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Hello all,
I am starting a seagrass-heavy 20 gallon. (ref: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/seagrass-nano-lasse-vs-walstad.706309/)
Ideally, for my purposes I would like to monitor (in order of priority) pH, oxygen/carbon, NO3, PO4, KH. Obviously, that's $1000+ worth of stuff and I'm not jumping in that far just yet. (and honestly I'd probably jump into GHL for this)
Automated pH and carbon/oxygen monitoring are offered by Seneye. (ammonia measurement might also be useful for the initial stages of the tank) I balk at that though because it looks like it's one of those things that always needs add-ons (seneye, and if I don't want to keep a Windows computer next to it 24/7 I'll need the web server, wifi module - boom $500). Unlike the apex, it does not look like i can just hook up a router and it's good to go. (I'm aware that I need a monthly replacement package for pH and ammonia)
I could get an Apex brain for $100, an AC adapter for maybe another $10-40, connected it to a router (which I have sitting around doing nothing), and then get myself a pH probe ($75 for a "lab grade probe" whatever that means + a bit more for the calibration fluid). I thought it had a probe for carbon or oxygen, but I find that it's an ORP probe (probably not the same thing?). That's over $200 for the pH function, $300 for the pH+ORP
Then there's always the handheld pH meter (sitting around doing nothing....) and the paper logbook........... but persistent monitoring would be valuable, I think. It's just a question of how valuable..........
Anyway, I'd welcome people's thoughts and suggestions for alternatives.
I am starting a seagrass-heavy 20 gallon. (ref: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/seagrass-nano-lasse-vs-walstad.706309/)
Ideally, for my purposes I would like to monitor (in order of priority) pH, oxygen/carbon, NO3, PO4, KH. Obviously, that's $1000+ worth of stuff and I'm not jumping in that far just yet. (and honestly I'd probably jump into GHL for this)
Automated pH and carbon/oxygen monitoring are offered by Seneye. (ammonia measurement might also be useful for the initial stages of the tank) I balk at that though because it looks like it's one of those things that always needs add-ons (seneye, and if I don't want to keep a Windows computer next to it 24/7 I'll need the web server, wifi module - boom $500). Unlike the apex, it does not look like i can just hook up a router and it's good to go. (I'm aware that I need a monthly replacement package for pH and ammonia)
I could get an Apex brain for $100, an AC adapter for maybe another $10-40, connected it to a router (which I have sitting around doing nothing), and then get myself a pH probe ($75 for a "lab grade probe" whatever that means + a bit more for the calibration fluid). I thought it had a probe for carbon or oxygen, but I find that it's an ORP probe (probably not the same thing?). That's over $200 for the pH function, $300 for the pH+ORP
Then there's always the handheld pH meter (sitting around doing nothing....) and the paper logbook........... but persistent monitoring would be valuable, I think. It's just a question of how valuable..........
Anyway, I'd welcome people's thoughts and suggestions for alternatives.