The Mindstream is DEAD!! I'm getting mine soon!

[K7BMG]

Without reagent, all of the the testing devices are “bricked”. They’re effectively useless without them. I have a $500 KH Guardian monitor that tests one parameter. I have a $750 reefbot that can test a few parameters. I will pay $1k for a device to test 10 parameters. My time is valuable to me, between work and a large family these devices to automate tasks and testing have allowed me to have a complex reef system with short time available.

That said, I will sit back and see how it goes at first. I really hope it’s accurate and reliable.

Dave

Respectfully I have to disagree.
Reagents are chemicals that can be obtained from many places.
The convenience of buying Hanna or API and the like are not in anyway a subscription.
The equipment will still function using other reagents.

But anyway I like the way the tech is moving forward in this industry.
I don't know if Mindstream will wind up the top dog, and the equipment to have over everything else.
For me at the current cost of $1,000.00, my gut and common sense tells me to wait and see.
Let the initial pioneers do the testing and I will consider purchasing way down the road.

Out of the 10 things Mindstream will test for in my opinion are thirdly redundant to what we already have in use for the most part.

Salinity, Temperature, pH**, Ammonia.
I don't know if Ammonia is even needed for established systems.
We will know what the salinity is when we mix and perform water changes.
Temp well I currently have three ways to read that now.
PH, well anymore once its stable then aside from double checking now and again its not as much of a concern anymore.
Oxygen, Potassium, well ok I guess this is on the list but truly something we need to monitor?
Carbon Dioxide? Same do we need to know?

The big three is the key. Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, and what most of us want to know.

 

[Hemmdog]

The potassium testing intrigues me. Not $1000 intrigued though. Manual potassium testing is NOT enjoyable.

 

[DangerDave]

Respectfully I have to disagree.
Reagents are chemicals that can be obtained from many places.
The convenience of buying Hanna or API and the like are not in anyway a subscription.
The equipment will still function using other reagents.

But anyway I like the way the tech is moving forward in this industry.
I don't know if Mindstream will wind up the top dog, and the equipment to have over everything else.
For me at the current cost of $1,000.00, my gut and common sense tells me to wait and see.
Let the initial pioneers do the testing and I will consider purchasing way down the road.

Out of the 10 things Mindstream will test for in my opinion are thirdly redundant to what we already have in use for the most part.

Salinity, Temperature, pH**, Ammonia.
I don't know if Ammonia is even needed for established systems.
We will know what the salinity is when we mix and perform water changes.
Temp well I currently have three ways to read that now.
PH, well anymore once its stable then aside from double checking now and again its not as much of a concern anymore.
Oxygen, Potassium, well ok I guess this is on the list but truly something we need to monitor?
Carbon Dioxide? Same do we need to know?

The big three is the key. Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, and what most of us want to know.

That’s cool, but I’ll still get one. I want more data. :)

 

[rushbattle]

These testing threads are interesting. So many folks have to voice why they do not want to buy product x. That’s fine, why the need for y’all to point it out in lengthy terms? Don’t buy it if you don’t want it. Are you trying to save others from making a perceived mistake?

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Like I said, I'm excited to get mine. I don't test as often as I should, and I am obsessively worried about my own testing and human error (which in all honesty might be at least part of why I don't test as often as I should). I'm excited about the ability to monitor with consistency and remove the human factor. I'll continue to use occasional ICP tests to verify my results and will likely still conduct some manual tests periodically again to verify results. If the precision of this monitor is anywhere near as accurate as advertised, that's certainly worth it to me.

 

[rushbattle]

Like I said, I'm excited to get mine. I don't test as often as I should, and I am obsessively worried about my own testing and human error (which in all honesty might be at least part of why I don't test as often as I should). I'm excited about the ability to monitor with consistency and remove the human factor. I'll continue to use occasional ICP tests to verify my results and will likely still conduct some manual tests periodically again to verify results. If the precision of this monitor is anywhere near as accurate as advertised, that's certainly worth it to me.

I am also excited about this advancement in technology. It has many novel applications. Incomparable to any other monitoring system, even one that is kludged together from multiple devices.

 

[reef_ranch]

These testing threads are interesting. So many folks have to voice why they do not want to buy product x. That’s fine, why the need for y’all to point it out in lengthy terms? Don’t buy it if you don’t want it. Are you trying to save others from making a perceived mistake?

