Does reef automation float your boat?

[Jon M.]

There is something about loading my Apex up and seeing it all being done automatically. Its like Star Trek reefing to me. As I hear my DOS doing my auto water change I smile. Reading my Trident results makes me feel good. I gaze at my Radions watching the “sun set” on my tank. I know they are all failure points but I like it so much more than my 1994 20 gallon tall with an undergravel filter and fluorescent lights.

 

[DylanE]

Agreed. I always had mediocre at best tanks during high school, undergrad, and grad school because of limited time and budget. About a year ago I got my first apex and set up my tank right. It’s been a world of difference. When all the details are taken care of, it’s way easier to enjoy a (way more successful) tank.

 

[chefjpaul]

It does to me too. I love the technology and definitely spend way to much money on it, even unnecessary.

As long as my tanks stay stable. I'm happy do continue.

 

[DHak]

Love the tech, I'm new to Apex but definitely agree.

 

[Style185]

Call me old school but i can swing a hammer, dig a ditch, do my laundry, build my own house, pick up dog poo, gut a fish or deer.... I don't rely on tech nor other humans for my hobby (if it makes life easier) you must be a..... I don't rely on a nanny or baby sitter for my kids.. I'm 34 and have time for my wife, kids, furry pets, parents, moto x and reef... If your searching for that $$$ equipment to achieve something your too "lazy" to imo to deserve a reef! Yep im that guy :) happy reefing. P.s. money (equipment) wont make you you need to be one with yer fish!! P.s.s. Star Trek is fake! ;)

 

[DHak]

Hey to each there own I say. Do what works best for your interests. The tech is less of a question of time for me but more so the opportunity to combine two interests. To say using tech means someone is "too lazy to deserves a reef" is just rather odd and not keeping with what this forum is about based on what I have seen in my short time here.

Call me old school but i can swing a hammer, dig a ditch, do my laundry, build my own house, pick up dog poo, gut a fish or deer.... I don't rely on tech nor other humans for my hobby (if it makes life easier) you must be a..... I don't rely on a nanny or baby sitter for my kids.. I'm 34 and have time for my wife, kids, furry pets, parents, moto x and reef... If your searching for that $$$ equipment to achieve something your too "lazy" to imo to deserve a reef! Yep im that guy :) happy reefing. P.s. money (equipment) wont make you you need to be one with yer fish!! P.s.s. Star Trek is fake! ;)

 

[Style185]

Hey to each there own I say. Do what works best for your interests. The tech is less of a question of time for me but more so the opportunity to combine two interests. To say using tech means someone is "too lazy to deserves a reef" is just rather odd and not keeping with what this forum is about based on what I have seen in my short time here.

My point is mostly, you can have a nice reef for the price of an apex! Call me crazy but don't :) it's the joy for being hands on for me n most I'd assume! But this sport (hobby) is costly enough to make the average person turn their head! If you can afford all the new n "best" products / gimic...... than more power to ya bud! I've gone mh, vho,t5,hybrid,Hob,can,sump, to know what works I'm not gonna argue but foreal people need to get back to basics imo..... But in others defence I have an abundance of time on my hands which may no apply to others! Anyhow I mean no offence n as always Happy Feeding :)

 

[DancingShark]

Not yet. The only automation I have is a ato with kalk in the 125g. I went on vacation and needed one.

In our 60g cube I don't even have that.
I check alk every other day with salifert, takes about 1 minute to do. Dose alk manually only when I need to supplement the ato with kalk.

I have a full time job a hour away. Two kids. Two dogs. A wife which I help with the daycare business and still have to mix, dose, feed fish,ect on two reefs and a fresh water tank.

As I am moving to a sps only tank on the 125g I might look into automation more. Just to keep parameter in check as frags grow and consume more elements at a faster rate.

 

[rcpalmer1]

I love automation. I just have never have had enough extra to justify an Apex. I have built my own equipment. Auto top off, a couple of relays and a few float switches for redundancy. Temp controlled with diy controller. LED use built in app. T5, refugium,UV, return pump, power heads, feeders, and skimmer controlled by Alexa. Don't get me wrong, an Apex would be nice. If it was just the $800 I would get it but all the add ons would cost me a fortune. My system currently has 6 light fixtures, 8 power heads, 2 return pumps, temp controller, auto top off, auto water change, 8 dosing heads, protein skimmer, uv filter, refugium and probably some more I am forgetting. The only thing I wish I had that I don't is salinity monitoring and notifications if something is not working. The trident would be cool to have but I wouldn't want to monthly expense.

