Which automated analyzer for the lazy reefer?

[Ironic_Water]

I've been getting an automation itch when it comes to my parameters. However, they're fairly expensive. I'm not the best when it comes to doing my parameter tests - if you had to pick only one analyzer to buy, which would it be?

For example, the Trident is appealing for Alk. - but the thing is, it's one of the fastest tests to do by hand.

Then there's things like the Trident NP - the tests take longer to do by hand, and I've been struggling with getting my nitrates above 0, so it would come in handy for dosing.

Of course there's things like Alkatronic, the ethereal and vaporous Hydros Maven, the new Mastertronic Essentials... so many options.

To cut my rambling short, if you were in my shoes, which analyzer would you be gravitating to?

 

[VintageReefer]

The cost for all is high

I decided the most important personal goal would be for alkalinity testing and automated dosing to keep it stable and handled for me. The cheapest system for this is the kh guardian for $450

They actually are the first company to have made a alkalinity control system years ago and have been doing this the longest. The system itself works very well, I would recommend it

I don’t have an answer if automation of measuring and/dosing other parameters is necessary for you, but wanted to throw out a cheap way to completely automate alkalinity and have web access to logs and charts for it

It’s a standalone system, doesn’t need anything extra besides dosing containers, and optionally a wifi bridge if you can’t run an Ethernet cable to it

https://www.corallife.us/product/kh-guardian

 

[CBonito]

I really want to integrate a Reefbot Lab with my Apex, but the difficulty in getting parts and import duties and all this other CRAP makes it like owning a german car. It's too bad because like german cars, I think it's the best tester out there. Especially in the quality department. It's a really nice, well, robot just like they advertise and not a big flimsy piece of plastic like everything else. Some of these things might work, at least for a while, but they're mostly all junk.

 

[Ironic_Water]

The cost for all is high

I decided the most important personal goal would be for alkalinity testing and automated dosing to keep it stable and handled for me. The cheapest system for this is the kh guardian for $450

They actually are the first company to have made a alkalinity control system years ago and have been doing this the longest. The system itself works very well, I would recommend it

I don’t have an answer if automation of measuring and/dosing other parameters is necessary for you, but wanted to throw out a cheap way to completely automate alkalinity and have web access to logs and charts for it

It’s a standalone system, doesn’t need anything extra besides dosing containers, and optionally a wifi bridge if you can’t run an Ethernet cable to it

https://www.corallife.us/product/kh-guardian

Unfortunately hard to find in Canada where I am - but I could go with, say, the Alkatronic Pro.

So are you saying you'd consider Alk to be the most important thing to get automated readings of over Ca, Mg, Nitrate, PO4?

 

[VintageReefer]

While all are important alkalinity can change daily and deplete quickly and I find it to be a stress on corals especially sps

Magnesium depletes VERY slowly

Calcium can be tested and dosed weekly

Phosphate and nitrate aren’t as serious as people make it out to seem and are usually easy to manage once the system is stable

I decided instead of $2000 to monitor all of that, I’d rather spend 500 and have alk completely controlled for me and I’ll do the other stuff manually weekly or even monthly

 

[VintageReefer]

Unfortunately hard to find in Canada where I am

The brand rep is on our forum and might be able to help. @alex77619 could you arrange shipping to Canada if someone wanted a kh guardian?

 

[gbroadbridge]

I've been getting an automation itch when it comes to my parameters. However, they're fairly expensive. I'm not the best when it comes to doing my parameter tests - if you had to pick only one analyzer to buy, which would it be?

For example, the Trident is appealing for Alk. - but the thing is, it's one of the fastest tests to do by hand.

Then there's things like the Trident NP - the tests take longer to do by hand, and I've been struggling with getting my nitrates above 0, so it would come in handy for dosing.

Of course there's things like Alkatronic, the ethereal and vaporous Hydros Maven, the new Mastertronic Essentials... so many options.

To cut my rambling short, if you were in my shoes, which analyzer would you be gravitating to?

The only parameter I think benefits from automatic testing is Alkalinity.

The consumption of Ca and Mg can be determined quite accurately from that one test.
I automatically test 4 times a day with dosing varied by the test results which keeps my Alk within about 0.1 dkh.

I use a Reef Factory kh keeper+, but I can't recommend that device at the moment as the future of that business is in doubt. Kh Guardian would probably be my choice if I were to make a decision today.

You want a device that lets you make your own reagent rather than buying the expensive oem products.

 

[dwest]

I have used an alkatronic for about 5 years and think it’s great. I test alkalinity twice a day with the machine. All other tests I do monthly ish by hand.

 

[bob88884]

I really want to integrate a Reefbot Lab with my Apex, but the difficulty in getting parts and import duties and all this other CRAP makes it like owning a german car. It's too bad because like german cars, I think it's the best tester out there. Especially in the quality department. It's a really nice, well, robot just like they advertise and not a big flimsy piece of plastic like everything else. Some of these things might work, at least for a while, but they're mostly all junk.

From everything I have read, the Reef Bot is the one to have. I agree with you about German cars; that is why I drive a Range Rover.