wifi Inkbird stuff does) that makes it even better.

I definitely want push notifications. And the more I consider everything I want redundancy also.

 

[code4]

Many of the dedicated power monitors are between 25 and 60 dollars.

The Hydros (or similar) is the only way I can think of to also have some indication of a return pump failure. Quite often the only visual indication of a return pump failure is water level. My SDC 6.0 failed and the only way I knew it failed was the water level in the tank. The controller and the app thought everything was fine.

I will most likely get this for their tank. And for all of mine. Cheaper than replacing all the fish again. And so much less than the heart ache.

 

[code4]

This has definitely been an interesting issue. I thank each and everyone for your ideas and possible solutions. It is good to have these type of topics.

And now the Jawfish I moved 2 weeks ago is actively coming out to eat.

 

[code4]

Off to do a water change and then to see 3 Dog Nights.

Again thanks everyone

 

[kevgib67]

go Magic !!

My mother and I are watching it also CB, we are down by one run.

 

[CoralB]

Orlando Magic but at least your with your mother .

 

[kingranch2003]

Only if you are onsite. All you would know remotely is you can't connect to the unit.

Lol No I meant your actual cellular device. If it isn't getting a signal and her phone never lost wifi signal, could obvious that something is a miss with inkbird? Maybe call the place and say hey go check your tank! Not ideal, but she indicated that she wouldnt want to spend a few hundred on someone else's tank.

 

[kingranch2003]

Orlando Magic but at least your with your mother .

Good answer CB!

 

[kingranch2003]

I do have another type of inkbird question. Does anyone get this kind of discrepancy between set and actual temps? Im not sure if the heater and controller are getting along so well.

 

[tharbin]

I do have another type of inkbird question. Does anyone get this kind of discrepancy between set and actual temps? Im not sure if the heater and controller are getting along so well.

How large is the tank and what wattage heater are you using. Inkbirds typically trigger at a 1 degree Fahrenheit or so difference. It seems your heater can't keep up with demand or is failing if I'm reading this correctly. It looks like the set value is 81 F degrees, the tank is at 76 F degrees and it is heating. It should have triggered heating at about 80 F degrees so it is either failing or it is too small to keep up.

 

[kingranch2003]

How large is the tank and what wattage heater are you using. Inkbirds typically trigger at a 1 degree Fahrenheit or so difference. It seems your heater can't keep up with demand or is failing if I'm reading this correctly. It looks like the set value is 81 F degrees, the tank is at 76 F degrees and it is heating. It should have triggered heating at about 80 F degrees so it is either failing or it is too small to keep up.

I belive you're right....Its a 150w on a 40 gallon cube. It never got higher than 76.7 in 24hrs time. The heater itself is set to 80

 

[kingranch2003]

@tharbin
I know it could definitely still be defective, but the heater is only a few weeks old too!

 

[tharbin]

Lol No I meant your actual cellular device. If it isn't getting a signal and her phone never lost wifi signal, could obvious that something is a miss with inkbird? Maybe call the place and say hey go check your tank! Not ideal, but she indicated that she wouldnt want to spend a few hundred on someone else's tank.

I think I'm misunderstanding John.

Here is what I'm trying to say. I'm not sure if you are saying the same thing or not.

If Shelley is at home her phone is connected to her WiFi or cell.

The Inkbird is at the (I don't remember, clinic?), is somewhere else. The Inkbird is connected to the clinic's WiFi. If the WiFi goes out, or the internet goes out at the clinic it won't be able to send to the notification center so Shelley will get a notification that the notification center cannot contact the Inkbird at the clinic. It would get the same notification if the clinic or the power strip lost power.

Since Shelley is at home she still has her WiFi or cell so she will get the notification but will not know whether it is a general power fail, a power strip power failure, a WiFi connection issue, an internet issue or an Inkbird failure.

 

[tharbin]

@tharbin
I know it could definitely still be defective, but the heater is only a few weeks old too!

Have you tested the heater's calibration? I once got an Eheim that was off by 12 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[tharbin]

I belive you're right....Its a 150w on a 40 gallon cube. It never got higher than 76.7 in 24hrs time. The heater itself is set to 80

I would also have the temp on the heater and the Inkbird two degrees apart personally, at least one and a half degrees apart. My Inkbird triggers at just over one degree difference so you could theoretically get a jitter condition where the Inkbird is triggering to turn off while the heater is still triggering on.

 

[kingranch2003]

I think I'm misunderstanding John.

Here is what I'm trying to say. I'm not sure if you are saying the same thing or not.

If Shelley is at home her phone is connected to her WiFi or cell.

The Inkbird is at the (I don't remember, clinic?), is somewhere else. The Inkbird is connected to the clinic's WiFi. If the WiFi goes out, or the internet goes out at the clinic it won't be able to send to the notification center so Shelley will get a notification that the notification center cannot contact the Inkbird at the clinic. It would get the same notification if the clinic or the power strip lost power.

Since Shelley is at home she still has her WiFi or cell so she will get the notification but will not know whether it is a general power fail, a power strip power failure, a WiFi connection issue, an internet issue or an Inkbird failure.

That's true, I didn't consider the fact that she would be dealing with two different wifi's (clinics and her own). You're correct that it would make her case different than if it were on her wifi.

Since Shelley is at home she still has her WiFi or cell so she will get the notification but will not know whether it is a general power fail, a power strip power failure, a WiFi connection issue, an internet issue or an Inkbird failure.

If it were an office wifi issue, which shouldn't happen tooooo often hopefully lol, it would probably come back on soon enough. The other possibilities listed would also be worthy of checking on too