Automated or Overrated? Is your reef automated?

AlyciaMarie · 2024-09-19T09:58:45-0400

The technological advances in our world are impressive, and these advances are bleeding over into our reefing world, too. Today, you can do just about anything to your tank with just a click of a button or a setting of a timer. Some of us reefers may love this aid as it may free up some time and make being away a little less worrisome, while others feel like these conveniences can be a recipe for disaster and short-cut the overall joy of maintaining a reef. But what do you think?

Is your reef automated?

For reference, some common types of automation in reefing are auto top-offs, auto-feeders, dosing aids, lighting timers, etc.

ShadowMan · 2024-09-19T11:10:28-0400

While in no way essential, automation has definitely taken some of the guess work out of maintaining my tank. Not the cheapest option, but the Trident has resolved one of my biggest issues... being a colour-blind reefer.

scotty333 · 2024-09-19T11:30:15-0400

Only water top off , calcium , magnesium, kh and vodka
The traces goes in with the ato every 11 days

Paul B · 2024-09-19T11:32:40-0400

The only automation I have is a DIY auto top off and a $7.00 timer to turn the lights on.

scotty333 · 2024-09-19T11:37:48-0400

Paul B said:
The only automation I have is a DIY auto top off and a $7.00 timer to turn the lights on.

Your a robot haha

Reefer Matt · 2024-09-19T11:39:03-0400

I have to have automation, otherwise I would not be able to have my reef tanks. I work a lot, so I am not home to test, dose, and top off the tanks. I do maintenance on the weekends that I am off.

Jimbo327 · 2024-09-19T11:45:49-0400

I feel that automation really contributes to ease and stability of maintaining a tank.

Automation really helps when you need to travel for work/vacation or unexpected downtime for weeks at a time. Also, when reef fatigue hits hard or real life gets busy (kids, commitments, sickness), it's nice to have the automation there to kind of lessen the blow.

Just imagine that you need to go out of the country for 3 weeks (for whatever reason) and you only have a neighbor come by once a week to top off the feeder or do basic maintenance, how will your tank fare? That's kind of how I think when I set up a tank now.

Red_Beard · 2024-09-19T11:46:00-0400

I have automated ATO, feeding, and AFR dosing. Makes it easier to go camping over the weekend. When i am home i hand feed frozen and dote on it more, but it is nice to be able to walk away for a bit knowing the basics are covered.

Danny McElroy · 2024-09-19T11:52:59-0400

Absolutley everything I can automate I do, with multiple redundancies. It's like having two hobbies in one. I enjoy tinkering and maintaining all the gear and automation. I also enjoy being able to monitor and adjust continuously. My first tank in 2013 was not automated and I did not enjoy the hobby as much. This time I am fully automated and enjoy the hobby much more and have much more success with the corals.

William Chiavetta · 2024-09-19T13:12:15-0400

I have very complicated automation and most people could never dream of this level of automation. It is called a light on a timer... Everything else is too expensive

landlubber · 2024-09-19T13:21:24-0400

some automation is almost a requirement in this game.
While possible, running a tank without an ATO or dosing pumps ramps the challenge up considerably.
That being said, I think people starting their first SW tank should avoid as much as they can and learn the manual way long enough that they're not inept when their fancy Trident doesn't dose properly or they get so complacent that they tank starts becoming a decoration in the backround instead of a group of family pets.

Johnd651 · 2024-09-19T13:23:42-0400

Lighting schedule and ATO. Just to much of a swing with evaporation in the 15 gallon.

wjm6449 · 2024-09-19T13:23:53-0400

AlyciaMarie said:
The technological advances in our world are impressive, and these advances are bleeding over into our reefing world, too. Today, you can do just about anything to your tank with just a click of a button or a setting of a timer. Some of us reefers may love this aid as it may free up some time and make being away a little less worrisome, while others feel like these conveniences can be a recipe for disaster and short-cut the overall joy of maintaining a reef. But what do you think?

Is your reef automated?

For reference, some common types of automation in reefing are auto top-offs, auto-feeders, dosing aids, lighting timers, etc.

No way is it overrated. For water changes and my rodi the water automatically dumps into my sewer line. I haven’t automated dosing as I’m not that far along but technology means consistency and stability. And stability is always essential.