 

[ihavecrabs]

I like it. Makes traveling and day to day life easier. However agree with others that you have to have redundancies as they are certainly points of potential failure. Appreciate it but be prepared for it to fail!

 

[chefjpaul]

Call me old school but i can swing a hammer, dig a ditch, do my laundry, build my own house, pick up dog poo, gut a fish or deer.... I don't rely on tech nor other humans for my hobby (if it makes life easier) you must be a..... I don't rely on a nanny or baby sitter for my kids.. I'm 34 and have time for my wife, kids, furry pets, parents, moto x and reef... If your searching for that $$$ equipment to achieve something your too "lazy" to imo to deserve a reef! Yep im that guy :) happy reefing. P.s. money (equipment) wont make you you need to be one with yer fish!! P.s.s. Star Trek is fake! ;)

Doesn't necessarily mean making anything easier.

Gadgets are gadgets. Because I have them doesn't mean I spend less time on my tanks even though I work 80 hours/ week. In fact I spend more.
Redundancies, control (ato, dosers etc). Just aide in keeping stability, they are just tools.

Light schedules, testing, controlled pumps for various flow....

One still needs to program these devices, calibration, double checking and testing for comparative data.

Edit* I do take lots of diving vacations... automation help.

Some just like gadgets, some don't.

 

[408Dartfish]

I might use an apex at some point. But I don’t go on vacations ever and am a workaholic as of now while I still have the energy. I really like doing things manually I do have an ATO tho I really like.

 

[Jon M.]

Aren’t these threads great? The ultimate proof that human nature is to judge and complain without even having an idea who the person on the other side is. Unsolicited opinions of television shows and calling some lazy over the fact they like gadgets and their use. [emoji57]

It happens on almost all threads and truly does fascinate me so don’t take this response as fighting words just pure fascination.

 

[Bob Weigant]

Many of my club member love and use apex and other tech for their reefs. Anything that makes reefing fun and more successful is a good thing. Having said that it’s just not for me. I like to keep things simple.

 

[jtl]

I have always been a hands on manual control kind of reefer. Never had an Apex, only automation was the ato, well I guess my lights had a ramp up and down feature. I have seen so many comments on this forum about problems caused by automation I decided to only trust my myself.

 

[Xam]

I'm in the middle, I guess. But @DHak said it well: to each their own.

Pro: My life is an abundance of I.T., work and play. To be able to merge two things I enjoy is cool to me. Plus, I dont have an over-abundance of free time on my hands, so efficiency is valuable to me.

Cons: with that said, I really do try to limit the automation to ensure I don't depend too much on it, or lose what I consider a connection to my hobby. Being hands-on is important to me as well. I dont want everything done for me.

What i have automated:
Temp/heaters
Ph monitor
Power monitor for signs of equipment failure
Turning certain pieces of equipment off for performing certain tasks. This one is paramount because even though i label plugs I've messed that up in the past.
Ato
Light schedule

What i want to automate in the future:
Fish feeding is really it, for when (or if I finally) get away for a long vacation. Right now, my son comes over every day to feed the tank if we are gone... but I can cut his burden down to once every other day with an auto feeder. It's really for him though.

What I dont want automated:
Feedings - while I'm home
Water changes
Water testing - I still test ph and have a good thermometer
Cleaning - everything

I'm sure I've missed key elements but I digress. But also with the knowledge that I work in the industry, I know how wrong things can go if automation reliance is at grandiose levels.

Cool thread. :cool:

 

[rcpalmer1]

I enjoy spending time with my aquarium. My normal routine I test my water daily. It was also nice when I was on vacation for 16 days and the aquarium looked better when I got back than when I left.

 

[chefjpaul]

when I was on vacation for 16 days and the aquarium looked better when I got back than when I left.

Hahaha... isn't this the truth!

 

[Jinko]

It can get very expensive and you end up almost obsessed with wanting the latest thing.

I will get an apex one of these days when I stop spending the money on coral. [emoji848]

 

[fish farmer]

I like some automation. I don't have the desire/funds/space for complete control of things.

I have all lights hooked to timers. I have an ATO with one float switch. I have a dosing pump hooked to a light timer for kalk. I have a ranco temp controller(but it is still in the box).

I manually feed, do WC, dose Mg, and do water tests.