- Joined
- Aug 8, 2019
- Messages
- 179
- Reaction score
- 133
I'm as automated as is cost-effective with a small tank. I have Nano tanks so haven't yet been able to justify a Profilux or Apex System for full-blown automation, but I use ATO, AWC, almost all electrical equipment is on smart timers (either built-in or separate and hooked up to Alexa), Fuge lights are on timers, auto cut off sensor on RO/DI refill, auto dosing.
I also employ a large cleanup crew including sand sifting Gobies, Algae eating snails and crabs, pods growing in fuge and scape.
Even things like upgrading from refractometer and dropper bottle tests to Hanna testers to reduce the manual effort.
At this point the occasional water test, filling up SW reservoirs once a fortnight and cleaning the glass are the only requirements. I tend to hand-feed most of the time for variety and as an excuse to hang with the tank but I do have auto feeders available for busy times or holidays.
I've always loathed water changes, siphoning the sand bed, remembering to manually top up is a pain and so many of the mundane tasks of the aquarium are just time wasters.
I've been back and forth on the expense of a GHL system - the idea of the automated testing and dosing sounds amazing, but it's kind of overkill for a small tank and once I dial in the dosing and water changes, testing isn't required that often so it's on the backburner for now. If I ever upgraded to a larger tank (unlikely at this stage) I would definitely be adding GHL automation and auto testing/dosing.
I also employ a large cleanup crew including sand sifting Gobies, Algae eating snails and crabs, pods growing in fuge and scape.
Even things like upgrading from refractometer and dropper bottle tests to Hanna testers to reduce the manual effort.
At this point the occasional water test, filling up SW reservoirs once a fortnight and cleaning the glass are the only requirements. I tend to hand-feed most of the time for variety and as an excuse to hang with the tank but I do have auto feeders available for busy times or holidays.
I've always loathed water changes, siphoning the sand bed, remembering to manually top up is a pain and so many of the mundane tasks of the aquarium are just time wasters.
I've been back and forth on the expense of a GHL system - the idea of the automated testing and dosing sounds amazing, but it's kind of overkill for a small tank and once I dial in the dosing and water changes, testing isn't required that often so it's on the backburner for now. If I ever upgraded to a larger tank (unlikely at this stage) I would definitely be adding GHL automation and auto testing/dosing.