Every new product roll out generates post after post of why “I won’t buy it”. I’m not sure what the motivation is but it doesn’t make much sense unless the product is a total scam. My view is that more cutting edge products only benefit the hobby. I’ve had the Alkatronic since it was first released and love it, but I’m excited about the Mindstream and look forward to using the new technology and data.

 

[ChrisNH]

These testing threads are interesting. So many folks have to voice why they do not want to buy product x. That’s fine, why the need for y’all to point it out in lengthy terms? Don’t buy it if you don’t want it. Are you trying to save others from making a perceived mistake?

One of the great joys in any hobby (and one that does not require a subscription) is debating equipment with other hobbyists. You should hear model train guys debate digital command control systems..

 

[ChrisNH]

using the new technology and data.

It’s unclear how much access you will have to the data you collect.

 

[smartwater101]

I dont mind subscriptions but its absolutely highway rubbery to charge 1000$ and then add a subscription on top of that.

And locking people out of the equipment they own? Yikes.

Hard pass.

 

[DangerDave]

It’s unclear how much access you will have to the data you collect.

Are you saying it’s not clear if we’d have access to the test results?

 

[reefwiser]

I think all the testing hardware we are getting now will give us better insights into the issues we have been dealing with in our aquariums for years now. Knowing the trends of the parameters will help us make better decisions on water quality and when or even if one needs to change the water. If a dosing program is being effective or are we over dosing a tank. It will allow you to better target when to dose. Did the corals uptake all the chemicals dosed. Is the amount of food we feed our fishes and their waste causing so much phosphate to contribute to the algae growing in my tank. If I am using a phosphate compound is more needed to reduce it to a non algae causing level. Or is the media reached its expedable level and is not working any more and needs to be changed out. This tech will in the future answer many of our questions in the hobby.

 

[ChrisNH]

Are you saying it’s not clear if we’d have access to the test results?

Outside of display on their website, yes.

 

[DangerDave]

Outside of display on their website, yes.

I’m sorry, I’m not getting what you mean. Where else beside their app/site would you expect it to reside?

 

[reef_ranch]

It’s unclear how much access you will have to the data you collect.

How so?

 

[Opus]

I’m sorry, I’m not getting what you mean. Where else beside their app/site would you expect it to reside?

I believe he means how much data will be available. If you have been testing for a year will every test be available or just maybe the last 30 days worth. This is all stored on their website and apparently not something you can store locally. A lot of people that get into the data side would like to have access to the data to do their on analysis.

 

[DangerDave]

Got ya. And I definitely want that too. :)

 

[ChrisNH]

I’m sorry, I’m not getting what you mean. Where else beside their app/site would you expect it to reside?

I believe he means how much data will be available. If you have been testing for a year will every test be available or just maybe the last 30 days worth. This is all stored on their website and apparently not something you can store locally. A lot of people that get into the data side would like to have access to the data to do their on analysis.

Yes, this exactly. I believe they did say that your data will be viewable through their website for a year which is fine, I don't expect them to store my data indefinitely, but say nothing about what access you will have to your data beyond viewing through whatever views they choose to make available . Ideally it would be an instrument where I can pull the data directly or have the data pushed. Having a website is great for users who don't wish to bother but we should have the ability to directly access and store the data the device is creating in real time. It is my data.

 

[reef_ranch]

Yes, this exactly. I believe they did say that your data will be viewable through their website for a year which is fine, I don't expect them to store my data indefinitely, but say nothing about what access you will have to your data beyond viewing through whatever views they choose to make available . Ideally it would be an instrument where I can pull the data directly or have the data pushed. Having a website is great for users who don't wish to bother but we should have the ability to directly access and store the data the device is creating in real time. It is my data.

Why are concluding you can’t download the historical data? Is this an issue with other cloud based testing products out there such as Apex Fusion and MyGHL? You can download the historical data from the Alkatronic cloud server, but I’m not sure the time period available. It’s certainly a function I’d like to see.

 

[rushbattle]

Mindstream monitor plus Reefbot for NO3 and PO4 is the ticket.

@BDegen Are there plans for an API and a way to download and archive datasets? I think we would all be interested in that, would be nice to have historical data for later analysis.